Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma Meets Brave Soldiers Who Fought Maoists

“It is because of your strength that I could reach Bijapur by road today” – Deputy CM Vijay Sharma
Commends the courage of security personnel and boosts their morale

Raipur : Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma visited Bijapur today and met with the brave security personnel involved in the recent encounter with Maoists in the Andri forests of Gangloor. At the Bijapur District Reserve Centre, he praised their courage and lauded their successful operation.

Shri Sharma acknowledged the strength of the security forces, stating, “It is because of your valor that I was able to reach Bijapur by road. No Home Minister before me had ever come here by road.”

Notably, in the March 20 encounter, 26 Maoists, including 14 female insurgents, were neutralized. Among them were senior Maoist leaders, including DVCM, ACM, PPCM, and PLGA members. Security forces recovered a large cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, SLRs, INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, rocket launchers, BGL launchers, along with explosives, medical supplies, Maoist uniforms, literature, and other daily-use materials.

The Bastar security forces, including DRG, STF, Bastar Fighters, CoBRA, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, and CAF, have been actively working towards peace, security, and development in the region. As a result of intensified anti-Maoist operations, in the past 80 days alone, security forces have recovered the bodies of 97 hardcore Maoists, with 82 of them in Bijapur district alone.

Deputy CM Sharma congratulated the security personnel and conveyed greetings from Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, stating, “Your extraordinary bravery and valor will restore peace in Bastar. This operation has changed the perception of the country and the world. I pay my tribute to the brave soldier who was martyred in this intense encounter.”

He emphasized that Bastar was once a land of peace, but misguided elements had disrupted its harmony. He assured that security forces would completely eliminate such threats. Calling this the largest operation in Chhattisgarh’s history, he noted that the state government’s rehabilitation policy has yielded positive results.

Present at the event were Bastar IG Sundarraj P., DIG Kamalochan Kashyap, the Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other police officials.