Two women Maoists were killed during an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on Wednesday evening.
The operation, executed jointly by the District Reserve Guards (DRG) of Narayanpur and Kondagaon, along with the Special Task Force (STF), took place in the dense forested region of Abujhmad, long considered a Maoist stronghold.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj confirmed the deaths, stating that the joint forces acted on credible intelligence regarding the presence of a high-ranking Maoist unit from the outlawed Maad division.
“Based on actionable input, DRG and STF launched a combined operation in Abujhmad. The bodies of two female Maoists were recovered after a fierce exchange of fire,” the IG reported.
This incident adds to a growing list of successful counterinsurgency efforts in the state. Since January 2024, more than 400 Maoists have reportedly been neutralised in various encounters across Chhattisgarh. Notably, CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju was also killed in Narayanpur last month, marking a significant blow to the insurgency leadership.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a recent visit to Chhattisgarh, reaffirmed the government’s stance on continuing anti-Naxal operations through the monsoon, emphasising “no pause in our pursuit of lasting peace.”
The identities of the deceased are yet to be officially released as search operations and area domination efforts continue in the region.