6 Maoists killed, two security personnel injured in encounter with police in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem

Six Maoists were killed and two security personnel injured in an encounter with police in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Thursday. Police sources said one of the personnel “is critical and undergoing treatment”.

Bhadradri Kothagudem District Superintendent Rohit Raj was quote dby news agency ANI as saying, "An encounter broke out between police and Maoists in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district this morning."

Earlier on Wednesday, bodies of nine Naxals killed in the encounter with security personnel were brought to the mortuary of Dantewada District Hospital in Chhattisgarh. The nine Naxals were killed during an encounter operation in the forest at Dantewada-Bijapur on Tuesday.

Dantewada SP Gaurav Rai said large numbers of SLR rifles, .303 rifles and .315 Bore rifles were recovered from the Naxals. All security force personnel involved in the operation were safe.

After the encounter, Chattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday saluted the bravery of soldiers and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been fighting with Naxalism since it came to power and soon it will be wiped out.

Earlier this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the left-wing extremism will be completely eradicated from the country by March 2026. He had said, “Left-wing extremism will be completely eradicated from the country before March 2026.”

Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the fight against left-wing extremism is in its last phase. He said that now is the time to strike the final blow against LWE with a strong strategy and ruthless approach.

"The Modi government has worked to instill confidence among the people in development instead of the ideology of left-wing extremism. The Union Home Minister called upon the youth involved in left-wing extremism to shun violence and join the Mahayagya of development of the country being led by Prime Minister Modi," Amit Shah said.

(With inputs from ANI)