Six Maoists killed in Bijapur encounter

At least six Maoists were killed in an operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Tuesday (November 11, 2025), said police.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot in the National Park area of Bijapur, and the operation had not been called off till 7 p.m, they said.

Around 10 a.m., intermittent exchange of fire began between the Maoists and a joint team of the District Reserve Guard and the Special Task Force in the forest area.

During the search operation later in the day, the bodies of six Maoists, automatic weapons (INSAS), Sten guns, .303 rifles, other weapons, and explosives were recovered, said Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj said that since the operation was still on, the location of the encounter, the number of security forces involved, and other information cannot be shared to ensure the safety of the personnel on the ground. He added that additional teams of security forces have been deployed in the surrounding areas to encircle other absconding Maoist cadres.

Mr. Sundarraj described the latest operation as a significant achievement, one that will lead to the complete eradication of Maoist insurgency, and commended the bravery of the forces.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the forces and called the operation a “decisive step” towards fulfilling the commitment of eliminating Maoism from the State by March 31, 2026.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, a resolve has been made to eliminate Naxalism from the country and the state by March 31, 2026. This operation marks another decisive step toward fulfilling that commitment. The Government of Chhattisgarh is advancing this mission with full dedication and determination,” a statement issued by the government said.

In a separate encounter in Bijapur, an alleged Maoist was injured and captured alive, said a police statement.

According to numbers shared by the police, 259 Maoists have been gunned down in the State this year so far. Of those, 230 have been killed in the Bastar region, that includes seven districts including Bijapur. Of the remaining 29, 27 were killed in Gariaband district adjoining Bastar. 

In a related development, the State’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma released videos of the mothers of two top Maoists commanders Hidma and Barse Deva in which the two women can be heard appealing to their sons to lay down arms and return home. Showing the videos to the media, the Minister reiterated the government’s appeal to Maoists to surrender.

The Congress, however, criticised the move calling it a political propaganda.