Ground report: Eerie silence at Bijapur where Maoists ambushed troops, locals recall how soil was soaked in blood

In the worst Maoist attack on security forces in recent times, 22 personnel from various forces were killed in an ambush in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur. India Today TV travelled to the encounter spot after a 500-kilometre arduous journey into the Silger forest, which became a death trap for the soldiers.

In the worst Maoist attack on security forces in recent times, 22 personnel from various forces were killed in an ambush in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur. India Today TV travelled to the encounter spot after a 500-kilometre arduous journey into the Silger forest, which became a death trap for the soldiers. The last 30 kilometres proved the toughest as we navigated through jungles full of thick foliage from a trekking trail to no path. Riding motorcycles from Basaguda to the Jeeram village, which became a witness to the deadly massacre last week. A scanty population was seen once in a while, but the language remained a barrier as we travelled deeper into the area. At one point, visibility was minimal in the thick jungle cover, making us think we may have arrived at the spot. On arrival, we saw villagers sitting outside their mud houses.