The death toll in the massive anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh has increased to 30, with security forces also recovering firearms and explosives from their hideouts. Revealing behind-the-scenes details of the operation, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said the militants were conducting a tactical meeting when the attack happened.
Addressing presspersons, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who handles home portfolio said, “Naxalites had gathered in remote jungles for a meeting considering their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC), which is typically observed between March and June.”
#WATCH | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh | Visuals of the arms and ammunition recovered by security forces and bodies of the 30 Naxalites who were neutralised during the two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region yesterday. pic.twitter.com/mlbLgCVPEW
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025
Sharma said the security forces surrounded the Naxals on Thursday, cornering them from all sides. “Naxals opened fire on security forces who retaliated,” Sharma said. Hailing the operation, Sharma said Thursday’s operation was a major achievement against Naxals.
In two separate operations conducted along the border areas of Bijapur and Dantewada districts on Thursday, security forces gunned down 30 Naxalites. In the anti-Naxal operation conducted in the forest areas of Bijapur, security forces comprising personnel from Border Security Force and Chhattisgarh police’s District Reserve Guard killed 26 Naxalites. In another operation in Kanker, four Naxalities were killed.
#WATCH | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh | Police personnel pay tribute to the mortal remains of Raju Oyam, District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan who sacrificed his life in the line of duty during an encounter with the naxals in Bijapur-Dantewada area. pic.twitter.com/6cWEZGD3kZ
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025
A DRG jawan got killed in the exchange of fire. Bastar IG Sundarraj P. Said Raju Oyam, the martyred soldier was associated with Maoist organisations in the past and joined mainstream in 2020. Sundarraj said Oyam had taken part in several anti-Naxal operations.
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The senior police officer added identities of the bodies of 18 Naxalites have been identified. He said 14 women and 12 men Maoists got killed in the operation. Security forces have also recovered a huge cache of weapons and ammunition from the location.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had appreciated the security forces and said the country would become Naxal-free by March next year.
