Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 4 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said that security forces are working diligently to make Bastar Naxal-free by March 2026, following the killing of 26 Naxals in an encounter in Narayanpur district.

'After the formation of our government in the state, a programme is running to make Bastar Naxal-free. In Narayanpur, more than two dozen Naxalites have been killed in an encounter. Our security forces are working diligently so that by March 2026, Bastar becomes Naxal-free,' Arun Sao told ANI.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma had confirmed that at least 26 Naxals were killed in the encounter that took place in the Abujhmad forest area of Narayanpur district. He added that one jawan was injured but is out of danger. 'More than 26 Naxalites have been killed by the security forces. One jawan has been injured but is out of danger. One of our associates lost his life during the operation,' he said.

Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, Raman Singh, congratulated the police forces for the successful operation. 'Police have killed 26 Naxals. This was a big operation and no police personnel were killed in it,' he said.

He also praised Union Home Minister Amit Shah and State Home Minister Vijay Sharma. 'I congratulate Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Vijay Sharma and all our forces who are conducting operations in temperatures from 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. The people of Bastar want peace and development. This operation was successful, and Bastar has extended their full support,' he said.

The encounter broke out between security forces and Naxals in the dense Abujhmad forests of Narayanpur district.

Earlier, security forces had conducted Operation Black Forest near Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border. The 21-day operation, conducted jointly by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police from April 21 to May 11, resulted in the neutralisation of 31 Naxals carrying a total bounty of INR 1.72 crore.

As part of the operation, 214 Naxal hideouts and bunkers were destroyed, and 450 IEDs, 818 BGL shells, 899 bundles of Codex wire, detonators, and a large cache of explosives were recovered. Additionally, nearly 12,000 kilograms of food supplies were seized. (ANI)