Bastar Shootout: Maoist Toll Rises to 18 as Six More Bodies Recovered

Raipur, December 5, 2025 – The number of Maoists killed in Wednesday's operation by security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region has increased to 18, with the recovery of six more bodies on Thursday. The fierce gun battle took place along the Dantewada-Bijapur border, resulting in a significant blow to the Maoist presence in the area.

Among the deceased is Vella Modiyam, a prominent People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) commander who was wanted in connection with several crimes. Authorities had placed a combined bounty of ₹1.3 crore on the heads of nine of the slain guerrillas, all of whom were women.

According to Bastar Inspector General of Police (IGP) P. Sundarraj, Vella Modiyam was the operational and intelligence commander for the Maoists in Gangaloor. He was allegedly involved in numerous criminal activities, including the killings of a minor, a student, and a villager in Peddakorma.

The clash erupted on Wednesday morning in the forests of Gangaloor, near Dantewada, and involved a joint operation by District Reserve Guard (DRG) teams from Dantewada and Bijapur, the Special Task Force (STF), and CoBRA units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Intermittent firing continued throughout the day across the West Bastar division.

In addition to the 18 Maoists killed, three DRG personnel lost their lives in the encounter. Head Constable Monu Vadadi and Constables Dukaru Gonde and Ramesh Sori were identified as the fallen security personnel. Another DRG constable, Somdev Yadav, sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment in the hospital.

Following the gunfight, security forces launched a thorough combing operation in the dense jungles along the Dantewada-Bijapur axis, an area known for Maoist activity. Authorities believe that Maoist formations have long attempted to regroup in this region.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Yadav described the operation as a "decisive and aggressive action," emphasizing that the area had been completely cordoned off. Reinforcements have been deployed to sweep the area and prevent further regrouping of insurgents.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the bravery and sacrifice of the security personnel involved in the operation, stating that their sacrifice "won't go in vain". Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma asserted that Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is on its "last legs," with security forces engaged in mop-up operations across Bastar.

The operation is part of an ongoing effort to eliminate the Maoist insurgency in the region. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a deadline of March 2026 to achieve this goal nationwide. This year alone, security forces have killed 268 Maoists in Chhattisgarh, with 239 of those casualties occurring in the Bastar region.

Authorities have recovered a significant cache of weapons from the site, including SLR rifles, .303 rifles, and other arms and ammunition. The identities of the slain Maoists are still being established.