How security forces gunned down 29 Naxals in ‘biggest strike’ in the jungles of Chhattisgarh

Days before parts of Chhattisgarh go to the polls in Phase 1 of the Lok Sabha elections on 19 April, a massive encounter took place in the forests of Kanker in Bastar. Security officials took out at least 29 Maoists in the encounter, with authorities later confirming that this was the highest number of Maoist casualties in a single operation in the Bastar region.

Following the operation, Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the security personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Border Security Force (BSF), terming it a “big achievement.”

How did the encounter unfold? Who was the Maoist commander that was killed?

Biggest strike

Giving details on how the encounter was planned and unfolded, Bastar Inspector General Sundarraj P said that the operation site is an area between Abujhmad, Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, and north Bastar.

“We received information of senior cadres like Lalita, Shankar Rao and Raju being at the spot. Acting on this information, a joint team of DRG (District Reserve Guards) and BSF (Border Security Force) was sent there.”

According to the authorities, the encounter took place under the jurisdiction of the Chhotebethiya police station.

Based on the intel they received, the DRG and BSF personnel set out in the region and took control of it. During their operation, the Maoists opened fire on the troops and a gunfight ensued around 2 pm in the Hapatola forest between Binagunda and Koronar villages under Chhotebethiya police station limits.

The anti-Naxal operation began around 2 pm, under the jurisdiction of the Chhotebethiya police station. PTI

Visuals of the operation, as per an NDTV report, shows a glimpse of how the anti-Maoist operation took place on Tuesday (16 April). In the footage, security personnel are walking through the jungles when suddenly, one of the troops fires two shots from his weapon. Shouting is heard from various sides and the man shooting the video then warns personnel ahead of him to tread carefully and not rush ahead.

“Peeche se koi fire nahin karega bhai (no one should fire from behind),” NDTV reports the man saying to his fellow personnel and the video ends with him repeating the warning.

Following the operation, IG Sundarraj confirmed that 29 Naxals were killed in the operation, including senior members such as Shankar Rao and Lalita, who have a bounty of Rs 25 lakh each. Many automatic assault weapons were also seized in the encounter.

The officials further stated that three security personnel — BSF inspector Ramesh Choudhary and two personnel of DRG — sustained injuries and were airlifted to Raipur for immediate medical attention.

A job well done

Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the security forces on the success of the operation, calling Naxalism the “biggest enemy of development.”

In a post on X, he wrote, “Today, a large number of Naxalites have been killed in the operation of security forces in Chhattisgarh. I congratulate all the security personnel who made this operation successful with their bravery and wish for the speedy recovery of the brave policemen who have been injured. Naxalism is the biggest enemy of development, peace and a bright future of youth.”

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are determined to free the country from the scourge of Naxalism. Due to the offensive policy of the government and the efforts of the security forces, Naxalism has been confined to a small area today. Soon Chhattisgarh and the entire country will be completely Naxal-free,” he added.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai also lauded the security personnel for the operation: “It is indeed a very big achievement. A joint party of DRG and BSF carried out this operation and encountered Naxalites in the Binagunda-Koragutta jungles of the Chhottebetiya Police Station area of Kanker District. Twenty-nine Naxalites have been reported dead. Three jawans have been injured during the encounter and they are being treated. I congratulate all jawans and security personnel involved in this historical encounter.”

He added that it was believed that the Naxals were planning on disrupting the election process, scheduled for 19 April. “Our government is trying to bring development in the Naxal-affected areas through the Niyad Nellanar scheme. Home Minister Amit Shah has also reiterated his desire to put an end to naxalism. The government wants these Naxalites to come into the mainstream,” he was quoted as saying to NDTV.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma also hailed the troops: “I congratulate the security forces for their bravery. To the Naxals, I have always said we are ready for dialogue and discussion. We are ready to speak to one person or a group of persons from the Naxalites. Today, many in Bastar do not have even basic water supply. There is nothing political about it. We will do everything to bring development to Bastar.”

Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma visits an injured security personnel at a hospital after an encounter between security forces and Naxalites, on Tuesday. PTI

Naxal toll rises

Tuesday’s operation has been termed as the biggest for the year. According to official data, since the start of 2024, as many as 79 Naxalites have been killed in separate gun-battles with security forces in the Bastar region.

Prior to Tuesday’s operation, as many as 13 Naxalites were killed on 2 April. Additionally, another six were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in the Bijapur district.

Government data shows that the government has been working tirelessly at elimination the Naxal movement from the state of Chhattisgarh. In 2019, officials killed 65 of them, while that number dipped to 36 in the following year. In 2021, the Naxal death toll increased to 47 and dipped to 30 and 24 in the following years.

Naxal incidents have also reduced in the state of Chhattisgarh. From 392 such incidents in 2018, the number has dropped to 246 in 2023. This shows that Naxalism is petering out in the state.

Officials believe that the Centre’s strong action against them combined with an effort to develop the region is the main reason behind the drop in Naxal-related incidents. Moreover, a lack of ideological clarity within the Naxal ranks and with few members of the motivated old leadership still in command have also proved to be catalysts for their fading.

“It is clear that the Naxal insurgency has decreased significantly with the death or capture of many of its key leaders and ability of the Indian state to expand its security apparatus,” Suhas Chakma, director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group, an independent think tank, was quoted as telling DW.

With inputs from agencies