Hyderabad: A fresh encounter between security forces and Maoists erupted in the dense Pidia forest of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh on Thursday morning, resulting in the deaths of five militants. The gunfight broke out during an anti-Maoist operation, with the area now secured by security personnel who continue combing operations. Intermittent firing was still underway at the time of reporting.
This latest exchange follows a major anti-insurgency operation on Wednesday that claimed the lives of 27 Maoists, including top leader Nambala Keshav Rao also known as Basavraj who was the General Secretary of the CPI (Maoist), a Politburo member, and a key figure in the party’s Central Military Commission.
The Wednesday encounter unfolded near the tri-junction of Narayanpur, Dantewada, and Bijapur districts, marking one of the deadliest confrontations in recent months. Two security personnel, including a DRG jawan, also lost their lives in the crossfire, while several others were injured. One of the injured personnel succumbed to his wounds later.
Authorities have ramped up operations in the insurgency-hit Bastar region, aiming to dismantle remaining Maoist strongholds.