India News : In a major anti-Naxal operation, security forces gunned down 10 Naxalites, including a top commander with a ₹1 crore bounty, in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh. The fierce gunbattle, involving intermittent exchange of fire, lasted for several hours and resumed even after a 10-hour lull, leading to additional casualties among the rebels.
Personnel from the E-30 Special Force, STF, and COBRA units were part of the joint operation. IG Raipur Range Amresh Mishra confirmed ongoing firing and hinted at the possibility of more Naxal deaths. Bastar IG Sundarraj P praised the security forces for their continued efforts despite challenging terrain and adverse weather, urging remaining Naxalites to surrender and join the mainstream.
“The Maoist movement is nearing its end. Give up violence or face consequences,” he said.
One of the key figures killed in the operation was Manoj alias Modem Balakrishna, a Central Committee member and one of the most wanted Naxal leaders in India. Officials hailed the success as a significant blow to the outlawed CPI (Maoist).
In recent months, Chhattisgarh has seen a surge in counter-Naxal operations, with hundreds of insurgents either neutralised or forced to surrender due to sustained pressure from government forces. Reports suggest that more Naxalites have surrendered in recent months than those killed in encounters.
