In the latest crackdown against Naxals, security forces on Thursday encountered at least 30 members of the banned CPI (Maoist), of which 26 Naxals were killed in Bijapur district, and the remaining four were gunned down by a joint team of BSF and District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel of the state police in Kanker. A police jawan also lost his life in the encounter in Bijapur. Illegal firearms and explosives have been recovered from the spot, while search operations are underway at both the encounter sites.

The incident is reported to have taken place around 7 am in the forest located on the border of Bijapur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation in Gangalur police station area of ​​​​Bijapur. Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the situation on his official social media handle on X, promising "the country will become Naxal-free by March 31 next year" in a tweet.