Baster: In a fierce gun battle 17 Naxalites, including 11 women naxals were killed at the border of Sukma and Dantewada districts in Chhattisgarh, on Sunday morning.
The ongoing encounter, which began on Saturday, is still underway in the Gorgunda hill area of Keralapal, where security forces are engaged in intense gunfire with Maoist insurgents.
ccording to official sources, the gunfight began early on Saturday following a joint operation between the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local district police. Intelligence had indicated Maoist activity in the area, prompting authorities to launch a targeted offensive.
The ensuing battle, which intensified after 8:00 AM, led to the death of 17 Naxalites, including a significant Maoist figure, Jagdish alias Budra, who was the Darbha Division Secretary. Budra, a key operative in the Naxalite movement, had a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head. He was reportedly involved in several high-profile incidents, including the 2013 Jheeram massacre and the 2023 attack on DRG jawans in Aranpur, Sukma.
While 17 Naxalites have been confirmed dead, authorities also reported that four soldiers, including one from the CRPF, were injured during the exchange of fire. Fortunately, their conditions have been deemed stable.
In the aftermath of the encounter, security forces successfully recovered a cache of weapons, including an AK-47, INSAS rifle, SLR, 303 rifle, rocket launcher, and BGL launcher, as well as several explosives. The operation is part of ongoing anti-Maoist efforts in the Bastar Division, which have resulted in the elimination of 117 hardcore Naxalites over the past 87 days.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the operation persists, with the security forces working to clear the area and prevent further escalation.
