In a significant operation against Naxalite rebels, security forces in Chhattisgarh killed five Naxalites, including two women, during a fierce encounter in the dense forests of the Bijapur district on Sunday. While forces including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and district forces, were conducting anti-Naxal operations in the area, a gunfight broke out in the Bandepara-Koranzed forest in the morning. The operation was launched after receiving information about the extremist movements in the area. 

"The exchange of fire continued intermittently till 3-4 pm. The bodies of five Naxals, including two women in 'uniform', have been recovered from the spot. We have seized a self-loading rifle (SLR), a 12-bore rifle, two single-shot rifles, a barrel grenade launcher (BGL), a muzzle-loading gun and explosives," said Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range. The identities of the slain Naxals are being confirmed, he stated.

With Sunday's incident, the entire number of Naxalites killed in different clashes in Chhattisgarh has risen to 14. On January 9, three extremists were killed in an operation by security forces in the Sukma district. This comes after a three-day anti-Naxal operation in the Bijapur district from January 4 to January 6, in which five Naxals, including two women, were killed.

Also, on January 3, one Naxalite was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Gariaband district. On January 6, Naxals blew up a car with an IED; that incident killed eight police personnel and a civilian driver.

The Narendra Modi-led government has promised to eradicate Naxalism in the country by March 31, 2026.

In his December 2024 at a TV program at Agenda Aaj Tak, Shah stated that "only two districts in Chhattisgarh remain under Naxal influence" and that they will be liberated by March 31, 2026.