In a significant development in the fight against Maoist insurgency, security forces gunned down at least three Maoists during an ongoing encounter in the dense forest region along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border early Thursday morning. The gunbattle erupted during a massive joint combing operation involving elite security units from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
According to officials, the operation is a part of a broader offensive aimed at dismantling the top leadership and operational structures of Maoist factions operating in the Bastar region and its adjoining areas. The encounter is still underway, with a large deployment of around 7,000 police personnel cordoning off the area to trap members of the CPI (Maoist)’s Battalion Number 1, Telangana State Committee, and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.
“Initial reports confirm that three Maoists have been killed. Their bodies have been recovered from the encounter site,” a senior official involved in the operation said. “The death toll may rise as the combing operation is still active. We are maintaining a strong security presence to prevent any Maoist attempts to escape or launch counterattacks.”
Sources also revealed that top Maoist commanders, including senior leaders Mandvi Hidma and Damodar, are suspected to be hiding in the area. The possibility of their capture or neutralization is being treated as a top priority by the security forces.
The heavily forested terrain and the strategic location near the inter-state border have long served as a hideout and operational base for Maoist groups. This latest operation signals a renewed and intensified crackdown on insurgent activities in the Red Corridor.
The coordinated action reflects a growing synergy between state police forces and central paramilitary units in tackling left-wing extremism. Officials emphasize that such offensives are crucial to breaking the backbone of Maoist influence in tribal and remote forest regions.
Further details are awaited as the operation continues.
Sources By Agencies
