A major anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district has resulted in the elimination of at least 18 Maoists, including a high-ranking commander. The intense encounter unfolded in the forests bordering Bijapur and Dantewada districts. Security forces launched a targeted operation that led to the fierce exchange. Initially, 12 Naxalites were reported dead, but a subsequent search recovered six more bodies, bringing the total to 18. Recovered from the deceased were a significant haul of weapons and ammunition, including AK-47 and INSAS rifles. One of the neutralized Naxalites, identified as Modiyam Vella, was a prominent commander within the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Vella was implicated in several deadly attacks, notably the 2020 Minpa ambush which cost the lives of 17 security personnel. He carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head. Tragically, the operation also resulted in the loss of three District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel. Two other DRG members sustained injuries during the intense combat. This year alone, Chhattisgarh has seen 275 Naxalites neutralized, with the Bastar region accounting for the majority of these successes. Conversely, 23 security personnel have also made the ultimate sacrifice in the ongoing fight against Naxalism in the state.
