Chhattisgarh Mourns: Death Toll Climbs to 18 in Bijapur Maoist Encounter

A truly heartbreaking discovery has just unfolded in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, as search teams, sifting through the aftermath of a fierce Maoist encounter, uncovered the remains of six more security personnel. This grim find tragically pushes the death toll from Saturday’s intense clash to a staggering eighteen, painting a stark picture of the immense challenges and profound sacrifices made in the region.

It’s a situation that sends shivers down your spine, isn't it? The sheer scale of loss is difficult to fully grasp. These brave men were part of a massive, coordinated anti-Maoist operation launched deep within the dense, often unforgiving jungles of Tekalgudem. Spearheaded by elite units like the CRPF’s formidable COBRA battalion, alongside the Special Task Force (STF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG), their mission was clear: to flush out Maoist elements, reportedly including the elusive leader Hidma, following crucial intelligence inputs.

The initial reports had confirmed twelve fatalities among our security forces, but as search parties meticulously combed the vast, treacherous terrain, the full, devastating extent of the tragedy began to reveal itself. The six additional bodies were located during these arduous efforts, retrieved from the very heart of the jungle. Imagine the scene, the sheer difficulty of such an operation, made all the more somber by the grim task of recovering fallen comrades.

Beyond the tragic loss of life, the encounter left a trail of grievous injuries. Approximately 31 personnel sustained wounds, and alarmingly, seven of them are still battling for their lives in critical condition, receiving urgent medical attention. It truly underscores the ferocity and brutality of the engagement they faced. Despite the immense human cost, authorities did manage to recover a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and various other Maoist articles from the site, offering a sobering glimpse into the scale of the rebel presence and their preparedness.

This devastating incident now stands as one of the deadliest encounters with Maoist insurgents in recent memory, casting a long, dark shadow over the ongoing, relentless efforts to restore peace and order in Chhattisgarh’s troubled Bastar region. Each life lost is not just a statistic; it’s a son, a brother, a father, a friend – a painful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made daily in the unwavering fight against extremism. Our thoughts, undoubtedly, are with the families of the fallen and the brave men still recovering.