Chhattisgarh Forces Kill 31 Naxalites in Largest Bastar Operation; Weapons Recovered

Oct 4, 2024, 03:44 PM

Security forces in India's Chhattisgarh state have killed at least 31 Naxalites in a major encounter in the Bastar region. The gunfight began around 1 PM in the Abujhmad forest area along the Narayanpur-Dantewada border. The operation was conducted by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF). A large cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles and SLRs, was recovered. Among those killed were at least five senior commanders. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the operation, calling it the largest to date, and urged Maoists to abandon violence and embrace development. No security personnel were injured in the operation, which is considered one of the biggest blows to Maoists in the state. The death toll rose to 31 after the bodies of three more Naxalites were found, bringing the total number of Maoists eliminated in 2024 to 185.