At least four Maoists were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, an official said today.

A head constable of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Sannu Karam, died in the face-off, which broke out on Saturday evening at a forest in south Abujhmaad along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts.

The encounter began when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Maoist operation.

After the exchange of fire stopped late Saturday night, bodies of four Maoists and automatic weapons, including AK-47 rifle and self loading rifle (SLR), were recovered from the spot.

A search operation is underway in the area.

Over 200 Maoists Killed In 2024

More than 200 Maoists were killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh in 2024 with Union Home Minister Amit Shah vowing to eradicate them by March 2026.

Among 219 Maoists killed last year, 217 were from the Bastar region, which comprises Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Sukma districts.

Over 800 Maoists were also arrested, while about 802 laid down their arms.

About 18 security personnel lost their lives in the fight against Maoists in 2024, while the number of civilians killed in Maoist violence stood at 65.

Raipur:

A District Reserve Guard (DRG) constable was killed and another policeman injured due to an accidental discharge of a firearm in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, officials said on Thursday.

The incident took place at around 11 pm on Wednesday when a joint team of the DRG and Bastar Fighter, both units of state police, was out on an anti-Maoist operation in Barsoor police station limits, a statement issued by the police said.

Acting on input about the presence of armed Maoists in Handawada and Hitawada villages along the Dantewada-Narayanpur districts border, the security personnel had launched the operation, it said.

“During patrolling, two DRG constables – Jograj Karma and Parsuram Alami – suffered bullet injuries in an accidental firing,” the release said.

While being evacuated, Karma succumbed to his injuries due to excessive bleeding. Alami was administered preliminary treatment and then airlifted to Raipur for further medication, the police said.

The statement did not specify whose weapon accidentally went off and said more details will be shared later. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)