Bloodbath In Sukma! 16 Naxals Gunned Down, Two Jawans Hurt In Fierce Clash

Security forces killed 16 Naxalites in a significant anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Saturday, officials reported. Two District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans were also injured during the shootout.

The encounter erupted around 8 AM in the dense forest under the Kerlapal police station area, part of an ongoing effort to curb insurgency in the volatile Bastar region.

Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, told PTI that the operation, launched Friday night based on intelligence about Maoist presence, involved a joint team of DRG and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

“We’ve recovered 16 Naxalite bodies so far, and the operation continues,” he said. The two injured DRG jawans sustained minor wounds and are in stable condition.

A substantial haul of weapons was seized, including an AK-47, self-loading rifle (SLR), INSAS rifle, .303 rifle, a rocket launcher, barrel grenade launcher (BGL), and explosives, underscoring the scale of the clash. Search efforts persist in the rugged terrain to ensure no threats remain.

This operation pushes the tally of Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh this year to 132, with 116 from the Bastar division alone, which spans seven districts, including Bijapur. Sukma, a long-standing Maoist stronghold, has seen intensified security action in 2025, reflecting the state’s aggressive push against Left-wing extremism.

As the encounter winds down, the focus remains on securing the area and assessing the full impact of this latest strike.