Bijapur: Two Maoists were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district early on Thursday, raising the state’s Maoist elimination count to 22 amid anti-Naxal offensive this year. According to reports, the encounter occurred around 7am in a remote southern forest when a District Reserve Guard (DRG) team — tipped off about presence of armed cadres — triggered an exchange of fire lasting over an hour. Post-encounter searches led to the recovery two bodies, one AK-47 rifle, a 9mm pistol, explosives, and ammunition, indicating mid-level insurgents. This follows the January 3 twin strikes which claimed the lives of 14 Maoists in Sukma-Bijapur. Over 2024-25, security forces eliminated over 500 rebels versus 42 personnel and 117 civilian deaths, leveraging DRG’s local intel prowess.