New Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday praised the efforts of the security forces as 22 Naxalites were neutralised during two separate operations in Bijapur and Kanker districts of Chhattisgarh. He said that this was a 'big success' in the direction of 'Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'.

'Today our soldiers have achieved another big success in the direction of 'Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'. 22 Naxalites were killed in two separate operations of our security forces in Bijapur and Kanker of Chhattisgarh,' Shah posted on X.

The Union Home Minister stressed the zero-tolerance policy against Naxals who fail to surrender. Shah said that the country would be 'Naxal-free' before March 31 next year.

'The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and is adopting a zero-tolerance policy against those Naxalites who are not surrendering despite all the facilities ranging from surrender to inclusion. The country is going to be Naxal-free before March 31 next year,' he added.

Security forces have killed a total of 22 Naxalites in two separate operations in Bijapur and Kanker districts of Chhattisgarh, police said on Thursday.

The security forces neutralised 18 Maoists during an encounter in the forest area at the Bijapur-Dantewada border, Inspector General (IG) Bastar P Sundarraj said.

One personnel of the Bijapur District Reserve Guard also lost his life during the encounter, police added. According to the police, the encounter got underway at 7 am on Thursday.

In the other encounter at the Kanker-Narayanpur border area, security forces gunned down four Naxalites near village Koroskodo in the police station area of Chhotebethiya, Inspector General (IG) Bastar P Sundarraj said.

The security forces have also recovered automatic weapons while the Intermittent firing still continues, police added.

The search operations in both areas are underway, police added.

Last week, as many as 17 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, a police officer said. In February, a total of 18 Naxalites were arrested and explosives were recovered from them in an operation carried out by security forces in three different locations in the Bijapur district. (ANI)