6 more bodies found; Bijapur Maoist death count hits 18

A day after a gunfight broke out between security forces and Maoists along the Bijapur-Dantewada border in Chhattisgarh, the police said that six more bodies had been recovered and a total of 18 Maoists had been killed in the anti-Maoist operation.

Earlier on Wednesday (December 3, 2025), the police had said that 12 Maoists had been killed. Three security personnel also lost their lives in the operation. Three other security personnel who suffered injuries are currently receiving treatment.

Inspector General of Police P. Sundarraj told journalists in Bijapur that the intermittent exchange of fire stopped on Thursday (December 4, 2205) morning, after which six more bodies were found during a search in the area. He added that with these recoveries, the toll of Maoists killed in the operation had gone up to 18, nine of them women.

PLGA company commander killed

Of the 18 slain Maoists, sixteen have been identified as senior cadres who collectively carried a reward of ₹1.3 crore on their heads, according to a police statement.

Among them was Modiyami Vella, who was allegedly active as the commander of company no. 2 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army.

“Vella was involved in at least 44 Maoist incidents, including the 2013 Jhiram attack (Bastar district) in which 32 people including senior Congress leaders were killed, the 2020 Minpa ambush (Sukma), wherein 17 security personnel lost their lives, and Tekalgudem (Bijapur) attack, in which 22 security personnel were killed in 2021,” said Mr. Sundarraj.

Vella, like the 15 other Maoists identified so far, carried a reward of ₹8 lakh on his head, the IG added. The identity of the two remaining bodies was yet to be ascertained, he added.

The police also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including a light machine gun, four AK-47 rifles, four single loading rifles, one Insas rifle, two .303 rifles, four single shot rifles, two barrel grenade launchers, and one muzzle loading rifle. A radio set, scanner, multimeter, hand grenade, safety fuse, Maoist literature, uniforms, medical items, and other materials were also recovered, according to the police.

‘Maoists cornered’

Earlier in the day, a guard of honour was accorded to the three police personnel who were killed in the operation – head constable Monu Vadadi, constable Dukaru Gonde, and jawan Ramesh Sodhi – at Shaheed Vatika in the Bijapur Police Lines. All three were residents of Bijapur.

Mr. Sundarraj said that that since January 2024, the bodies of 469 Maoist cadres, including several senior-level Maoists, have been recovered in anti-Maoist operations conducted in the Bastar division. This includes the 281 killed since the beginning of 2025.

“Our goal is clear — a peaceful and Maoist-free Bastar. Under the current circumstances, the Maoist organisation is completely cornered and has no option but to abandon violence and return to the mainstream,” the IG said.