Three Naxalites were killed on Thursday in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma confirmed. He hailed the operation as a significant success in the ongoing anti-Naxalite campaign.
Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated that the bodies of three Naxalites had been recovered, and search operations were continuing.
The encounter took place in a forest along the Sukma-Bijapur border early Thursday morning. The joint operation involved personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and the CoBRA unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The recent operation comes amidst heightened tensions following an IED blast on January 6 in Bijapur district, where eight security personnel and a civilian driver were killed. Referring to the incident, Sharma expressed the strong resolve of the security forces. “The recent attack has fueled immense anger among our forces. I assure you that with the courage and determination of our jawans, the Naxalite menace will be eradicated within the set timeline,” he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed this resolve earlier in the week, pledging to eliminate Naxalism from the country by March 2026. He also vowed that the sacrifices of the security personnel who died in the recent attacks would not go in vain.
So far in 2025, nine Naxalites have been killed in various operations in the state. During a three-day operation in Abujhmad, located on the Narayanpur-Dantewada-Bijapur border, five Naxalites, including two women, were killed by security forces. This operation concluded on January 6.
Additionally, on January 3, security personnel killed a Naxalite in the Gariaband district, which falls under the Raipur division.
The state government, in coordination with central forces, continues its intensified campaign against Naxalite activities in the region, aiming to restore peace and security in affected areas.