8 Naxalites Gunned Down In Bijapur Encounter, Chhattisgarh CM Says ‘Naxalism Taking Its Last Breaths’

The anti-Naxalite operation commenced on Friday after receiving intelligence about the presence of cadres from the banned Communist Party of India (Maoists) "West Bastar division" in the area.

Representational Image | Eight Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.

Source : PTI

Eight Naxalites were shot dead in an encounter with security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, a senior police official said. From the encounter site, an Insas rifle and a barrel grenade launcher (BGL) were recovered.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told news agency PTI that the gunfight took place around 8.30 am in the forest in Gangaloor police station area. He added that the encounter occurred while the District Reserve Guard and Special Task Force of the state police along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) were out on an anti-Naxalite operation.

The anti-Naxalite operation was initiated on Friday following the information about the activities of the cadres of the "West Bastar division" outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoists) in the locality, he also said.'

Search Operation Still Underway

"The bodies of eight Naxalites have been recovered from the spot. Many more ultras have either been killed or injured. The search operation at the site is still underway. We have recovered an Insas rifle, a barrel grenade launcher, and other weapons from the spot," Sundarraj said.

Reacting over the incident, CM Vishnu Deo Sai told news agency ANI, "8 bodies of Naxalites have been recovered in an encounter. I salute our forces for their bravery. The resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to end Naxalism by 21 March 2026 is going to be fulfilled, Naxalism is taking its last breaths."

#WATCH | Raipur | On the Naxal encounter in Bijapur, CM Vishnu Deo Sai says, "...8 bodies of Naxalites have been recovered in an encounter... I salute our forces for their bravery... The resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to end Naxalism by 21… pic.twitter.com/HHqrbDe0b6

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2025

So far including this encounter, 50 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters in the state. Recently, on January 20-21, a total of 16 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh.

Police also disclosed that a total of 219 Naxalites were neutralised by security personnel in separate encounters in 2024.