Sunday | Jun 01 2025 | 11:32:08 PM
New Delhi, May 8
22 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district during Operation Sankalp, a massive counter-insurgency initiative.
Operation Sankalp, one of the biggest counter-insurgency actions launched in the Bastar region. A joint force involving District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), all parts of the state police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action).
‘Operation Sankalp’ was launched on April 21. Since the launch, at least 35 encounters have taken place between security forces and Naxalites in the Karregutta and adjoining hills surrounded by dense forest.
26 bodies of ultras and around 40 firearms have been recovered. Over 400 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), approximately 2 tonnes of explosive materials and more than six tonnes of ration items, medicines, daily use materials and other Maoist belongings have been seized during the operation so far.
Hundreds of Naxal hideouts and bunkers have have been found and destroyed so far during the operation, and a huge cache of explosive material, detonators, medicines, and other items was seized.
The officials stated that in the latest gunfight that took place this morning in the Karregutta area, bodies of 22 Naxalites have been recovered. The officials are verifying the identities of those dead. The security fiorces received inputs bout the presence of senior cadres of battalion no. 1, the strongest military formation of Maoists, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and the Telangana state committee of Maoists.
On April 24, three women Naxalites belonging to the PLGA battalion no.1 of Maoists and carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, were gunned down on the Karregutta hills, leading to the recovery of a huge cache of weapons, explosives, and other material. On May 5, a woman Naxalite was killed in a gunfight with security forces in the area.
