Bijapur weapons haul: Security forces unearth Naxal arms dump in Chhattisgarh forests
Synopsis
Security forces unearthed a buried Naxal weapons cache in Bijapur's Lanka Pahadi forests on 22 September — the fifth significant arms recovery in the district this month alone. The cumulative haul includes an LMG, an AK-47, three grenade launchers, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, underlining sustained pressure on Maoist remnants in one of Chhattisgarh's most sensitive zones.
Key Takeaways
Security forces recovered a Naxal weapons dump from Lanka Pahadi village forests, Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh on 22 September 2026 .
Items seized include one SLR/LMG rifle , one INSAS rifle , two BGL launchers , 17 BGL shells , one Chinese hand grenade , and over 60 rounds of live ammunition.
This is the fifth major recovery in Bijapur district in September 2026 , with earlier hauls on 1, 10, 16, and 20 September .
Cumulative September haul includes one LMG , one AK-47 , one INSAS , three BGL launchers , and large quantities of explosives.
Officials confirmed that search and de-mining operations will continue across sensitive forest areas of the district.
Security forces on Monday, 22 September recovered a significant cache of weapons and ammunition from an underground Naxal dump concealed in the forests of Lanka Pahadi village under the Bedre police station area of Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. The haul, unearthed during an intensive search and de-mining operation, included rifles, grenade launchers, and hundreds of rounds of live ammunition.
What Was Recovered
Acting on intelligence inputs as part of ongoing anti-Naxal operations, security personnel combed the forested terrain and unearthed a carefully buried stockpile. The recovered items included one SLR/LMG rifle, one INSAS rifle, one .315 bore gun, two barrel grenade launchers (BGL), 17 BGL shells, one Chinese hand grenade, 49 SLR rounds, 15 rounds of .315 bore ammunition, 15 BGL cartridges, four SLR magazines, and one .315 bore magazine, along with other related materials and equipment. All seized items have been taken into custody and further investigation and legal proceedings are underway, according to officials.
Part of a Sustained September Push in Bijapur
Monday's recovery is the latest in a series of anti-Naxal operations conducted across Bijapur district throughout September 2026, in which multiple Maoist dumps containing arms, ammunition, and supplies have been neutralised.
On 20 September, forces recovered an AK-47, a .315 bore rifle, a single-shot weapon, a pistol, and live ammunition and magazines from the forests of Aadwara under Bhairamgarh Police Station.
On 16 September, a .315 bore rifle, 49 live rounds, 25 live .303 rounds, 49 live 12-bore rounds, eight kilograms of gelatin, a walkie-talkie, and other tools were seized from forests of Bade-Aalwara under Farsegarh Police Station.
On 10 September, seven bundles of non-electric wire, detonators, and grenades were recovered from forests of Indripal under Mirtur Police Station. On 1 September, a 12-bore country-made pistol, a BGL launcher, eight BGL shells, and 10 live 12-bore rounds were found in a Maoist dump in forests of Neelmadgu under Bhopalpatnam Police Station.
Cumulative Haul Across September Operations
Across the district's operations in September, security forces have collectively recovered one LMG, one AK-47, one INSAS rifle, two .315 bore weapons, one 12-bore weapon, three BGL launchers, and two pistols, along with large quantities of explosives, ammunition rounds, and other Naxal-related materials. The scale and frequency of these recoveries point to sustained pressure on residual Naxal cadres and their hidden stockpiles in the region.
Operations to Continue
Officials indicated that search and de-mining operations would continue in the sensitive forest areas of Bijapur district. This comes amid broader security efforts across Chhattisgarh's Left Wing Extremism-affected zones, where forces have ramped up intelligence-based operations in recent months. The successive recoveries signal that while Naxal cadre strength may be diminishing, hidden weapons infrastructure remains a persistent challenge for ground forces.
Point of View
But the harder metric — whether active cadre strength is declining alongside these weapons losses — is one officials have yet to publicly address. The pattern of dispersed, buried dumps may also indicate Naxal groups are shifting from confrontation to a 'wait and rearm' strategy, which would demand intelligence continuity well beyond any single operation cycle.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What weapons were recovered from the Naxal dump in Bijapur on 22 September 2026?
Security forces recovered one SLR/LMG rifle, one INSAS rifle, one .315 bore gun, two barrel grenade launchers, 17 BGL shells, one Chinese hand grenade, 49 SLR rounds, 15 rounds of .315 bore ammunition, 15 BGL cartridges, four SLR magazines, and other materials from an underground dump in Lanka Pahadi village, Bijapur. All items have been seized and legal proceedings are underway.
How many anti-Naxal weapons recoveries have been made in Bijapur in September 2026?
At least five significant recoveries have been made in Bijapur district in September 2026 — on 1, 10, 16, 20, and 22 September — from different forest locations under various police station limits. The cumulative haul includes an LMG, an AK-47, three BGL launchers, and large quantities of explosives and ammunition.
Where exactly was the 22 September Naxal dump found?
The dump was found in the forests of Lanka Pahadi village under the Bedre police station area of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh. It had been buried underground and was unearthed during an intelligence-based search and de-mining operation.
Will anti-Naxal operations continue in Bijapur?
Yes, officials have confirmed that search and de-mining operations will continue in the sensitive forest areas of Bijapur district. The successive recoveries are described as part of sustained pressure on residual Naxal cadres and their hidden stockpiles.
Why is Bijapur district significant in the context of Naxal activity?
Bijapur is one of the most Naxal-affected districts in Chhattisgarh, falling within the Left Wing Extremism-sensitive zones of central India. Security forces have intensified intelligence-based operations in the region in recent months, with the September 2026 recoveries reflecting an active phase of counter-insurgency pressure.
