Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur/Gadhchiroli
Raipur/Gadhchiroli, Nov 11: A fierce confrontation between security forces and Maoist insurgents has been unfolding since Tuesday morning in the dense forests straddling Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur and Maharashtra’s Gadhchiroli districts. Preliminary reports suggest that several Maoists may have been neutralised, though official confirmation on casualties is still awaited as the firefight continues intermittently.
The operation, involving District Reserve Guards (DRG), CoBRA commandos, and local police, escalated after a joint patrol acting on intelligence about a 20-25 member Maoist squad from the banned CPI (Maoist)’s Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee stumbled upon insurgents in the forest. The Maoists, reportedly led by senior commanders, responded with automatic weapons and grenades, sparking a prolonged exchange of fire. Thick undergrowth, ravines, and challenging terrain have allowed the rebels to employ hit-and-run tactics, stretching the encounter into its third day.
Security personnel have established a cordon around the area, preventing any escape, while reinforcements from nearby camps have been deployed. Officers speaking on condition of anonymity said several hardcore Maoists are believed to have been killed, with final numbers to be confirmed once the area is fully cleared. No casualties among security forces have been reported so far.
This latest clash follows a series of recent anti-Maoist operations in the region. On November 9, forces engaged a splinter Maoist group in Sukma forests, recovering explosives and propaganda materials after the insurgents fled. The current operation appears linked to those earlier encounters, including the November 5-6 clash on the Bijapur-Telangana border, where three Maoists, including a deputy commander with a Rs 5 lakh bounty, were killed. That operation also yielded weapons and IED components, highlighting the group’s ongoing attempts to regroup under pressure.
Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division, once a major Maoist stronghold, has seen a significant decline in insurgent activity this year, with over 400 cadres surrendering under the 2025 Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme offering skill training, housing, and financial assistance. High-profile operations, including the February Bijapur encounter that eliminated 31 Maoists, have weakened the insurgents’ command structure, reducing their operational territory to about 12 districts nationwide.
State Home Minister Vijay Sharma described the current operations as a “decisive step toward a Naxal-free Bastar” while reiterating the government’s dual strategy of combative action and developmental initiatives such as road connectivity and mobile health units in remote areas. Analysts note that enhanced intelligence-sharing, drone surveillance, and local informants have significantly increased the Maoists’ vulnerability.
The Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border remains a strategic corridor for arms smuggling, making these joint operations critical. Authorities are intensifying searches in the forested areas and expect to recover additional weapon caches, including INSAS rifles and gelatin sticks, commonly used in Maoist arsenals.
The encounter continues, with security forces maintaining vigilance as the operation to neutralise remaining insurgents and secure the area presses on.