RAIPUR — Five
Maoists were killed in two encounters with security forces in an ongoing
operation in the Indravati National Park area of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district,
police officials said on Saturday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hailed the success and
expressed his wish to meet the brave soldiers who are engaged in anti-Maoist
mission.
With the latest casualties, seven Maoists, including top
leaders Sudhakar and Bhaskar, were neutralised in the operation in the last
three days, they said.
"Security forces have recovered the bodies of seven
Maoists during the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in the Indravati National Park
area of the district," a police officer said.
Security forces have intensified their anti-Maoist
operations in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, leading to the elimination of
seven Maoist cadres over the past three days.
Among those killed are Central Committee Member Gautam, also
known as Sudhakar, and Telangana State Committee Member Bhaskar.
The encounters, which unfolded between June 5 and June 7,
resulted in multiple casualties among insurgents.
The first confrontation on June 5 led to the death of
Sudhakar, a senior Maoist leader who had established Maoist education centres
in the Dandakaranya region.
His body was recovered following an intense exchange of
fire.
The following day, security forces neutralised Bhaskar, a
commander associated with the Telangana State Committee.
His elimination marked another significant blow to the
insurgent network.
As operations continued into the intervening night of June 6
and 7, three more Maoist's bodies were found, including two women and one man.
Later, on June 7 (Saturday), two additional male Maoist
cadres were killed in another encounter.
The identities of these five insurgents remain unknown, and
efforts are underway to confirm their details.
Security personnel recovered a substantial cache of arms and
ammunition from the encounter sites, including two AK-47 rifles and various
Maoist documents.
The operation has been physically demanding, with several
soldiers sustaining injuries due to snake bites, honeybee stings, dehydration,
and other operational hazards.
Medical teams have ensured their treatment, and all injured
personnel are reported to be in stable condition.
Search and area domination efforts continue in the dense
forest terrain to track any remaining Maoist operatives and secure the region.
Officials have stated that a comprehensive report on the
recovered weapons and materials will be released once all field inputs have
been consolidated.
The ongoing crackdown against Maoist insurgents in Bijapur
underscores the government’s commitment to dismantling their presence and
restoring stability to the region.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma acknowledged
the success of the operation, confirming that the bodies of seven insurgents,
including top leaders Sudhakar and Bhaskar, have been recovered.
