Raipur, Jan 3 (NationPress) Security agencies have successfully identified two Maoists who were neutralised during early morning anti-Naxal operations on Saturday in the dense forest hills of the Gaganpalli-Murkipara region under the Basaguda police station in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.

An official report indicated that the security forces recovered significant arms and materials from the site. The deceased were identified as Area Committee Member Hunga Madkam, also known as Panchuga, hailing from Purvarti village in Sukma district, and Ayati Muchaki, alias Jogi, a member of the People's Protection Committee from Pinachanda village in Bijapur district.

Both individuals had a bounty of five lakh rupees on their heads and were linked to the Pamed Area Committee, a pivotal Maoist faction in the southern Bastar region.

Following credible intelligence regarding the presence of 10 to 15 armed Maoists, the District Reserve Guard of Bijapur initiated a search operation leading to intermittent gunfire commencing around 5 am.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav affirmed that the search operations at the encounter site recovered a Self-Loading Rifle with a magazine and nine rounds, a 12-bore country-made pistol with five rounds, a scanner set, Cordex wire, backpacks, Maoist literature, and additional materials.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported among the security forces. This encounter was part of a broader operation that same day, with simultaneous actions in the neighbouring Sukma district resulting in the neutralisation of 12 more Maoists, thus raising the total to 14 in these coordinated engagements across south Bastar.

This operation signifies another achievement in the ongoing campaign against left-wing extremism in the Bastar region, where authorities persist in large-scale search efforts within challenging terrains to eliminate remaining threats.

The Bastar division, which encompasses seven districts including Bijapur and Sukma, has historically been a Maoist stronghold. However, consistent intelligence-driven operations have significantly weakened their influence. In 2025 alone, security forces neutralized over 280 Maoists statewide, particularly in Bastar, while witnessing record surrenders exceeding 1,500 cadres and numerous arrests.

Major setbacks included the elimination of high-ranking leaders and substantial clashes that dismantled critical committees.

Fueled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's objective to eradicate Naxalism by March 2026, these efforts amalgamate precise strikes, the establishment of new security camps, infrastructural advancements, and rehabilitation strategies to diminish Maoist power.

This encounter contributes to the ongoing series of challenges faced by Maoist cadres as coordinated operations strive to dismantle their network across south Chhattisgarh, paving the way for peace and development in previously inaccessible tribal regions.