‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’: Security personnel raise slogan after eliminating 16 Naxals in Gariaband

GARIABAND (Chhattisgarh): After concluding the Gariaband encounter, neutralising 16 Naxals, security personnel returned to their base on Wednesday and raised slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” as they recounted their bravery during the intense operation.

The security forces have recovered AK 47, SLR, INSAS and other automatic weapons from the site. A personnel confirmed that today two more Naxalites have been killed. Following the encounter by the security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district, the police confirmed that the operation is complete and 16 Naxals were neutralised.

#WATCH | Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 16 naxals in an encounter in Gariaband, on January 21. Jawans were seen chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ after the success of the operation

AK 47, SLR, INSAS and other automatic weapons were recovered from the site. https://t.co/JcuK9rEBI2 pic.twitter.com/XLwZOny3fp

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025

Superintendent of Police Nikhil Khecha also informed that two jawans also sustained injuries are receiving  treatment. “The operation is over. 16 Naxalites have been killed in the encounter. We have recovered a large number of arms and ammunition. We are identifying the naxals neutralised. Two of the jawans were injured, they are presently under treatment”, Gariaband SP Nikhil Khecha said.

The operation, carried out jointly by the Chhattisgarh Police, CRPF, and Odisha’s Special Operations Group (SOG) started on Sunday, and led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition, including AK-47s, SLRs, INSAS rifles, and other automatic weapons from the site.

As per Chhattisgarh police, a Naxal carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore was also killed in the encounter. Meanwhile, efforts are on to identifying other neutralised Naxals.

#WATCH | Security Forces neutralise eight IEDs weighing five kg each which were detected and recovered during patrolling duty at different places on the road from Mutvendi to Pidia under Gangalur PS in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh

Video source: Bijapur Police pic.twitter.com/xRXRIAsJir

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025

On Wednesday, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district successfully neutralised eight Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) weighing 5 kg each.The IEDs, planted by Maoists, were discovered during a patrolling operation on the road from Mutvendi to Pidia under Gangalur police station limits., according to Bijapur Police.

“During a recent area domination and demining operation, the dedicated Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) team from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) Bijapur, along with personnel from BDS Bijapur, 85th and 199th Battalion CRPF, and Cobra 205 and 210, effectively conducted patrolling in the region. Their efforts led to the discovery and recovery of eight IEDs, each weighing 5 kg, which had been planted by Maoists along the route from Mutvendi to Pidia,” said Bijapur police.

“They attacked us first and we took strong retaliatory action. We are bringing two more bodies today; we had brought 14 yesterday. The situation was tough, but we did a good job. We will continue to do this”, a security personnel said.

Prakash Singh, one of the personnel involved in the encounter, asserted that they will continue to fight like this and make Chhattisgarh Naxal-free. “We keep undertaking such operations. We will continue doing this…The situation was dangerous but we faced it, like we always do and always will…We were at the spot for 3-4 days…They attacked us first, we took retaliatory action and killed them…There were several teams there…I consider this very successful, we will continue to fight like this and make Chhattisgarh Naxal-free”, he said.

Another personnel, Nitesh Kumar termed it as a huge achievement.”This is a huge achievement…This was challenging…The operation has concluded; we are returning to the base”, he said.

The encounter operation was led by the Joint party of Chhattisgarh Police, E-30 Gariaband, Special Task Force, Cobra-207, CRPF-65, 211 Battalion and Special Operation Group (SOG) Nuapada of the Odisha Police.

Earlier, following the anti-Naxal operation in Gariaband district, Sunil Khemka, Managing Director of Shree Narayana Hospital, confirmed that one soldier sustained a bullet wound to the left hip joint and is undergoing further tests. However, he remains conscious and alert, with no signs of life-threatening injuries.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday reaffirmed the state’s strong stance in eradicating Maoism, describing it as cancer to society. Speaking on the recent encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband where bodies of 16 Naxals were recovered following an encounter with the security forces, the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister highlighted the achievements of the security forces and their success in dealing with the Maoist threat, emphasising the government’s commitment to eliminating Naxalism in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the efforts of the security forces, stating that it was a “mighty blow” to Naxalism. (ANI)