Narayanpur: In a major breakthrough, at least 26 Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. It is one of the biggest anti-Naxal operations in recent times. The encounter took place in the Maad region of the district.
According to reports, several senior Naxal commanders were eliminated in the gunfight which broke out in the forest area of Abujhmad.
Chhattisgarh's Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma told ANI that one soldier was also injured in the gun battle.
"...More than 26 naxalites have been killed by the security forces..." One Jawan has been injured but is out of danger. One of our associates lost his life during the operation," The Deputy CM said.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Arun Sao told the news agency his government's aim is to make Bastar Naxal-free.
"After the formation of our government in the state, a program is running to make Bastar Naxal-free. In Narayanpur, more than two dozen Naxalites have been killed in an encounter. Our security forces are working diligently so that by March 2026, Bastar becomes Naxal-free," Sao said as quoted by ANI.
Earlier, security forces conducted 'Operation Black Forest' to break the backbone of Naxals near Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
The 21-day-long operation carried out by the joint forces of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police between April 21 and May 11 neutralised 31 Naxals carrying a bounty of Rs 1.72 crore.
Notably, in February this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah vowed to end Naxalism by March 31, 2026. While speaking at CRPF’s 86th Raising Day function as the chief guest in Neemuch on April 17, Shah reiterated the Centre's commitment to end Naxalism by March Next year. He said that Naxalism, which is confined to just four districts in India, will be eliminated by March 31, 2026, and the CRPF is the "backbone" of this mission. Shah added that he is confident of victory wherever the CRPF is deployed.
