Raipur: In a significant counter-insurgency operation in Chhattisgarh recently, security forces eliminated 31 Naxalites in the Bastar region. This operation, involving nearly 1,500 personnel from the Chhattisgarh Police, consisting of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF), marks the largest single strike against Naxalites since the state was formed 24 years ago.
 

The 48-hour offensive began after intelligence indicated that high-ranking Maoist leaders, including members of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), were present in the dense forests along the border of Dantewada and Narayanpur districts. Security forces faced challenging conditions, including a 12-kilometre hike through hilly terrain and crossing the Indravati River, a known Maoist stronghold.
 

Smruthik Rajanala, IPS, the Additional Superintendent of Police (Naxal operations) in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, led over 100 personnel through 16 kilometres of dangerous Maoist territory at night. The goal was to reach a suspected hideout without alerting the insurgents, aiming to complete the operation within 12 hours. Rajanala worked closely with Deputy Superintendent of Police Prashant Dewangan, who led another team from Narayanpur, along with the Special Task Force (STF).
 

The State Intelligence Branch (SIB) alerted authorities about the presence of senior Maoist leaders near Tultuli village, located around 50 kilometres from the Dantewada headquarters. This group reportedly included members from the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC). 
 

The encounter lasted between seven and eight hours, during which security forces fired over 2,000 rounds and used hundreds of grenades. The operation ended without any fatalities among the security personnel, although one jawan sustained a minor injury and was evacuated for treatment.
 

Among the 31 Naxalites killed were 13 women, and several had high bounties on their heads. Niti alias Urmila, a DKSZC member with a bounty of ₹25 lakh, was one of the key Maoist leaders eliminated. Security forces also recovered a significant cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, an INSAS rifle, an LMG, and a .303 rifle.
 

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the bravery of the security forces and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ending Naxalism. He highlighted the efforts of the "double engine" government, referring to the coordinated actions of state and central administrations against left-wing extremism. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has previously set a target for India to be free from Naxalism by 2026. 

This operation follows a series of successful strikes against Maoists in the Bastar region, with 188 Naxalites killed this year alone. It also follows a similar operation in Kanker district five months earlier, which resulted in 29 Naxalite deaths. Security forces are actively searching the area for remaining Naxalites and weapons, with further casualties expected.
 

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), Chhattisgarh Police, Sundarraj P, IPS, noted that this operation dealt a significant blow to Maoist activities in the region. Under the "Maad Bachao Abhiyan" (Save Maad campaign), nearly 50 anti-Naxal operations were conducted in 2024, aiming to prevent Maoists from establishing safe zones in Bastar.
 

Following the operation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on October 7 that since January, 194 Naxals had been neutralised, 801 arrested, and 742 had surrendered in Chhattisgarh. During a review meeting with chief ministers of states affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in the capital, Shah urged Naxals to abandon their arms and reintegrate into society. He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister, Home Minister, DGP, and the entire Chhattisgarh Police team.
 

Shah further appealed to the youth involved in Naxalism, encouraging them to lay down their weapons and join the mainstream, highlighting that nearly 13,000 individuals from regions like the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir had done the same.
 

BI Bureau