Naxal Ambush in Chhattisgarh Claims Lives of 8 DRG Jawans

In a devastating attack, eight District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans and a driver were killed when Naxals detonated an IED on the Bedre-Kutru Road in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, on Monday. The jawans, returning from a joint operation in a Scorpio, were targeted by the Maoists, marking the deadliest strike on security forces in the last two years.

The joint operation involved personnel from Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Bijapur districts. Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), Sundarraj P, confirmed the casualties. The attack mirrors a similar incident in April 2023, where 10 police personnel and a civilian driver were killed in a convoy ambush in Dantewada.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao condemned the attack, labeling it “cowardly” and vowing that the sacrifices of the soldiers would not be in vain. Sao reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism from Bastar by March 2026.

This ambush coincided with ongoing anti-Naxalite operations in the region. On the same day, the death toll of Naxals in an encounter in Bastar rose to five. The joint team from the DRG and Special Task Force (STF) launched the operation on Friday, leading to a fierce gunfight in the forests of south Abujhmaad.

The battle resulted in the death of five Naxalites, including two women, and DRG head constable Sannu Karam. The search for more Naxals continued on Monday, as security forces remained vigilant against further attacks.