8 Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh
What's the story
Eight Naxalites were gunned down in an encounter with security forces on Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.
The encounter started around 8:30am in the forests of Gangaloor police station area.
A joint team of security personnel was on an anti-Naxalite operation when the incident took place.
Personnel from different units including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) of state police, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were part of this operation.
Recent attack
Anti-Naxalite operation follows recent Maoist attack
The operation was launched on Friday, after receiving intelligence about Maoist cadres from West Bastar Division in the area.
This comes as part of a larger effort to combat Naxalism, with the central government hoping to end it by 2026.
The operation comes after a recent attack where eight DRG jawans and a driver were killed in Bijapur by an IED blast.
The blast was the biggest strike on security personnel by Maoists in two years.
Surrenders
Ten Naxalites surrender prior to Saturday encounter
Interestingly, a day before the encounter, 10 Naxalites had surrendered in Bijapur district. Out of them, five had a combined reward of ₹6 lakh on their heads.
Notably, Arjun Madkam, a member of the Niyamgiri area committee under the Andhra-Odisha Border division and carrying a ₹2 lakh reward, was among the surrendered.
Others included leaders of various Maoist committees with ₹1 lakh bounty each.
Ongoing operations
Bijapur district's 2025 Naxalite statistics and ongoing operations
In 2025, the Bijapur district has witnessed 23 Naxalite surrenders, 46 arrests, and 17 gunned down, police reports said.
After Saturday's encounter, search operations are still underway in the region. They are being conducted to ensure security and gather more intelligence on possible threats.
The development comes in line with the Central Government's vow to "end Naxalism" by 2026, which Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated on January 6.