Security forces on Thursday gunned down two Maoists during an anti-insurgency operation in the Indravati river zone of Bijapur district in South Chhattisgarh. The encounter took place under the jurisdiction of Jangla police station following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of armed cadres in the forested belt.
The exchange of fire broke out in the early hours when a joint team conducting a search operation came face to face with the Maoists. Officials said the gun battle lasted for a brief period before the extremists retreated into the dense terrain.
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Dr. Jitendra Yadav confirmed that during post encounter searches, the bodies of two uniformed Maoists were recovered from the site. Security personnel also seized one SLR rifle, one INSAS rifle and a 12 bore rifle, along with explosives and other Maoist insurgency related materials.
Bastar Range Inspector General Sundarraj P. revealed that combing operations are continuing in the surrounding area to track any remaining cadres. A detailed report will be shared once the operation concludes, he added.
The Indravati river zone has long been considered a sensitive corridor for Maoist movement. Thursday’s encounter is a part of the intensified anti Maoist campaign underway in the Bastar division, where security forces have been conducting sustained area domination and intelligence based operations.