January 9, 2025: In a significant development, three Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Thursday morning, according to state Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma.

The encounter took place in a forested region near the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts during an ongoing anti-Maoist operation. The operation involved a joint team of security personnel, including the District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), an elite unit of the CRPF.

Vijay Sharma, who holds the Home portfolio, confirmed that the bodies of the three Maoists had been recovered, though the search operation is still ongoing. He expressed confidence in the success of the ongoing efforts to eliminate the Maoist threat in the region, stating, "With the strength and courage of our jawans, the (Maoist) menace will be eliminated within the stipulated time."

The encounter comes just days after a tragic IED blast on January 6 in Bijapur district, which claimed the lives of eight security personnel and a civilian driver. Sharma referred to the attack as a source of "huge anger" among the security forces, adding that he had met with them to express solidarity and determination in the face of such attacks.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently vowed to eradicate Maoist insurgency in the country by March 2026, reaffirming that the sacrifices of those killed in the line of duty would not go in vain.

The latest operation marks the continuation of the state's efforts against Maoist insurgents, with nine Maoists now neutralized in separate encounters so far this year. A three-day anti-Maoist operation in the Abujhmad area, concluding on January 6, resulted in the deaths of five Maoists, including two women. Additionally, on January 3, another Maoist was killed in an encounter in Gariaband district.

In 2024, a total of 219 Maoists were neutralized in separate encounters across Chhattisgarh, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the state's anti-insurgency operations.