Bijapur Blast: 18 Maoists Killed in Chhattisgarh Gunfight

An intense gun battle in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district has resulted in the elimination of 18 Maoists, with security forces recovering a significant arsenal of weapons. The operation, launched in the forest areas bordering Bijapur and Dantewada districts, led to a fierce exchange of fire on Wednesday. Initially, 12 Naxalites were reported dead, but authorities later confirmed the recovery of six additional bodies, bringing the total to 18. Among the neutralized was Modiyam Vella, a prominent commander within the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), known for his involvement in past attacks, including the 2020 Minpa ambush that cost the lives of 17 security personnel. Vella carried an Rs 8 lakh bounty. The encounter, however, was not without its tragic losses for the security forces, with three brave personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) martyred and two others injured. This year’s operations in Chhattisgarh have seen a significant number of Naxalites neutralized, though security forces have also sustained casualties. The recovered weaponry includes AK-47 and INSAS rifles, highlighting the scale of the recovered cache.