Five Maoists Gunned Down in Intense Border Encounter Amid Anti-Naxal Offensive
In the thick forests along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, security forces killed at least five Maoists in a fierce gunbattle early Thursday, according to reports from the Deccan Chronicle.
The clash occurred in the dense woodlands of Karreguttalu in Mulugu district, specifically during a joint combing operation in the areas of Doli and Jelia villages under Venkatapuram mandal. This operation formed part of ‘Operation Kagar-2’, initiated on the basis of credible intelligence indicating the presence of high-ranking Maoist leaders in the region.
A substantial force of approximately 5,000 personnel from multiple units—including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), the Telangana Police’s Greyhounds, and the District Reserve Guard (DRG)—conducted the search in the Karregutta hillocks, long regarded as a key stronghold of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The exchange of fire erupted at dawn when patrolling teams came face-to-face with an armed group of Maoists. Preliminary information suggests the deceased belonged to a Maoist area committee, though official identification of the bodies remained pending.
From the encounter site, security personnel recovered automatic weapons, Maoist literature, and additional materials.
Police sources noted that the Karregutta hillocks had served as a hideout for prominent Maoist figures, including Central Committee member Thippiri Tirupathi, alias Devji, and Bade Chokka Rao, alias Damodar.
In recent weeks, authorities have bolstered their presence by setting up Forward Operating Bases, such as a camp for the CRPF’s 39th Battalion near Pamuru in Mulugu district and another in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, aimed at disrupting Maoist movements and logistics.
Combing efforts persisted in the area through Thursday evening, with officials stating that the situation remained under close monitoring and further updates were expected.
No injuries or losses were reported among the security forces in this engagement, which underscores the ongoing push to dismantle Left-wing extremist networks in the border region.