Chhattisgarh: 3 more Maoists found dead after encounter in Bastar region; toll rises to 31 | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Police on Saturday said that bodies of three more Maoists were recovered in Chhattisgarh‘s Bastar region, following a fierce encounter with security forces on Friday, bringing the death toll to 31,and adding that the search operation in the area is still ongoing.
Maoists were killed in intense encounters spread across a 10km range in the dense jungles of Abujhmarh, Bastar.Police suspect that at least five senior commanders were among those eliminated. The clashes occurred at multiple locations within the 10km area, with continuous gunfire exchanged between 1 pm to 9 pm.
“Bodies of three more Naxalites were recovered this morning from the dense forest where the encounter took place on Friday,” Inspector General of Police in Bastar range, Sundarraj P, told news agency PTI.
“With this, the toll of Naxalites in the encounter rose to 31. The identity of the Naxalites is yet to be ascertained, but prima facie it appears that they belonged to PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerilla Army) company No. 6, Platoon 16 of Maoists and east Bastar division of Maoists,” he added.
Around 4 pm, the first reports of Maoist casualties came in, and by 6 pm authorities had discovered 14 bodies. As time passed, the number of casualties continued to increase. Security forces have confiscated automatic firearms, such as “AK-47s and SLRs,” along with explosive materials.
Union home minister Amit Shah had a conversation with Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai late last night regarding the killing of 30 Maoists in an encounter with police along the Narayanpur-Dantewada border, the CMO told in a statement to ANI.
Earlier on the previous day, sharing a post on X, CM Sai said, “There is news of 28 Naxalites gunned down in an encounter with security forces in the border area of Narayanpur-Dantewada districts. The great success achieved by the soldiers is commendable. I salute their courage and valour.”
This marks the highest number of Maoist fatalities in a single operation since the state’s formation 24 years ago. The offensive comes just over five months after security forces killed 29 Maoists, including top-ranking cadres, in an encounter in Kanker district.
This year, security forces have successfully neutralised 48 Maoists in the Abujhmarh region, which was previously considered inaccessible, even for law enforcement personnel, an area once considered out of bounds for even the police.