3 Women Among 9 Naxals Gunned Down In Chhattisgarh Firefight; 88 Killed So Far In 2024

88 Naxalites have been killed so far this year in separate encounters with security forces in the insurgency-hit Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, comprising seven districts including Narayanpur and Kanker.

Three women naxals, among nine insurgents were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Maoist-infested Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, taking total number of Naxalites killed to 88 so far this year.

A senior police officer said the encounter took place in a forest along the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts on early Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of nine Naxal insurgents, in what was the second major strike on Naxalites in a span of 15 days.

‘Major success’

In a video statement, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma termed the operation as a major success and hailed the efforts of security agencies in curbing the Naxalite menace from the state.

Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio, said an anti-Naxal operation was launched on Monday night by a joint team of security forces, and the encounter broke out in the Abhujmad area on the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts on Tuesday morning.

“Nine Naxalites, including three women, were gunned down and their bodies have been recovered. No harm was reported to security personnel in the face-off,” he said.

An AK-47 rifle and a cache of other arms, ammunition and explosives were also seized from the spot, he said, terming the action as a major success.

‘Govt wants dialogue, not violence’

Congratulating the security forces for the success, Sharma also appealed Naxal cadres to give up arms and join the mainstream for the betterment and development of the state, asserting that the government want to solve their issue through dialogue, not violence.

“The state government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wants a solution to this issue through talks. If any Naxalite, or a big or small group wants to talk through video call or a mediator, we are ready and will arrange better rehabilitation for them. We urge them to join the mainstream. We want peace to prevail in Bastar and development to take place there,” Sharma said.

88 Naxals killed in 2024

As per the police, the firefight broke out at around 6 AM on Tuesday in the forest between Tekmeta and Kakur villages in Abhujmad area, a Naxalite stronghold, when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was out on the anti-Naxal operation.

The identity of the killed Naxalites was yet to be ascertained, police said.

With this incident, 88 Naxalites have been killed so far this year in separate encounters with security forces in the state’s Bastar region, comprising seven districts including Narayanpur and Kanker, according to police.

On April 16, 29 Naxalites were shot dead in an encounter with security forces in Kanker district.