Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [India], August 8 (HBTV): Security forces recovered the bodies of four uniformed Naxals during a joint anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, a senior police official said.

Further search and counter-insurgency operations are underway in the region.

According to Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P Sundarraj, multiple security units are engaged in anti-Naxal efforts across the state. These include the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), Bastar Fighters, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and others.

‘DRG, STF, Bastar Fighters, CoBRA, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, CF and other security forces are continuously carrying out operations against Naxals. As part of that, on July 26, in Bijapur district, the Bijapur DRG and other security forces conducted a joint operation against leaders of the illegal Naxal outfit. After the operation, bodies of four uniformed Naxals were recovered by the forces. DRG, CoBRA, and CRPF joint teams are carrying out search operations in the nearby areas,’ Sundarraj said in a statement.

Earlier this month, on July 18, six Naxals were killed in an exchange of fire in the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur district. ‘A huge quantity of weapons, including AK-47 rifles and SLR rifles, have been recovered so far from the spot. The search operation is underway,’ the IG added.

On July 5, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reiterated the state government’s commitment to ending Naxal violence and assured that all affected areas would be provided with basic infrastructure such as roads and electricity.

According to an official statement from the Government of India, 290 Naxals have been neutralised in 2024 so far. Additionally, 1,090 Naxals have been arrested and 881 have surrendered this year.

Recent major operations include the surrender of 50 Naxals in Bijapur in March 2025, the neutralisation of 16 in Sukma, and the killing of 22 in Kanker and Bijapur.

With continued Special Central Assistance and focused development programmes, the government aims to eliminate Naxalism across India by March 31, 2026, the statement added.

(ANI)