Chhattisgarh: 10 Naxals killed in fierce encounter with security forces in Sukma

In a major operation against Naxalism, 10 Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Friday morning. The clash occurred during a joint operation by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) based on intelligence inputs about the presence of Naxal members in the region.

Inspector General (IG) Bastar, P Sundarraj, confirmed the successful operation, stating that INSAS, AK-47, and SLR rifles, along with several other weapons, were recovered from the site. “The encounter happened in the forest hills around Korajuguda, Dantespuram, Nagaram, and Bhandarpadar villages under the Bhejji police station area. Search operations are still underway,” he added.

The forces had been tracking the activities of Naxal groups associated with the Konta and Kistaram Area Committee of Sukma district. According to officials, the encounter began early in the morning and continued for several hours.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai praised the security forces for their dedication and courage, reiterating the state’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards Naxalism. He emphasized that the government prioritizes peace, security, and development in the Bastar region.

“The elimination of Naxalites is certain, and we are moving ahead in a planned manner to fulfill Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s goal of eradicating Naxalism from Chhattisgarh by March 2026,” CM Sai said.

Earlier this week, the Chief Minister met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the progress in anti-Naxal operations. Sai revealed that in the past 11 months, nearly 200 Naxals have been eliminated, and over 600 have surrendered.

This latest operation follows a series of successful encounters in the Bastar region. On November 16, five Naxals were killed in the Abujhmad jungles of Kanker during a joint search operation involving the DRG, Special Task Force (STF), Bastar Fighters, and Border Security Force (BSF). Two security personnel were injured in that encounter, which also led to the recovery of a large cache of weapons.