Maoists Encounter in Chhattisgarh

• 03 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.  

 Key Points 

• Maoist Casualties: 
  • The latest encounter increased the number of Maoists killed in the conflict-hit Bastar region to 67 in the first 60 days of 2025. 
  • Sukma, where the encounter took place, is one of the seven districts in the Bastar region. 
  • Additionally, security forces killed 17 Maoists in encounters in Gariaband district, which lies outside Bastar. 
  • The total number of Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh in 2025 is 84. 
  • In 2024, during intensified anti-Naxal operations (ANOs), security forces eliminated 219 Maoists in the state. 
• Details of the Sukma Encounter: 
  • The Inspector-General of Police stated that security forces launched a search operation after receiving intelligence about Maoist presence in the area. 
  • The operation involved personnel from Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guards (DRG) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). 

 District Reserve Guard (DRG)  

• The District Reserve Guard (DRG) is a specialized police unit in Chhattisgarh, established in 2008 to combat Maoist violence.  
• It consists of specially trained personnel operating in affected districts, conducting anti-Maoist operations, search and seizure, and gathering intelligence.  
• The DRG collaborates with other security forces, like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), to counter the Maoist insurgency. 

 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)  

• The CRPF was initially established as the Crown Representatives Police in 1939 in response to political turmoil and unrest within the princely states.  
• The force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force in 1949.  
• Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the then Home Minister, envisioned a multifaceted role for the CRPF, aligning its functions with the evolving needs of a newly independent nation.  

 COBRA  

• It is a special operation unit of the Central Reserve Police Force of India proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare. Originally established to counter the Naxalite movement.  
• CoBRA is deployed to address insurgent groups engaging in asymmetrical warfare.