Why in News? 

Security forces recently encountered Maoists during an anti-Naxal operation in the Indravati National Park (INP) region of Chhattisgarh. 

About Indravati National Park (INP) 

• Location: Situated in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. 
• Landscape: Part of the Indravati Landscape, which includes Bhairamgarh and Pamed Wildlife Sanctuaries. 
• River Association 
  • Named after the Indravati River, a tributary of the Godavari. 
  • The river originates from the Dandakaranya Range in Odisha. 
  • It forms the boundary of the park on the northern and western sides, aligning with the inter-state boundary between Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. 
• Status 
  • Declared a National Park in 1981. 
  • Designated as a Tiger Reserve in 1983. 
• Flora: Rich in biodiversity, the park features trees, climbers, shrubs, bamboo, ferns, bryophytes, and algae. 
• Fauna: Known for hosting one of the last remaining populations of rare wild buffalo.