The police on Saturday said that eight Naxalites have been killed in an encounter between security forces and Naxals in the jungle under Gangaloor Police Station limit in Bijapur. Senior officials said that two personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a unit of the state police, were also injured in the gunfight.
The gunfight erupted around 8.30 am in the forest of the Gangaloor police station area, where a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, the official said.
An INSAS rifle and a barrel grenade launcher (BGL) were among the weapons recovered from the site afterwards, the official said.
Operation launched after input on presence of Naxals
He said personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) were involved in the operation that was launched on Friday based on inputs about the presence of cadres of the 'West Bastar division' of the Maoists in the area.
"The bodies of eight Naxalites, all men, have been recovered from the spot. Many more ultras have either been killed or injured. The search operation at the site is still underway. We have recovered an INSAS rifle, a .12 bore rifle, a barrel grenade launcher and five other weapons," Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said.
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai hails security forces.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the security forces for the success. "The state government has been working with full commitment to eliminate Naxalism. Today's encounter is a big success for the security forces. I salute their courage," Sai said in a statement.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have resolved to end Naxalism in the country by March 31, 2026. We are succeeding in fulfilling this vow. Naxalism is near its end. Our goal is to make Bastar completely Naxal-free and accelerate the development of the tribal community," he said.