On Thursday, a fierce gunfight between security forces and Naxalites in the dense forests of the Bastar region in Bijapur district resulted in the death of 12 Naxalites, according to police reports. The encounter started around 9 am and took place when a joint team of security personnel was conducting an anti-Naxal operation in the area.

 “Based on specific information about the presence of Maoists in the given forest area, a joint team of security forces left on an anti-Maoist operation. On Thursday morning, there ensued an intermittent exchange of firings. Several Maoists are believed to have suffered casualties, and according to the information reaching the district headquarters, the figure may be around 10. But the exact casualties of Maoists in the gunfight will be known by Friday morning when the forces carry out search operations in the region and return”, the police further said.

The operation was carried out by personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) spanning three districts, along with five battalions of the CRPF's specialised jungle warfare unit, CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), and the 229th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

This marks the second significant encounter in Bijapur this month.

On January 12, security forces killed five Naxalites, including two women, during a similar operation in the rugged terrain of the Bandepara-Koranjed forests located within the Indravati National Park in Bijapur district.

Bijapur continues to be one of the most severely affected districts by Maoist activities in Bastar and is considered a stronghold for left-wing extremists in southern Chhattisgarh.

No injuries have been reported among the security personnel involved in the encounter, and additional details are still awaited.