Two maoists killed in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur gunfight as security forces intensify operations

RAIPUR: Two cadres of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in the south-western region of strife-torn Bijapur district, about 400 km south of Raipur, the Bastar police said on Friday. Based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of Maoists in the given location of Bijapur district, troops launched a search operation. A gunfight broke out between the security forces and the Maoists in the morning. The exchange of fire continues intermittently. Two bodies of Maoists have been recovered from the encounter site, said the police. There was, however, no report of any injury sustained by the forces. The forces also recovered weapons, explosive materials, and items of daily use from the location. As the search operation remains underway alongside the gun battle, further operational details were not shared owing to safety concerns for the personnel engaged in the anti-Maoist campaign on the ground. On Thursday, a joint team of forces gunned down 10 Maoists, including Central Committee member Manoj Balakrishna of the banned outfit, in Gariaband district, about 150 km east of Raipur. Bijapur, one of the seven Maoist-affected districts in the Bastar zone, is cited as an epicentre of the left-wing extremist group in south Chhattisgarh. Union home minister Amit Shah had in August last year declared that the country would be Maoist-free by 31 March 2026.