In a significant success for security forces in Chhattisgarh, a fierce encounter in the Bijapur district has resulted in the neutralization of 18 Naxalites. The clash occurred in the forest region straddling the Bijapur and Dantewada districts as part of a dedicated anti-Naxal operation. Authorities reported the recovery of a large cache of arms, including sought-after INSAS and AK-47 rifles, from the site of the encounter.
Officials confirmed on Thursday that the death toll among Naxalites had risen to 18, with six additional bodies being discovered. Among those eliminated was Modiyam Vella, a high-ranking commander within the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Vella, carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh, was identified as a perpetrator in multiple attacks, including the devastating 2020 Minpa ambush that claimed the lives of 17 security personnel.
The operation, though a success against the insurgency, resulted in the loss of three personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) in Bijapur: Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde, and Jawan Ramesh Sodhi. Two other DRG members were wounded in the exchange.
Chhattisgarh has seen extensive anti-Naxal operations this year, with 275 Naxalites neutralized to date. The Bastar region has been the epicenter of these operations. The ongoing security efforts have also resulted in the unfortunate deaths of 23 security personnel across the state this year.