 "Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Source: Representative Image/PTI.")
Security forces have killed 16 Naxalites in an ongoing encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, officials said on Saturday. Two jawans sustained minor injuries during the operation.
The gunfight began after a joint anti-Naxal operation was launched by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Friday. The operation was based on intelligence reports about Naxal presence in the Kerlapal area under Sukma police station limits.
The security forces began their search on March 28, and intermittent firing has continued since early morning on March 29. The forces are now conducting a thorough search of the encounter site and nearby forested areas.
Sukma is one of the worst-hit districts in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, which has witnessed several Naxal attacks in the past.
IED blast injures jawan in Narayanpur
On Friday, a jawan was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by Naxalites in Narayanpur district. He was taken to the district hospital, where his condition is now stable, officials said.
Amit Shah: Naxalism will be eradicated by 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently told Parliament that Naxalism will be eliminated from the country by March 31, 2026. He highlighted a 53% decline in Naxal violence over the past decade.
From 2004 to 2014, there were 16,463 Naxal-related incidents, while in the last ten years, the number has significantly reduced. Similarly, security personnel casualties have dropped by 73 per cent, and civilian deaths by 70 per cent.
Shah also spoke about infrastructure development in Naxal-affected regions, mentioning the construction of 11,503 km of highways and 20,000 km of rural roads. Additionally, thousands of mobile towers have been installed, with efforts underway to complete connectivity across affected areas by December 1.