At least 31 Maoist insurgents and two security forces were killed during an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Sunday.

The encounter occurred after security forces headed to the area after getting information about the presence of Maoists.

Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, confirmed to The Indian Express that the jawans killed in the encounter were from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF).

According to reports, the encounter occurred in the forest area of Indravati National Park.

The encounter site was located close to the Maharashtra border.

Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) Sundarraj P told UNI news agency that four security forces personnel were also seriously injured during the encounter.

This is the second encounter in the park this year.

At least three Maoists were gunned down in the park on January 12.

Maoists in Indravati National Park

Indravati National Park is considered a major haven for Maoists.

With a total area of approximately 2799.08 km2, Indravati attained the status of a national park in 1981 and a tiger reserve in 1983 under the famous Project Tiger of India, to become one of the most famous tiger reserves of India, as per the official website of Bijapur district.

What did Amit Shah say on the encounter?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the death of 31 Maoists in the encounter and wrote on X: " In the direction of making India Naxal-free, the security forces have achieved a big success in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. In this operation, 31 Naxalites were killed and a huge amount of arms and explosives were also recovered."

"Today we have lost two of our brave soldiers in the effort to end anti-human Naxalism. This country will always be indebted to these heroes. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers," he said.

Shah said 'Naxalism' will be eradicated from India before March 31, 2026.