Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 25 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao on Thursday stated that the state government had been working towards eliminating Naxalites.

He further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had resolved to eliminate Naxalism by 2047.

Speaking to ANI, Sao said, ‘This is a big success for the soldiers. Ever since our government was formed, we have been working towards eliminating the Naxalites. Under the leadership of PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah has resolved to completely eliminate Naxalism by 2047. Killing 30 Naxalites today is a big step towards fulfilling that resolve...’

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma also described the encounter as a major success for the security forces.

‘The encounter was going on in the Gangaloor area of Bijapur since morning. Twenty-six Naxalites have been killed in the encounter. Four more Naxalites have been killed in the Kanker-Narayanpur border area. A total of 30 Naxalites have been killed in the operation... This is a big success for the soldiers...’ Sharma said, speaking to ANI.

Earlier in the day, former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and senior Congress leader T.S. Singh Deo attributed the violence in the state to Naxal groups that refused to abandon violence and arms.

Speaking to ANI, Deo said, ‘Such incidents are coming to the fore in the encounter against the people of Naxal ideology due to not abandoning violence and continuously taking up arms.’

This comes amid intensified anti-Maoist operations in the state, which have resulted in the elimination of 105 Naxalites in encounters so far this year.

Deo highlighted the significant deployment of paramilitary forces in the region, with over 60 battalions stationed in Chhattisgarh. He emphasised that these forces are available in sufficient numbers in the affected areas, underscoring the government's efforts to tackle the Naxal threat.

‘Today, more than 60 battalions of paramilitary forces are deployed in Chhattisgarh. Paramilitary forces are available in sufficient numbers in the affected areas,’ he added.

The former Deputy Chief Minister also met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Twenty-two Naxalites were killed in two separate operations by security forces in Bijapur and Kanker districts of Chhattisgarh. The security forces neutralised 18 Maoists during an encounter in the forest area at the Bijapur-Dantewada border, Inspector General (IG) Bastar P. Sundarraj said.

One personnel of the Bijapur District Reserve Guard also lost his life during the encounter, police added. According to the police, the encounter began at 7 a.m. on Thursday.

In another encounter at the Kanker-Narayanpur border area, security forces gunned down four Naxalites near Koroskodo village in the Chhotebethiya police station area, IG Bastar P. Sundarraj said.

Security forces have also recovered automatic weapons, and intermittent firing is still ongoing, police added.

(ANI)