Bijapur Encounter: 18 Maoists Neutralized, Arms Seized

In a significant counter-insurgency success, security forces have eliminated 18 Naxalites in an intense encounter that took place in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. The operation was conducted in the forest region connecting Bijapur and Dantewada districts. Among the neutralized rebels was Modiyam Vella, a company commander in the PLGA, who was reportedly involved in the planning and execution of several fatal attacks on security forces, including the 2020 Minpa ambush. Vella, who carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh, was a key operative. Security forces also managed to recover a substantial quantity of arms and ammunition, including INSAS and AK-47 rifles, from the site of the encounter. The operation, while successful in neutralizing a large number of insurgents, also resulted in the unfortunate loss of three DRG personnel and injuries to two others. This development marks a grim milestone in Chhattisgarh’s ongoing struggle against Naxalite extremism this year.