14 Maoists Killed in Separate Gunfights With Security Forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur

At least 14 Maoists were killed in two separate gunfights with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region on Saturday, police officials said, marking another major blow to left-wing extremism in the state.

According to the police, 12 Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter in Sukma district, while two others were neutralised in the adjoining Bijapur district during the early hours of the day. The identities of the deceased are yet to be established.

The encounter in Sukma broke out in a forested area in the southern part of the district when a joint team of security personnel was carrying out an anti-Maoist operation based on specific intelligence inputs, a senior police officer said.

“At least 12 Maoists have been neutralised so far. The operation is still underway, and more details will be shared once the situation becomes clearer,” the officer added.

In a separate incident in Bijapur district, another gunfight took place at around 5 am when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG)—a specialised unit of the state police raised to combat Maoist insurgency—was conducting a similar search-and-combing operation. The bodies of two Maoists were recovered from the spot following the exchange of fire, officials said.

Security forces said intermittent firing was continuing at both locations, suggesting the presence of more Maoist cadres in the area. A comprehensive assessment of casualties and recoveries will be possible only after the conclusion of the ongoing operations, they added.

The Bastar region, which includes districts such as Sukma and Bijapur, remains one of the most affected areas by Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh. Security forces have intensified operations in recent years as part of a broader strategy to dismantle insurgent networks.

According to police data, as many as 285 Maoists were killed in encounters with security forces across Chhattisgarh last year, reflecting a sustained push by the state and central forces to curb left-wing extremism.