By Emeka Blast 
Security Forces Neutralize Naxalite, Corner Top Leaders in Bijapur Encounter
One Naxalite was killed, and several top Naxal leaders are reportedly trapped in an ongoing anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, near the Indravati National Park along the Bijapur-Dantewada border, police confirmed today. The operation, involving personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Bijapur and Dantewada districts, erupted into a fierce gunfight in the dense forest, marking another chapter in the state’s intensified campaign against Left-Wing Extremism.
According to a police official, the encounter began early this morning based on intelligence inputs indicating the presence of senior Maoist cadres in the area. The operation is part of a broader effort to neutralize key Naxal figures, with sources suggesting that top leaders, potentially including high-ranking members of the CPI-Maoist’s Battalion No. 1, are cornered in the rugged terrain. The identity of the slain Naxalite has not yet been established, and security forces are continuing search operations to locate other insurgents.
The Bijapur operation follows a series of high-intensity anti-Naxal campaigns in the Bastar division, including the recent Operation Sankalp, which saw 22 Naxalites killed in the Karregutta Hills in May 2025. This year alone, over 200 Naxalites have been neutralized in Chhattisgarh, with 183 in the Bastar region, according to police reports. The operation aligns with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive to eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, with security forces deploying thousands of personnel, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite CoBRA unit, to dismantle Maoist strongholds.
The dense forests of Indravati National Park, a known Naxal hideout, pose significant challenges due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and difficult terrain. Despite these risks, security forces have destroyed numerous Naxal bunkers and seized caches of weapons and explosives in recent months. The operation remains active, with authorities urging caution as they work to confirm the status of the trapped leaders.
Local communities, often caught in the crossfire, have expressed concerns over civilian safety, with past operations drawing criticism for alleged human rights violations. The state government has reiterated its commitment to minimizing collateral damage while pursuing its goal of a Naxal-free Chhattisgarh.
