A Maoist was killed in a gunfight with security teams in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh on February 5, 2025. The clash started at 7:30 a.m. in a forest in the southern part of the district during an anti-Maoist operation, a senior police official said. The exchange of fire has continued intermittently. So far, the body of one Maoist and an AK-47 rifle were found at the scene. Authorities said more details will be shared after the operation ends. This incident raises the total number of Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh this year to 23. Earlier, 14 Maoists were killed in two encounters on January 3 in the Bastar region, which includes Bijapur. Last year, security forces killed 285 Maoists in multiple encounters across the state. The central government has set a target to end Left-Wing Extremism in India by March 31, 2025.