Two Maoists killed in Bijapur encounter as weapons recovered
Two Maoists killed in Bijapur encounter as weapons recovered
Security forces killed two Maoists in Bijapur after a tip-off, with both rebels carrying ₹5 lakh rewards; weapons, explosives and rifles were recovered at the scene.
In Bijapur district, security forces launched a search operation in the Jaigur-Dodum area under Jangla police station after a tip-off about armed Maoist cadres of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee being present in the Indravati river belt. On Thursday, February 26, 2026, an encounter with Naxal cadres ended with the deaths of two area committee members.
The slain rebels were identified preliminarily as Hichami Madda and Manki Podium. Both were carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh each, police said. At the encounter site, security forces recovered weapons, explosives, and Maoist material, including an SLR rifle, an INSAS rifle, and 12 bores.
This operation comes as part of a broader push to curb Left-Wing Extremism in Chhattisgarh. The state has reported 25 Maoist deaths this year, with thousands of cadres surrendering or killed in encounters; government figures say 4,340 Maoists surrendered and 666 were killed since 2020, with 70 AK-47 rifles among arms recovered.
Authorities emphasised continued efforts to eradicate Left-Wing Extremism by the end of March, as security forces step up patrols and operations in the forested tracts of Bastar and Bijapur.
Investigators said the operation remains under review as teams inspect the area and gather more details from local villagers and patrol teams about the possible presence of more cadres in the region.
