Bijapur Encounter: 2 Maoists Killed, 48 Surrender with Weapons in Major Blow

• Two Maoists, Hunga Madkam and Aayati Muchaki (5 lakh reward each), killed in a Bijapur encounter; SLR, pistol, explosives recovered.
• IG Bastar reported 14 Naxalites killed in two encounters in Bijapur and Sukma, including Kontta Area Committee secretary Mangdu.
• 48 Maoists, including top commanders Barse Deva and Kankanal Raji Reddy, surrendered in Hyderabad with 48 weapons.
• Surrendered Maoists carried a total reward of 1.8 crore rupees; weapons included LMGs, AK-47s, INSAS rifles.
• These events represent a significant setback for the Maoist organization, following 285 Naxalite killings last year in Chhattisgarh.

Why It Matters: Recent encounters and mass surrenders deal a severe blow to Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh and Telangana.