The bodies of nine Naxals killed during an encounter with security forces were brought to the mortuary of Dantewada District Hospital on Wednesday. The Naxals were killed during a joint operation by the security personnel in the forests near the Dantewada-Bijapur border on Tuesday.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Rai confirmed that a significant cache of weapons, including SLR rifles, .303 rifles, and .315 bore rifles, was recovered from the Naxals. He also assured that all security personnel involved in the operation were safe.
Following the successful operation, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the bravery of the soldiers and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism. “The Bharatiya Janata Party has been combating Naxalism since coming to power. Our soldiers are fighting valiantly, and we salute their bravery. With 9 Naxalites killed, we are one step closer to eliminating Naxalism,” CM Sai said.
In a social media post on platform X, CM Sai reiterated the government’s resolve to continue the fight against Naxalism until it is entirely eradicated. “So far, 9 Naxalites have been reported killed in an encounter between a joint team of DRG and CRPF in the border area of Dantewada and Bijapur districts. Along with this, news has also been received about the arrest of 13 active Maoists by security forces in Bijapur district. Certainly, this is a big success for the security forces. I salute and congratulate all the security officers and soldiers involved in this operation for their bravery. Our fight will continue until Naxalism is eradicated,” he posted.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the progress toward peace and development in the Bastar region. “It was a joint operation by the DRG and CRPF. In the Bijapur and Dantewada region, 9 Naxalites have been killed in a search operation. This demonstrates the strength of our soldiers, and the entire Bastar region is moving towards peace and development,” Sharma stated.
The encounter marks a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to combat Naxalism in the region.