Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Jul 20: In a major anti-Naxal operation, security forces in Chhattisgarh neutralized six Maoists—including four women and two men—during a fierce gunbattle that erupted in the dense forests of Abujhmad near Narayanpur district.

The operation, which began on July 17, involved a coordinated effort by DRG personnel from Narayanpur, Kanker, Bastar, and Kondagaon districts, along with Chhattisgarh STF and BSF battalions 129, 133, and 135.

According to Bastar IG P. Sundarraj, the deceased Maoists carried rewards of ₹8 lakh each, amounting to ₹48 lakh in total. Intelligence sources had indicated a gathering of Maoist Platoon Number 1 in the Abujhmad region, prompting the deployment of joint forces to launch a combing operation.

The encounter took place early morning on July 18 in the forest stretch between Pariya and Kakur villages. Security personnel exchanged gunfire with the Maoists over several hours. After the skirmish, forces recovered the bodies of six Maoists and seized a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from the site.

The seized items include one AK-47 rifle, one SLR, eleven BGL launchers, one 12-bore gun, and 83 BGL shells, among other Maoist supplies. This successful operation marks a significant blow to Maoist activities in the Bastar region and demonstrates the increasing efficiency of coordinated counter-insurgency efforts.

Officials stated that operations will continue in the area to maintain pressure on Maoist networks and prevent regrouping.

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