Chhattisgarh Sees Major Naxalite Neutralization in Bijapur

Eighteen Naxalites, including a high-ranking commander, have been eliminated by security forces in a major encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. The operation commenced on Wednesday in the forested areas bordering Bijapur and Dantewada districts. A large cache of weapons, including AK-47 and INSAS rifles, was seized from the neutralized cadres. Modiyam Vella, identified as a company commander of the PLGA and previously involved in significant attacks like the 2020 Minpa ambush which claimed 17 security personnel, was among those killed. He had a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head. The successful operation came at a heavy cost for the security forces, with three members of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) losing their lives. Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde, and Jawan Ramesh Sodhi were martyred, while two others were injured. This latest success brings the total number of Naxalites neutralized in Chhattisgarh to 275 this year, with 246 fatalities in the Bastar region. Despite these gains, 23 security personnel have been martyred in the state’s ongoing fight against Naxalism.