Chhattisgarh, March 29, 2025.
A fierce encounter between security forces and Naxalites erupted on Saturday morning along the Sukma-Dantewada border in Chhattisgarh. 500-600 personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CRPF launched the operation in Upampalli, under the Keralapal police station area, killing 17 Naxalites.
Among those killed was Jagdish alias Budhra, a Special Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) of the Naxalite organization. Budhra was a wanted extremist with a bounty of ₹25 lakh and was involved in the 2013 Jheeram Valley massacre, where several top Congress leaders, including Mahendra Karma, were killed.
According to DIG Kamlochan Kashyap, security forces recovered automatic weapons like INSAS and SLR rifles from the site. He added that several high-ranking Naxal cadres were among the deceased and are being identified. Two DRG jawans were injured in the encounter but are reportedly out of danger.
“The operation is nearly complete. Our soldiers are carrying the bodies of the killed Naxalites on their shoulders, walking 10 kilometers through dense forests to return. Meanwhile, CRPF troops are conducting search operations in the area,” said Kashyap, hinting that the death toll could rise.
