Chhattisgarh’s ITBP battalion tops on anti-Naxal front

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ITBP Battalion: Chhattisgarh unit of ITBP has received the award for the best battalion for its active role in anti-Naxal operations.

November 20, 2025

ITBP Battalion: Chhattisgarh unit of ITBP has received the best battalion award for its active role in anti-Naxal operations. An ITBP battalion deployed in Chhattisgarh was on Thursday chosen as the best anti-Maoist operations unit of the force. The battalion killed two senior Naxal commanders and launched welfare schemes to connect with the local people in line with the Centre’s resolve to end Naxalism by March 2026. The 27th Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) battalion is based in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh, adjacent to Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The battalion was awarded the honor for killing two senior Naxal commanders – state regional committee member Vijay Reddy and Rajnandgaon Kanker Border (RKB) division secretary Lokesh Salame – during a fierce encounter in August this year. The battalion has also led several operations in the last two years, resulting in the killing of nine top Maoist leaders in the area. Also many grassroots workers were arrested and surrendered.

Unprecedented success achieved in Chhattisgarh

ITBP Director General Praveen Kumar presented the prestigious trophy and citation to outgoing commandant of 27th battalion Vivek Kumar Pandey and new commander BP Badya at a function held here, officials said. An official citation read out during the DG Parade program said the battalion conducted exceptional anti-Naxal operations and achieved unprecedented successes in Chhattisgarh. According to officials, ITBP is organizing its 64th Raising Day Parade here on November 22. Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar is expected to address the event as the chief guest. This force was formed after the Chinese invasion of 1962. It is primarily tasked with guarding the 3,488 km long India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC) besides discharging other internal security duties including operations against Maoists.

The battalion trained the youth

This time the importance of ITBP’s Best Anti-Naxal Operation Trophy has increased as all the Central and State Police forces are working together to kill Naxalites and get their surrender to meet the target of March 2026. Chhattisgarh and its border areas remain the main areas in the campaign. The central government has asked security forces to adopt a two-pronged approach to eliminate the Naxalite threat, which includes carrying out intelligence-based armed strikes and carrying out welfare work for the local people and tribes living in these areas. The 27th battalion also conducted career counseling sessions to train the tribal youth of Aundhi region and at least 10 of them passed the SSC and Chhattisgarh Police Constable exams. Officials said the battalion also established the first veterinary hospital besides a hospital for the local people, which benefited around 6,000 villagers in the last two years.

Also read: Murmu expressed satisfaction, said- Naxalites are leaving the path of violence and joining the mainstream of development.