The Maoists were killed in the gunbattle in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh
GUWAHATI, March 29: At least 16 Maoists were killed while two jawans were injured in a fierce encounter between Naxals and security forces in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh today morning.
Both the injured jawans belonged to the District Reserve Guard (DRG).
A huge cache of arms, including sophisticated automatic assault rifles, and explosives were also recovered from the spot, reports further said.
The gunfight broke out at around 8 am in the forest under the Kerlapal police station area, news agency PTI quoted Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, as saying. He said the gunbattle ensued after a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also confirmed the developments and the gunning down of the 16 Maoists in the gunbattle which, reports said, was underway till the filing of this report.
“Another strike on Naxalism!
Our security agencies have neutralised 16 Naxalites and recovered a massive cache of automatic weapons in an operation in Sukma.
Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, we are resolved to eradicate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026.
My appeal to those with arms is that weapons and violence cannot bring change; only peace and development can,” Home Minister Shah said in a post on ‘X’.
The DRG and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had launched the operation on Friday night following inputs about the presence of Maoists in Kerlapal area.
A gunfight broke out between the two sides in which the 16 Naxals were killed.
