Death toll rises to 18 in Bijapur encounter in Chhattisgarh; Search ops underway

The Bijapur encounter death toll rose to 18 after forces recovered six more Maoist bodies on Thursday. Three DRG personnel were killed and two injured. A major cache of weapons was seized, and top Maoist commander Modiyam Vella was among the dead.

Kothagudem: The death toll in the encounter that took place between police and CPI (Maoist) cadres on the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh rose to 18.

It might be noted that DRG, STF and CRPF personnel launched an ant-naxal search operation in Keshkutul forests under Bhairamgarh police station limits on Wednesday morning during which an exchange of fire ensued. Three security personnel were killed and two were injured in the encounter.

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By the evening hours the security forces recovered bodies of 12 naxalites killed in the encounter along with weapons and the search operation was called off due to nightfall. The search operation was resumed on Thursday morning and the bodies of six more Maoists were recovered.

Security forces have recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the encounter site, including LMG machine gun, AK 47 rifle, SLR rifle, INSAS rifle, .303 rifle and other weapons. The Maoist PLGA second company commander of Bijapur West Bastar Division DVCM, Modiyam Vella who was carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh on his head was among the dead.

The bodies of three Bijapur district reserve guards (DRG), head constable Monu alias Mohan Baddi, constables Dukaru Gonde and Ramesh Sodi were shifted to Police Line Shaheed Vatika Complex in Bijapur where last respects were paid to them on Thursday morning.

Two injured jawans, ASI Janardan Korram and Constable Somdev Yadav were said to be out of danger. An intensive search operation was carried out by the security forces at the encounter spot and additional forces were dispatched to the area, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Bastar, Kamlochan Kashyap told the media.

The slain Maoist Vella was involved in multiple attacks, including the 2020 Minpa ambush in Sukma that claimed the lives of 17 security personnel. He was also involved in the killing three villagers, the relatives of a surrendered Maoist commander, at Peddakorma village and abducted around a dozen local inhabitants in Bijapur in June, 2025.