Raipur, May 21 -- Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao on Wednesday asserted that security forces are working "diligently" to make Bastar Naxal-free by March 2026 after 26 Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces in Narayanpur district.

"After the formation of our government in the state, a programme is running to make Bastar naxal-free. In Narayanpur, more than two dozen Naxalites have been killed in an encounter. Our security forces are working diligently so that by March 2026, Bastar becomes Naxal-free," Arun Sao told ANI.

Earlier in the day, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said that at least 26 Naxals were killed during an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in the forest...