Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], September 25 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday saluted the bravery of soldiers for killing 9 Naxals in the border area of Dantewada and Bijapur districts and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is fighting with Naxalism since it came to power and soon it will be wiped out.

Earlier today, 9 Naxals were killed during an encounter operation in the forest at the Dantewada-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh.

"The BJP has been fighting with naxalism since it came to power. Our soldiers are fighting and we salute their bravery. 9 Naxalites have been killed and we salute our forces. Naxalism is shrinking and soon it will be wiped out," CM Sai told ANI.

In a post on X, the Chhattisgarh CM said that the government's fight against Naxalism will continue until that is eradicated.

"So far, 9 Naxalites have been reported killed in an encounter between a joint team of DRG and CRPF in the border area of Dantewada and Bijapur districts. Along with this, news has also been received about the arrest of 13 active Maoists by security forces in Bijapur district. Certainly, this is a big success for the security forces. I salute and congratulate all the security officers and soldiers involved in this operation for their bravery. Our fight will continue until Naxalism is eradicated" he posted on X.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM and Home Minister Vijay Sharma said that the whole Bastar is moving towards peace and on the way to development.

"It was a joint operation of DRG and CRPF. In the Bijapur and Dantewada region, 9 Naxalites have been killed in a search operation. This is the strength of the soldiers, and the whole Bastar is moving towards peace and on the way to development," Sharma said.

On the killing of 9 Naxals in a fire exchange between security forces and Naxals, IG Bastar P Sundarraj said that a lot of Naxals have also surrendered.

"On the information of the presence of Naxalites at the border area of Dantewada and Bijapur, teams were sent. An encounter broke down at 10.30 am between them and the security forces... After which 9 bodies of Naxalites were recovered. Arms were also recovered. Search operations are underway... During the monsoon of 2024, more than 35 Maoists have been killed in the last 2-3 months. There have also been arrests in huge numbers. Because of this action, a lot of them have also surrendered," IG Bastar said.

Earlier today, a joint police team went on a search operation after receiving information about the presence of Maoists from West Bastar Division in the border area of Dantewada and Bijapur districts. The encounter between the police forces and the Naxals started at 10:30 am on Tuesday.

(ANI)  This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.