Security forces neutralized 16 Naxalites in an intense encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, officials confirmed on Saturday. Two jawans sustained minor injuries during the operation.
The gunfight erupted after the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a joint anti-Naxal operation on Friday. Intelligence reports had indicated the presence of Naxalites in the Kerlapal area under Sukma police station limits.
Forces began their search operation on March 28, with intermittent firing continuing since the early hours of March 29. Security personnel are now conducting a thorough combing operation in the encounter site and surrounding forested areas. Sukma remains one of the most severely affected districts in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, frequently witnessing Naxal attacks.
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#Chhattisgarh | Security forces carry bodies of slain Naxalites
16 Naxals were killed in an encounter in the forest of Upampalli Kerlapal area at the Sukma-Dantewada Border today. 2 jawans injured #TheRealTalkin pic.twitter.com/LE6KfoOT2W
— Tʜᴇ Rᴇᴀʟ Tᴀʟᴋ (@Therealtalkin) March 29, 2025
Jawan Injured in IED Blast in Narayanpur
On Friday, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast injured a jawan in Narayanpur district. Officials stated that Naxalites triggered the explosion. The injured jawan was taken to the district hospital, where his condition remains stable.
Amit Shah: Naxalism Will Be Eradicated by 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently assured Parliament that Naxalism would be eradicated from India by March 31, 2026. He pointed out a significant 53% decline in Naxal violence over the past decade.
“From 2004 to 2014, there were 16,463 Naxal-related incidents, while in the last ten years, the number has significantly reduced. Similarly, security personnel casualties have dropped by 73 per cent, and civilian deaths by 70 per cent,” Shah stated.
Shah also emphasized the government’s efforts to develop infrastructure in Naxal-affected regions. He highlighted the construction of 11,503 km of highways and 20,000 km of rural roads to improve connectivity. Additionally, thousands of mobile towers have been installed, with the goal of achieving full network coverage in affected areas by December 1.
As security forces intensify operations in affected regions, authorities remain focused on dismantling Naxal networks and ensuring stability in insurgency-hit areas.
