In a massive action against Naxalites (Maoists) in Chhattisgarh, security forces killed 29 rebels on Tuesday in Kanker area. This was one of the largest anti-Naxal operations in recent years in the state.
Of the 29 Naxalites killed, over a dozen were women fighters protecting the male rebels when forces attacked them. The killed Maoists had deadly weapons like AK-47 rifles and ammunition.
Three security personnel – two from Border Security Force and one from state police – suffered minor injuries in the operation.
If rebel casualties cross 30, it would be the biggest such operation against Naxals in 10 years in Chhattisgarh. Previously, police killed 30 Naxals in 2016 and 26 including a top leader in 2021.
However, this Kanker operation is the first major success without any fatal casualties on the forces’ side.
The joint search operation by Kanker police and BSF began on April 16 in Chhottebetiya area based on inputs about senior Naxal presence. The gunbattle occurred around 2pm in Binagunda-Koragutta jungles.
After the encounter, forces recovered 29 Naxal bodies and a large cache of weapons and ammunition including AK-47s, INSAS rifles and SLRs.
Top rebel commanders Shankar Rao and Lalita, who carried rewards, are suspected among those killed.
So far in 2024, 79 Naxalites have been killed in separate operations in the Bastar region comprising Kanker and 6 other districts.
The latest anti-Naxal success came just days before first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19 in Bastar and April 26 in Kanker.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the brave security forces, calling Naxalism the “biggest enemy of development”. He vowed to make Chhattisgarh and India “Naxal-free” under PM Modi’s leadership.