Deadly Encounter in Chhattisgarh: 12 Maoists and 3 Police Personnel Killed as India Targets Complete Eradication of Left-wing Extremism by 2026

The Indian government has established March 31, 2026, as the target date for complete elimination of Left-wing extremism throughout the country.

In Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, a fierce encounter resulted in the deaths of twelve Maoists and three personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a specialized state police unit, on Wednesday, according to official reports.

Two additional DRG jawans sustained injuries during the gunfight. Officials confirmed that anti-Maoist operations were continuing in the district.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj Pattilingam reported that the battle erupted in a forested area along the Bijapur-Dantewada district border during a joint security operation against Maoist forces.

The operation involved DRG personnel from both Dantewada and Bijapur districts, along with the Special Task Force (another state police unit), and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, an elite CRPF unit).

Authorities have recovered the bodies of twelve Maoists from the encounter location, though their identities remain unconfirmed, according to the senior IPS officer.

Security forces also seized numerous weapons including Single Loading Rifles (SLRs), Insas rifles, .303 rifles, and various ammunition from the site.

"Head Constable Monu Vadadi, Constable Dukaru Gonde, and jawan Ramesh Sodhi of the DRG Bijapur sacrificed their lives in the encounter, while two other DRG personnel were wounded," Pattilingam stated.

The injured personnel received immediate first aid and are currently stable. The IGP added that appropriate arrangements for further medical treatment were underway.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav confirmed that reinforcement teams had been dispatched to the encounter site in the west Bastar division, and search operations were continuing in the area.

This latest security operation brings the total number of Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh encounters this year to 275.

Of these, 246 were eliminated in the seven-district Bastar division (which includes Bijapur and Dantewada), 27 in Gariaband district (Raipur division), and two in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district (Durg division).

The central government has set March 31, 2026, as the deadline to completely eradicate Left-wing extremism across India.