In a significant blow to left-wing extremism in Chhattisgarh, security forces gunned down 14 Maoists in separate encounters across the Bastar division on Sunday. The operations, which unfolded in the districts of Sukma and Bijapur, also led to the recovery of a substantial cache of sophisticated weapons.
Dawn Operations and Fierce Gun Battles
According to senior police officials, the combing operations were launched based on specific intelligence about the presence of armed cadres. The first exchange of fire began around 5 am in the forests of Bijapur district. A few hours later, another intense gun battle erupted in Sukma around 8 am, lasting for approximately an hour and a half.
Bastar Inspector General P Sundarraj stated that two Maoists were eliminated in Bijapur, while 12 were killed in Sukma. The bodies were recovered during subsequent search operations in the area. Senior police officers, including Sukma SP Kiran Chavan and Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav, were present on the ground to monitor the situation as combing continued to ensure no additional threats remained.
Key Casualties and Weapon Haul
The police confirmed that among the 12 killed in Sukma was Sachin Mangtu, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DVCM), and another cadre named Hitesh from the Konta area committee. The two Maoists neutralised in Bijapur were also wanted in connection with civilian killings.
IG Sundarraj revealed that a large cache of arms was seized from the encounter sites. The haul included AK-47 rifles, INSAS rifles, and Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), indicating the armed strength of the cadre present.
Wider Impact on Maoist Network
Officials highlighted that this operation has led to the neutralisation of all Maoist commanders allegedly involved in the killing of Akash Rao Girepunje, an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Sukma's Konta, who was martyred in June last year.
Providing a broader assessment of the Maoist situation, IG Sundarraj claimed that the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) zone of the Maoists has been "completely wiped out." He further stated that Maoist presence has been almost eliminated from North Bastar and the Marh division in the Abujhmarh region.
Police estimates suggest only about 200 to 300 armed Maoist cadres remain active in the entire Bastar region, and they are currently in hiding. Among the senior leaders still at large are special zonal committee member Paparao, believed to be hiding in South Bastar forests with his associates, and central committee member Mishir Besra, who is suspected to be in Jharkhand.
One of the Maoists killed in the recent operation, Barse Deva, was identified as a close associate of the late rebel top commander Madvi Hidma, who was killed in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh recently. Over the past two years, more than 518 Maoists have been killed in encounters across Chhattisgarh, predominantly within the Bastar division, marking a sustained and intense counter-insurgency campaign.
