The Police have confirmed that at least sixteen Maoists were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district. Two jawans suffered injuries in the ensuing gun battle that broke out in the early hours on Saturday (29th March). A joint team of security forces carried out the anti Naxalism operation in the forest area falling within the jurisdiction of Kerlapal police station.
The joint operation involved security personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It was launched on Friday night after receiving intelligence regarding the presence of Maoists in the Kerlapal area.
Confirming the major blow to the Naxalite movement, the security official said, “Sixteen Naxalites’ bodies have been recovered from the site of the encounter so far, with the operation still ongoing.”
The official further informed that two security personnel also sustained minor injuries during the operation.
Following the Sukma encounter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the Union government’s resolve to eradicate Naxalism with March 2026 being the slated deadline. For those who have taken arms against the Indian state, the Home Minister also issued an appeal urging them to choose peace and development over violence.
Taking to his official X handle, HM Shah wrote, “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.”
Last month, the security forces neutralised 31 Maoists in a gunfight in the jungles of Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. Two security personnel were killed in action during that encounter.
It was seen as the largest ambush on Left Wing Extremists (LWE) this year, bringing the death toll to 81 since the start of this year. Reportedly, the combined toll was 219, last year.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), Sunderraj P shared details, informing about the encounter carried out on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The IGP stated that the strike followed an anti-Maoist operation launched by security forces on Friday, which culminated in the encounter around 8 am.
He further noted that the operation was initiated after specific intelligence regarding the presence of insurgents from the National Park Area Committee of the CPI (Maoist).
March 2026 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah
The graph of Naxalism has been going down at a faster pace since the last decade. The intensified efforts in dealing with the Maoist menace is part of central forces’ campaign to completely eradicate it from India by 2026.
This was voiced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah who gave a deadline of March 2026. As part of these efforts, 16 Naxalites were killed in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband in January, this year. The operation was a major success as 12 of 16 Maoists killed in that operation carried a cumulative bounty of over Rs 3 crore over their heads.
Prominent among them was Chalapathi, also known as Ramchandran, Pratap Reddy, Appa Rao, and Ravi, a member of the central committee of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), who carried a reward of ₹90 lakh.
Also Read: TFI Series on Naxalism Part 1 continued: Status report on Most wanted Naxals
Nevertheless, more than successful anti-Naxal ops, surrenders are more promising for the larger goal of the March 2026 deadline.
Those returning to normalcy are getting a good life and employment. Most important part of these surrenders is that the surrendered Maoists have exposed the futility and discrimination in Maoist campaigns. Those who have surrendered have underscored how brutality, discrimination and coercion towards violence prevailed in Naxal camps.
One member of each family was forced to join Naxals in the affected areas, denying which could cost the lives of the family. Also, the lower-level cadres were used in attacks and encounters while high-level Naxalites kept themselves safe.
Home Minister Amit Shah in December 2024 stated that over 9,000 Naxalites surrendered in the North East between 2014-2024. In 2024 alone, over 750 surrenders took place in Chhattisgarh. Between January and September 2024, 194 Naxalites were killed, 801 were arrested in Chhattisgarh.
Going with this pace of latest operations and given the past actions, the target set for March 2026 looks easily achievable as between 2013-2023, the intensified efforts have already reduced the Naxal violence incidents by 70 per cent while the number of deaths in these violences plummeted by 75 per cent.
In the same time frame, the territory plagued by Naxalism has also come down drastically. With its effects in 76 districts of 10 states under 330 police station areas in 2013, the affected areas reduced to 45 districts, 176 police station areas under 8 districts.
However, 90 per cent of the Naxal violence was only limited to 25 districts, speaking volumes about the exhaustive measures taken by armed forces and state police.
Hence, the latest operation may look as merely mega ops against Naxalites but is actually the last nail in the coffin of Naxalism in India. They are quickly and effectively carried out because the fight has entered a decisive phase given the fragility of Naxalism. The armed forces want to hit and hit them hard to put it to rest once and for all.
