Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 15 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai commended the bravery of the security forces after five Naxalites were killed in an encounter in Bijapur district on Sunday.

Speaking to the media, Sai said, 'We salute the courage of our security forces. Our forces have been fighting strongly against Naxalism for the past year and have achieved remarkable successes, earning widespread praise. Our Prime Minister is determined to eradicate Naxalism by 2026, and this mission will undoubtedly be accomplished.'

The Bijapur Superintendent of Police, Jitendra Yadav, confirmed that the bodies of five Naxalites—two women and three men—were recovered from the Bandepara-Korenjed forests under the Madded police station area. The identities of the deceased are yet to be determined.

'The operation led to the recovery of one SLR rifle, one 12-bore rifle, two single-shot rifles, a BGL launcher, a locally made Bharmar gun, explosives, and Maoist literature,' SP Yadav stated.

According to the SP, the operation was launched based on intelligence regarding Naxal presence in the area. On Sunday morning, an exchange of fire broke out between security forces and Naxalites, continuing until 3–4 PM. Following the encounter, security personnel recovered the bodies, all in uniform, and other materials used by the Naxals.

This encounter is part of ongoing efforts to combat Naxalism in the region, with security forces intensifying their operations in line with the government's broader mission.

(ANI)