In a significant blow to the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) movement in Chhattisgarh, security forces neutralized a high-ranking Naxalite during a fierce gun battle on the night of Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The operation comes as security agencies intensify their efforts to meet the central government's ambitious deadline of March 31, 2026, to eradicate Naxalism from the country.The encounter took place in the dense, hilly forests of the Geedam area, along the strategic border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts.The Operation: Intelligence-Led AmbushThe operation was triggered by specific intelligence received on March 3 regarding a group of Maoists hiding weapons and planning an attack in the forested terrain between the villages of Gumalnar, Girsapara, and Nelgoda.The Forces: A joint team comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Bastar Fighters (specialized units of the Chhattisgarh Police) launched the search mission under the supervision of Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai.The Firefight: Around 8:30 PM, as the forces cordoned off the hills, a group of 8–10 armed rebels from the Bhairamgarh Area Committee opened indiscriminate fire with automatic weapons. The security personnel took cover and retaliated with precision, forcing the insurgents to retreat into the darkness and rugged terrain.The Neutralized Naxalite: Who was Rajesh Punem?During a post-encounter search on Thursday morning, the body of one male Naxalite was recovered. He was identified as Rajesh Punem, a resident of Burji village in Bijapur.The Bounty: Punem was a wanted cadre who carried a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head due to his involvement in multiple violent incidents in the Bastar region.Affiliation: He was an active and influential member of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee of the banned CPI (Maoist) party.Recovery: Beside the body, police seized a significant cache of weaponry, including a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), an INSAS rifle, a pistol with a magazine, a walkie-talkie set, and a large quantity of live ammunition.The Road to March 31: 26 Naxals Killed So Far in 2026This encounter marks a steady escalation in anti-Naxal operations this year.Current Statistics: With this latest neutralisation, at least 26 Naxalites have been killed in various encounters across Chhattisgarh since January 1, 2026.The Deadline: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a clear target to make the Bastar region Naxal-free by the end of this month. This has led to the deployment of more "Forward Operating Bases" (FOBs) in core Maoist strongholds like Abujhmad and the tri-junction of Sukma-Bijapur-Dantewada.Surrenders on the Rise: Just days ago, 15 Naxalites, including a veteran leader carrying a ₹73 lakh collective bounty, surrendered in Mahasamund, indicating a crumbling morale within the rebel ranks.
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