SUKMA, Chhattisgarh – Security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district achieved a significant victory in the battle against Maoist insurgency, eliminating 10 armed rebels during a fierce gunfight in the dense forests of Bheji village, located in the Konta taluka of Dakshin Bastar Dantewada. The operation, which began early Thursday morning, marks a major success in the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the Bastar region.
Officials confirmed the recovery of three automatic weapons, including an AK-47, INSAS rifle, and an SLR from the encounter site. The clash was part of an intensified campaign targeting Maoist activity along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, in response to recent intelligence reports warning of heightened insurgent presence in the area.
Bastar Inspector General (IG) Sundarraj P disclosed that the operation took place in the forests near Dantespuram, Korajuguda, and Nagaram. It involved personnel from the District Reserve Force (DRF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) units. “The bodies of 10 Maoist insurgents have been recovered so far. Our forces remain on the ground to ensure complete sanitisation of the area,” he said.
Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran Chavan hailed the operation as a “landmark success,” emphasizing that the coordinated efforts between various security agencies were crucial to achieving such a decisive result.
The encounter began after intelligence reports tipped off security forces about a Maoist assembly in the area. Upon arrival, the forces came under heavy fire but retaliated swiftly, forcing the insurgents to flee. The authorities also reported finding Maoist literature and supplies left behind by the fleeing militants.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the security forces for their bravery and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to eradicating Maoist violence. “This success underscores our zero-tolerance policy against Maoist violence. We are committed to ensuring peace, development, and the safety of every citizen in Bastar,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
The Sukma operation follows another skirmish in the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, which took place a day earlier. In that incident, Maoists retreated under heavy fire, leaving behind a single-shot rifle, Maoist literature, and other supplies.
This latest success is part of a broader escalation in counter-insurgency operations in Chhattisgarh this year. From January 1 to November 22, security forces have eliminated 207 Maoists, signaling a significant shift in the dynamics of the ongoing battle against left-wing extremism.
Despite these achievements, Maoists continue to pose a significant threat, particularly with their strategic use of the region’s dense forests for guerrilla warfare. However, the Sukma operation signals a turning of the tide in the fight against insurgents in the region.
The encounter also highlights the growing security concerns along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border, where Maoists have recently infiltrated in larger numbers, prompting a state of heightened vigilance. The Sukma operation is a testament to the government’s resolve to restore normalcy in the region, with specialized local forces, like the Bastar Fighters, playing a key role in the successful operation.
In a region where conflict has long overshadowed development, proactive operations like the one in Sukma offer hope that peace and stability can once again prevail.