Chhattisgarh encounter: Three Maoists killed at Dantewada-Bijapur border; Search operation underway

Security forces have gunned down three maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. Anti-Maoist operation started in the border area of Dantewada and Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh at 8 am, according to news agency IANS. The encounter is underway, including the search operation.

Besides bodies, firearms and explosives were found from the spot, according a police official, PTI reported. They are yet to be identified and no security personnel were injured during this operation. Dantewada is one of the Maoist-affected districts in the Bastar zone.

Home Minister Amit Shah on ‘Naxal-Free India’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 20 stated the central government's roadmap that the country would be Naxal-free prior to March 31, 2026, as the Modi government follows a “zero-tolerance policy against Naxalites.”

"Today our soldiers have achieved another big success in the direction of ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’. The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and is adopting a zero-tolerance policy against those Naxalites who are not surrendering despite all the facilities ranging from surrender to inclusion," Shah added.

How many maoists have been killed in 2025 and 2024?

Today's incident comes after security personnel killed 30 maoists in two encounters in Bijapur and Kanker districts on March 20. In 2025, over 100 maoists have been killed in encounters in different parts of Chhattisgarh, including this one. Nearly 83 maoists had been killed till March 1, whereas over 200 were gunned down in 2024.

There were reports of intermittent engagement between the security forces and the maoists in the Bastar division as the ultras have begun their annual Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) as the summer approached. TCOC is an offensive run by maoists during the summer months in Bastar, beginning from March to June. It is taken because of the arrival of the monsoon in July, where the overflowing rivers cannot be crossed while the tall grass and shrubs lower visibility.

Incidents during Maoists' TCOC

Numerous incidents occurred in Bastar in the past when soldiers also sustained huge losses. On April 3, 2021, 22 soldiers were gunned down in Tekalguda on the Sukma Bijapur border on April 3, 2021. On March 21, 2020, 17 soldiers were slain in a Maoist attack in Minapa, Sukma. In April 2017, 25 soldiers were gunned down in a Maoist incident in Sukma's Burkapal.