A woman Maoist was shot dead in the forested hills of Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Friday morning, as security forces continued one of the most aggressive anti-Naxal campaigns seen in decades.
According to a statement by Chhattisgarh Police, the encounter broke out within the Chhotebethiya police station limits, where a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Border Security Force (BSF) was conducting an operation. The action was based on intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoist cadres between Amatola and Kalpar villages, across the Kotri river.
After a brief but intense exchange of fire, the body of a female Maoist—along with a weapon—was recovered. “The operation is still ongoing,” officials confirmed, suggesting more developments may follow.
This incident adds to the growing toll of Naxal casualties in the Bastar region, which has now seen 213 Maoist deaths since January 2025. Experts attribute the rising count to improved coordination, targeted intelligence gathering, and strategic offensives across Maoist-affected districts.
The Bastar division—long considered a Maoist stronghold—is now at the centre of a transformative security initiative, with the government committed to ending decades of insurgency through both force and developmental outreach.
