A woman Maoist’s body was discovered in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Monday morning, as security forces pressed forward with an ongoing anti-Maoist operation along the Bijapur-Dantewada border.

The operation, launched early today, has seen intermittent gunfire between police and Maoist insurgents, marking another chapter in the state’s relentless campaign against Left-wing extremism.

The encounter erupted around 7 AM in the Gangaloor area when a joint team—comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)—acted on intelligence about Maoist presence. According to Bastar police, the woman’s body was recovered alongside an INSAS rifle and daily-use items, hinting at a larger cadre presence.

“The exchange of fire continues sporadically,” a police statement noted, with forces anticipating further casualties as they tighten their cordon around suspected senior Maoist leaders in the forest.

Bijapur, part of the volatile Bastar division, remains a Maoist stronghold despite intensified operations under the Modi government’s pledge to eradicate Naxalism by March 2026. Sunday’s surrender of 50 Maoists in Dantewada, just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, underscored the pressure on the insurgents.

Yet, Monday’s clash signals their defiance. The recovery of weapons and explosives from the site reinforces the ongoing threat, even as security forces claim incremental victories—81 Maoists killed in 2025 alone, per official tallies.

The operation’s outcome remains fluid, with reinforcements deployed and search efforts expanding. The woman’s identity is yet to be confirmed, but her death adds to the toll of a conflict that has claimed both combatants and civilians. As Chhattisgarh’s jungles echo with gunfire, the stakes rise in this protracted battle for control.