In a major victory against Naxal insurgency, security forces in Chhattisgarh neutralized 16 Naxalites and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition during an encounter in the Kerlapal area of Sukma district on Saturday.
Following the successful operation, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism within the designated timeline.
“The resolve of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is to eliminate armed Naxalism from the country by March 2026. Our security forces are working in the same direction with bravery and courage. We will eliminate Naxalism within the given time,” Sao declared.
The Sukma Superintendent of Police, Kiran Chavan, confirmed the recovery of 16 Naxal bodies from the encounter site and reported that two security personnel were injured during the operation.
“This can be called one of the biggest encounters Sukma has seen to date,” SP Chavan added.
Security forces also seized sophisticated weaponry, including AK-47 rifles, Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), and INSAS rifles, from the insurgents.
The gunfight began on Friday after a joint anti-Naxal operation was launched by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Officials stated that the operation was based on specific intelligence regarding the presence of Naxal cadres in the Kerlapal area under Sukma police station limits.
The security forces initiated their search on March 28, and the intermittent firing continued into the early hours of March 29.
Currently, security personnel are conducting an extensive search of the encounter site and surrounding forest areas to ensure no remaining threats.
Sukma remains one of the worst-affected districts in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, having witnessed several high-profile Naxal attacks over the years.
With this latest crackdown, security forces have dealt another significant blow to Naxal operations, reinforcing the government’s determination to bring lasting peace and development to the region.
