Chhattisgarh Encounters: Maoists Gunned Down as Security Forces Intensify Anti-Insurgency Operations

Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region witnessed a series of fierce encounters between Maoist insurgents and Indian security forces, resulting in the deaths of several extremists. These operations form part of ongoing, intensified efforts to dismantle left-wing extremist networks that have long operated in the dense forested districts of Sukma and Bijapur. 

According to official sources, security forces located and engaged armed Maoist cadres in separate locations on the morning of January 3, 2026, leading to prolonged exchanges of gunfire. In one area of Sukma district, multiple suspected Maoist fighters were killed after opening fire on officers during a search operation in the thick forests. 

Elsewhere in Bijapur district, a similar encounter occurred, resulting in further casualties among the insurgent ranks. The combined operations saw security personnel recover a variety of arms, including assault rifles and other weaponry believed to have been used by the Maoists in prior attacks against state forces. 

Officials involved in the counter-insurgency push stressed that such operations are part of a broader campaign to weaken Maoist structures and restore long-term peace in regions historically affected by extremist violence. The Bastar area has witnessed repeated anti-Naxal actions, with dozens of militants neutralised in recent months as part of a strategic initiative to curb left-wing extremism. 

Security forces like the District Reserve Guard (DRG), along with other paramilitary units, carried out these missions based on intelligence inputs about the movements of armed cadres. While authorities have not released detailed numbers of those involved on either side, casualties among insurgents were confirmed, and the search operations for any remaining militants were ongoing as of the latest reports. 

Local officials say that these encounters demonstrate the state’s resolve to combat the decades-long Maoist insurgency and reaffirm the commitment of police and paramilitary forces to ensure the safety of civilians in affected areas. They also underline the continued use of intelligence-led deployments and coordinated tactical actions in the forests of southern Chhattisgarh to break extremist networks.