Security forces struck a major victory against Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur, where a fierce encounter left six rebels dead, four of them women cadres. The operation targeted a forested hilly border zone near Bhopalpatnam and Farsegarh stations in the National Park area.
Intelligence inputs pinpointed Dilip Bendza, a key figure in the National Park Area Committee, prompting a coordinated search by elite units from DGR Bijapur, DGR Dantewada, STF, and CRPF 214. The firefight broke out as Maoists unleashed a barrage of bullets.
Recovery operations yielded six bodies, including high-value target Dilip Bendza (Rs 8 lakh reward) and his associates: ACM Madvi Kosa, Palo Podium, Lakhi Madkam, Juglo Banjam, and Radha Metta (total rewards Rs 27 lakh). The seized weapons included two AK-47s, two rifles, a carbine, BGL launcher, along with explosives, grenades, wireless equipment, and propaganda material.
SSP Bijapur Dr. Jitendra Yadav detailed Bendza’s extensive rap sheet of 135 cases, marking him as a prime orchestrator of terror. Despite treacherous terrain and a wild animal incident injuring two personnel—who are now recovering—the mission succeeded.
District statistics paint a picture of decisive progress: 229 Maoists eliminated since early 2024, over a thousand arrests, and nearly 900 surrenders. This year’s toll stands at 163 in 2025 and eight in 2026.
IG Bastar Sundarraj P. credited community cooperation and targeted ops for eroding Naxal strongholds. His call for surrenders resonates as the region edges closer to peace, with Maoist shadows fading fast.
