In a decisive anti-Naxal operation, Chhattisgarh security forces have successfully neutralized 18 Maoist rebels in the Bijapur district. The intense gun battle occurred on Wednesday in the forested terrain near the Bijapur-Dantewada district border. Officials confirmed the casualty figures on Thursday.
The operation resulted in the elimination of 18 Naxalites, significantly disrupting their activities in the region. Following the encounter, security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including powerful AK-47 and INSAS rifles, from the site.
Among the eliminated rebels was Modiyam Vella, a key commander of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Vella was a wanted operative with a reward of Rs 8 lakh, known for his involvement in various attacks, including the deadly 2020 Minpa ambush where 17 security personnel lost their lives.
However, the operation came at a cost. Three members of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) – Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde, and Jawan Ramesh Sodhi – were martyred. Two other DRG personnel were wounded during the intense fighting.
This year has seen substantial successes in Chhattisgarh’s fight against Naxalism, with 275 rebels neutralized statewide. The Bastar region remains a focal point of these operations. The state has also sadly lost 23 security personnel in anti-Naxal operations this year.