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In addition, Platoon No. 13 commander DVCM Jhitru Oyam and DVCM Motu Kawasi were also killed. Security forces had been searching for them for a long time. All of them were active Maoists of the West Bastar Division.
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New Delhi: A police-Naxalite encounter that began on Wednesday (December 3) in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh continued until Thursday (December 4) morning. In this long and fierce encounter, security forces killed 18 Naxalites. This included 9 women Naxalites. 16 of the killed Naxalites have been identified. All were active cadres of PLGA Battalion No. 2. A total reward of Rs 1.3 crore had been announced for them.
Several top Naxalite commanders killed, including Vella Modiyam
Police said that among the Naxalites killed in the encounter was Vella Modiyam, commander of PLGA Company No. 2, who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh and had more than 44 criminal cases registered against him in Bijapur district.
In addition, Platoon No. 13 commander DVCM Jhitru Oyam and DVCM Motu Kawasi were also killed. Security forces had been searching for them for a long time. All of them were active Maoists of the West Bastar Division.
Large search operation launched after receiving information
Bastar IG Sundarraj P said that the police had received information that Vella Modiyam, commander of PLGA Company No. 2, was present in the Kachilwar-Potenar forests with about 25-30 Maoist cadres. Following the information, joint teams of DRG, STF, and Cobra Battalion launched a search operation in the area.
Firing started at 9 am and continued intermittently from both sides throughout the night. The encounter continued until around 8 am on Thursday morning.
Large quantity of weapons recovered from the encounter site
Security forces recovered 19 weapons from the spot, including 4 AK-47s, 1 light machine gun, 4 SLRs, 3 .303 rifles, INSAS rifles, and 12-bore guns. In addition, a large quantity of explosives and daily use items belonging to the Naxalites were also recovered. IG Sundarraj P stated that this is one of the biggest successful operations conducted in the Bastar region in the last few years.
Three DRG personnel martyred, three injured
Security forces achieved a major success in this encounter, but it came at the cost of the lives of three personnel. The martyred personnel include Monu Bardi, Dukaru Ram Gonde, and Ramesh Sodhi. A heartfelt tribute was paid to the three martyrs at the Shaheed Vatika (Martyrs' Memorial) located at the Bijapur Police Line.
Three other personnel, ASI Janardan Kor, Constable Sondev Yadav, and Constable Ramlu Hemla, were injured. They have been referred to Raipur by helicopter. According to doctors, all of them are out of danger.
Appeal to Naxalites to surrender
IG Sundarraj P said that due to strong coordination between the police, security forces, and villagers, the anti-Naxal operation is now underway with full force. He said that the Maoist organization is completely surrounded and now has no option but to abandon violence and return to the mainstream.
He informed that since January 2025, the bodies of 469 Maoist cadres have been recovered in operations conducted in the Bastar division, including several top leaders. This indicates a weakening of Maoist influence in the region.
The IG said that the priority of the government and security forces is to free remote areas from the influence of Naxalites, strengthen peace and order, and accelerate development work. He said that the people of Bastar are now openly standing against violence, which is a significant step towards the end of Naxalism.
