Two Maoists Killed in Ongoing Encounter with Security Forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

Security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district engaged in an ongoing encounter with Maoist insurgents on January 17, resulting in the deaths of two Naxalites, including senior cadres Papa Rao and Dilip Bedja. The operation involved joint teams from the District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, and CoBRA, acting on specific intelligence in the forested, hilly northwest region near the Malkangiri border. Weapons were recovered, and the search and combing operation continues amid intensified efforts to eliminate left-wing extremism by March 2026.