Sukma, Chhattisgarh | March 30, 2025 — A major anti-Naxal operation is underway in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, with reports suggesting that 10-15 Naxal insurgents have been killed in a fierce encounter with security forces. The gunfight began early Saturday in the dense forests along the Sukma-Dantewada border in the Kerelapal police station area.
Joint teams of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have surrounded a suspected Naxal hideout deep in the “core” rebel-controlled zone. Officials say the operation is still ongoing, with heavy exchange of fire continuing into the afternoon.
High-Impact Operation Amid Rising Tensions
The ongoing encounter comes just five days after DRG forces gunned down a top Naxal commander, Sudhir alias Sudhakar, who carried a bounty of ₹25 lakh. So far in 2025, over 100 Naxals have been neutralized across the Bastar division, signaling intensified counter-insurgency efforts by security forces.
Saturday’s mission is part of a larger push by state and central agencies to dismantle Naxal influence in the volatile tribal heartland.
March 20: Two Major Gunbattles, 30 Naxals Killed
Earlier this month on March 20, two separate encounters in Bastar resulted in the deaths of 30 Naxals. In the most significant clash, 26 insurgents were killed in a fierce gunbattle on the Bijapur-Dantewada border. A DRG jawan also lost his life in the operation.
In another encounter on the Kanker-Narayanpur boundary, four Naxals were eliminated. Meanwhile, two security personnel were injured in an IED blast on the Narayanpur-Dantewada border.
Union Home Minister’s Deadline for Ending Naxalism
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during visits to Chhattisgarh in August and December 2024, had reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to eradicate Naxalism. He declared that by March 31, 2026, Naxalism would be completely wiped out from India.
Since that announcement, security operations in the Bastar region — a long-standing Naxal stronghold — have intensified significantly, leading to repeated large-scale encounters.
Further updates on the Sukma encounter are awaited as security forces continue their combing operation in the forested terrain.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.