A significant anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district has resulted in the elimination of at least 18 Maoists, including a prominent commander. The fierce encounter unfolded in the forests bordering the Bijapur and Dantewada districts on Wednesday. Security forces engaged with the Naxalite group during a targeted anti-insurgency operation.
Initially, reports indicated 12 Maoists were killed. However, by Thursday, authorities confirmed that six more bodies were recovered, bringing the total to 18 neutralized insurgents. Authorities also reported the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons, including AK-47 and INSAS rifles, from the slain militants.
Among those killed was Modiyam Vella, identified as a company commander for the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Vella was a key figure, involved in numerous violent incidents, including the 2020 Minpa ambush which tragically cost the lives of 17 security personnel. He carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh.
The operation was not without loss for the security forces. Tragically, three District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel – Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde, and Jawan Ramesh Sodhi – were martyred. Two other DRG personnel sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.
This year, Chhattisgarh has seen a significant number of Naxalite casualties, with 275 neutralized in total across the state. The Bastar region alone accounts for 246 of these deaths. Conversely, 23 security personnel have lost their lives in anti-Naxal operations in the state so far this year.