Security forces achieved a significant breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Maoist campaign in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, with six armed Maoist cadres, including a senior area commander, killed during a sustained two-day operation in the forested National Park region. The joint operation, involving the District Reserve Guard (DRG), CoBRA and the Special Task Force (STF), is still in progress, with intensive search operations continuing in the surrounding areas.
Jitendra Yadav, Bijapur superintendent of police, said that fresh exchanges of fire on Sunday led to the recovery of two more bodies of uniformed Maoists, along with an INSAS rifle and a .303 rifle. With this, the total number of Maoists neutralised since the launch of the operation on January 17 has risen to six, including four women cadres. A total of six graded weapons, two AK-47 rifles, one INSAS rifle, one carbine and two .303 rifles, have been seized so far.
The operation was launched after specific intelligence inputs indicated the presence of heavily armed Maoists belonging to the National Park Area Committee in the northwestern forest and hill tracts of Bijapur. Security teams encountered resistance soon after entering the area, leading to intermittent but intense firefights over the past two days.
Preliminary identification has confirmed four of the slain cadres as DVCM Dilip Bedja, a key commander of the National Park Area Committee, ACM Madvi Kosa, ACM Lakhi Madkam, and party member Radha Metta. Identification of the remaining two Maoists is underway.
Bastar Range Inspector General Sundarraj Pattilingam said the operation reflected sustained, intelligence-led action by security forces. “Teams from the DRG, CoBRA, STF, local police and central forces are working in close coordination to ensure peace, security and long-term stability in the Bastar region. Operations against armed Maoist cadres will continue with full professional commitment,” he said.
Officials stressed that, given the operation is still active, details regarding exact locations and force deployment are being withheld to ensure the safety of personnel on the ground. A detailed briefing will be issued once the search operation is formally concluded.