Intensifying Anti-Naxal Operations Yield Success in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh

Five Naxalites were killed in a forest encounter in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, marking a significant gain in anti-Naxal operations. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh saw the downfall of 38 cadres in a similar operation. The state governments remain committed to eradicating Naxal influence as evidenced by successful engagements and surrenders.

In a decisive advancement against Naxal insurgency, five Naxalites were neutralized during an intense encounter in the Koparshi forest area of Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district. According to Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Neelotpal, security forces were engaged when the Naxalites opened fire, prompting an ongoing identification process for the deceased.

Further south, an operation on October 18 in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada witnessed the elimination of 38 Naxal cadres. The Dantewada police reported a fierce gunbattle along the dense forests near the Dantewada-Narayanpur border, resulting in the recovery of 31 bodies, with 29 subsequently claimed by relatives. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed the operation's success, reaffirming the state's resolve to combat Naxalism.

In a related event earlier, a Maoist couple with a bounty of Rs 10 lakh surrendered to Maharashtra's security forces in Gadchiroli on October 14. Authorities attributed this to the effective Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy that has been operational since 2005, highlighting the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Naxal reign through strategic interventions.

(With inputs from agencies.)