Indravati National Park

Current Context: Recently, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district conducted intense anti-Naxal operations in the Indravati National Park area, neutralising seven Maoists, including two top leaders—Central Committee member Sudhakar and State Committee member Bhaskar—while seizing arms and ammunition.

About:

• Location : Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh; declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under Project Tiger.
  • Named for the Indravati River, which forms its northern boundary with Maharashtra.
• Terrain & Connectivity:
  • Undulating hills (177–599 m elevation) of the Vindhya and Aravalli
  • Linked to Kawal, Tadoba, and Kanha tiger reserves via forest corridors.
• Flora & Fauna:
  • Forest types: Moist mixed deciduous (with and without teak) and southern dry mixed deciduous.
  • Notable species: Wild buffalo (rare), tiger, leopard, gaur, nilgai, sambar, chital, sloth bear, wild boar.
• Operation Highlights:
  • Casualties: Seven Maoists, including ideological chief Sudhakar (bounty ₹40 lakh) and leader Bhaskar (bounty ₹45 lakh).
  • Forces Involved: District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, Central Reserve Police Force’s CoBRA units.
  • Seized: AK-47 rifles, explosives, ammunition.
• Significance:
  • Represents one of the most consequential counter-insurgency actions in recent years, disrupting Maoist command structure.