Three Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces along the Chhattisgarh border between Dantewada and Bijapur during an anti-insurgency operation. Dantewada police superintendent Gaurav Rai said the clash occurred in a forest following intelligence on Maoist presence. Weapons and other materials were recovered, but the identities of those killed were yet to be confirmed.  

Chhattisgarh has intensified operations against Maoists, with 113 killed and 104 arrested nationwide this year. The Union government aims to end Left-wing insurgency by March 2026. Bastar and its surrounding districts remain the epicenter of Maoist activity, where security forces have set up 17 new camps, including in the dense Abhujmad forest.  

The government is also pushing infrastructure projects to weaken Maoist control. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Chhattisgarh on March 30 to launch developmental initiatives and meet victims of Maoist violence.