In Tuesday’s clash with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, nine Naxalites were slain. The district is part of the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which will hold elections on April 19 in the first round of the national elections.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P. said that the gunfight occurred at approximately six in the morning in a forest close to Lendra village within the jurisdiction of Gangaloor police station. The team of security officers was conducting an anti-Naxal operation. According to him, four Naxalites’ bodies were found at the scene along with a light machine gun, barrel grenade launchers, and other weapons and ammo when the gunfire stopped.

The Inspector General reported that five more dead had since been discovered at the scene of the encounter and that search efforts were still in progress there. According to him, the operation featured members of the Central Reserve Police Force, Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard, and its elite unit, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA).

Notably, the Naxalites intensify their operations and conduct the Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) every summer from March to June. During this time, there have been numerous attacks on security personnel in the Bastar region. According to prior reports from the police, six Naxalites were killed on March 27 during a shootout with security troops in the Basaguda region of Bijapur.

Following the most recent event, 42 Naxalites