31 Naxalites and 2 security personnel killed in Chhattisgarh encounter

In a major anti-Naxalite operation, security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district engaged in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the death of 31 Naxalites. However, the encounter also claimed the lives of two security personnel, while two others sustained injuries. The operation took place in the dense forests of Indravati National Park on Sunday morning.

According to senior police officials, the martyred personnel belonged to the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF). A joint team comprising multiple security units was conducting a search operation when they came under heavy fire from Naxalites, triggering a prolonged exchange of bullets.

Following the intense gunfight, the bodies of all 31 Naxalites were recovered from the site. Authorities are currently working to establish their identities. The operation also led to the seizure of a significant cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, SLRs, INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, BGL launchers, and explosive materials.

Security forces suffered casualties, but the injured personnel are reported to be in stable condition. They are being transferred to a higher medical facility for advanced treatment. Officials have assured that their condition is not critical.

Reinforcements have been dispatched to the area, and a large-scale search operation is underway to trace any remaining insurgents who may have fled during the encounter. Intelligence inputs suggest that more Naxal operatives could be hiding in nearby forested regions.