In the most gruesome Maoist attack in the New Year, eight jawans and a driver have been killed after the rebels blew up a security vehicle in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police sources said on Monday.
The nine were traveling through Kutra in the Bastar region in a Scorpio SUV when the attack took place around 2.15 p.m. on Monday, sources said.
The attack comes within days of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement that the security forces were committed to ending Maoism by March 2026.
Earlier on Sunday, security forces attacked Maoists in the Abujhmad region of Chhattisgarh and killed four rebels, including two women.
Automatic weapons such as AK 47 and Self-Loading Rifles have been recovered. Top security officials said a search operation is still on at the site of the attack.
The escalation in violence comes a day after four Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Sunday, adding that a jawan also died in action.
A head constable of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Sannu Karam, died in the encounter, which broke out on Saturday evening in a forest in south Abujhmaad.
The encounter began when a joint team of security personnel was on an anti-Maoist operation, said an official.
After the firing stopped, the bodies of four Maoists were found. The security forces recovered automatic weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and a self-loading rifle (SLR) from the spot.
A search operation is underway in the area, the officials added. More details were awaited. This comes days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur, where he addressed a group of surrendered Maoists.
The Home Minister promised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government would do everything possible to rehabilitate them.
He emphasised the government's commitment to rehabilitating those affected by the violence and urged collective efforts to uproot Maoism from the region.
He appealed to them to help encourage other Maoists to surrender as well.
Home Minister Shah said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave him the responsibility of the Home Ministry in 2019, he thought that those who were involved in armed movements should be given a chance to lay down their arms, surrender, and live peacefully.
As Rana lands in India, 26/11 martyr Tukaram Omble's brother demands hanging of Tahawwur
On the day Tahawwur Rana, one of the co-conspirators in the Mumbai terror attacks was brought to India, Eknath Omble, the brother of Ashok Chakra awardee and 26/11 martyr Tukaram Omble, urged the central government to hang the terrorist and send a strong message to Pakistan.
India and UK reaffirm free trade agreement, support supply chains
Amid the changing world trade order, India and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to furthering the bilateral relations between the two nations, including continuing negotiations at pace towards a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
Centre appoints special public prosecutor for 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case
The Central government has appointed Advocate Narender Mann as the Special Public Prosecutor for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case hearing.
Bhagwan Mahavir's ideals give strength to countless people, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, saying Bhagwan Mahavir's ideals give strength to countless people worldwide.
Trump lowers levies on countries like India for not retaliating
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a lower rate of 10 per cent for 90 days in reciprocal tariffs for trading partner countries that have not retaliated with higher levies on American goods — such as India — and further hiked the levy on China to 125 per cent for hitting back.
HM Shah says Rana’s extradition a major diplomatic win for Modi govt
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has lauded the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, as a defining triumph for the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tripura govt committed to preserving old culture, tradition: CM Saha
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday said that the BJP government is working to preserve old culture and tradition like Putul Khela (doll game), Jatra (folk theatre) and Natak (drama).