Security forces surround one of the last bastions of Maoists

Security forces have launched a coordinated attack in the Karregutta Hills area of Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. So far, five Maoists have been killed and the forces have recovered the bodies of three insurgents.

The Karregutta Hills area is located at the edge of the Bijapur district and borders the Mulugu district of Telangana.

The operation, launched by a large number of security forces, has been going on for the past two days. At least 150 Maoists are believed to be trapped by the forces who have launched the massive operation from three sides in the area. Among those believed to be trapped are Hidma, the commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion 1, Deva, the commander of the Malangir Area Committee, and Sainath, the commander of the Darbha Division of the PLGA.

The operation was launched after the security forces received intelligence about the presence of Maoists belonging to PLGA's Battalion 1. The district reserve guard, troops from CoBRA, a specialised unit of the CRPF, and the Special Task Force are involved in the operation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has on various occasions said that Maoism will be finished by March 31, 2026. The current operation—one of the biggest such operations to be launched—should be seen against that background. The area of Bijapur district where the security forces have congregated is one of the last strongholds of the Maoists in Chhattisgarh.