27th ITBP battalion wins top Anti-Naxal operations and community service award

The 27th battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), deployed in Chhattisgarh, has been named the best anti-Maoist operations unit of the force for its combined achievements in counter-insurgency operations and community welfare initiatives.

The battalion, stationed in the Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district near Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli border, has been actively targeting Naxal networks over the past two years. Its operations have led to the elimination of nine top Maoist leaders, including senior commanders Vijay Reddy and Lokesh Salame, who were killed during a fierce encounter in August 2025. Numerous other cadres and over-ground workers were also arrested or persuaded to surrender.

The ITBP recognised the battalion for undertaking “extraordinary” anti-Naxal operations that disrupted extremist leadership and strengthened security in the region. ITBP Director General Praveen Kumar presented the trophy and citation to the outgoing commandant, Vivek Kumar Pandey, and the incoming commander, B P Badaya, during a ceremonial parade here. The force is set to celebrate its 64th Raising Day on November 22, with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar expected to officiate.

The award assumes added significance as the Centre pursues its goal to end Naxalism by March 2026. Security forces are instructed to adopt a two-pronged strategy: combining intelligence-driven armed offensives with welfare initiatives aimed at improving local livelihoods and engaging tribal communities.

In line with this approach, the 27th battalion has undertaken multiple community development initiatives. These include career counselling for tribal youth, resulting in at least 10 clearing SSC and Chhattisgarh Police constable examinations, and the establishment of a veterinary field hospital alongside a local hospital, benefiting around 6,000 villagers over the past two years. Such programs aim to provide alternatives to joining extremist groups while fostering trust and goodwill among the local population.

Primarily tasked with guarding India’s 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, the ITBP also undertakes internal security duties, including operations against Maoists. The recognition of the 27th battalion underscores the effectiveness of combining targeted counter-insurgency operations with welfare measures, reflecting the force’s contribution to national security and the government’s vision for a Naxal-free India.