Chhattisgarh Encounter: 16 Maoists Killed, 2 Jawans Injured in Sukma; Amit Shah Says Weapons Can’t Bring Change

Security forces eliminated 16 Maoists during an anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Saturday, March 29, 2025, police reported. Two security personnel were also injured in the operation.

A senior police officer stated that the operation was initiated on Friday, March 28, following intelligence about Maoist presence in the Keralapal police station area of Sukma district. Acting on the tip-off, a joint team comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Sukma, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) set out for the anti-Maoist operation. Intense gunfire between the Maoists and security forces began around 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, and continued for several hours.

At approximately 10 a.m., the police released a bulletin confirming the recovery of 16 bodies of suspected Maoists in Sukma. According to the officer, security forces also seized a cache of weapons from the encounter site, including AK-47 rifles, SLRs, INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, rocket launchers, BGL launchers, and explosives.

“Two DRG jawans were also injured in the encounter. Their condition is stable and not life-threatening,” the officer stated, adding that efforts were underway to identify the Maoists killed in the operation.

This marks the second major encounter in less than ten days. On March 20, security forces eliminated 26 suspected Maoists in the Bijapur-Dantewada region. Since the start of the year, at least 116 Maoists have been killed by security forces in the Bastar region, which includes seven districts, among them Bijapur, Sukma, and Dantewada.

Amit Shah: Weapons Cannot Bring Change, Only Peace and Development Can

Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on Saturday, March 29, 2025, that those who take up arms and resort to violence cannot bring change, emphasizing that true progress can only be achieved through peace and development.

Amit Shah Hails Security Forces’ Action, Urges Peace Over Violence

“Another blow to Naxalism! Our security forces have eliminated 16 Naxalites and seized a large cache of automatic weapons during an operation in Sukma,” Amit Shah wrote on X.

“I urge those who have taken up arms to understand that violence and weapons cannot bring change—only peace and development can,” he added.