Over 12 Naxalites killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region

More than a 12 Naxalites were killed in separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region on Saturday, police officials said, marking one of the deadliest operations against left-wing extremism this year.

In Sukma district, over 10 armed Naxal cadres were killed during an anti-insurgency operation in the dense forests of the southern region. The encounter erupted when a joint team of state police and central armed forces, including personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), came under fire while carrying out a search operation, a senior police official said.

“More than 10 Naxal cadres have been neutralised so far. The operation is still underway, and further details will be shared once the situation is fully assessed,” the official said.

In a separate incident in neighbouring Bijapur district, two Naxalites were killed during an early morning gunfight around 5 am . The encounter occurred in a forested area in the southern part of the district when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a unit of the Chhattisgarh Police, launched a similar counter-insurgency operation, another official said.

The bodies of the two slain ultras were recovered from the spot, while intermittent firing was reported to be continuing in the area. Security forces have intensified combing operations, and further details were awaited.

Chhattisgarh has witnessed sustained anti-Naxalite operations in recent years, particularly in the Bastar division, which includes Sukma and Bijapur. According to official data, 285 Naxalites were killed in separate encounters with security forces across the state last year. The intensified operations form part of the Centre’s broader strategy, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah repeatedly stating the government’s resolve to eliminate left-wing extremism from the country by March 2026 .