31 Maoists killed in massive operation on Chhattisgarh-Telangana border: 24-day offensive destroys factories, says CRPF DG

RAIPUR: In a major anti-Maoist operation that lasted 24 days in the forests and hills of Karregutta on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, security forces have eliminated 31 Maoists, including 16 women.The operation, which officials called one of the most successful in recent years, also resulted in the destruction of four arms manufacturing units. CRPF DG GP Singh and Chhattisgarh DGP Arun Dev Gautam along with other senior officials briefed the media in Bijapur on Wednesday confirming that significant Maoist infrastructure had been dismantled during the operation with recovery of over 35 weapons. "We have recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, and a sniper rifle," CRPF DG G P Singh said. About 216 Maoist hideouts and bunkers were destroyed. Searches at these locations yielded 450 IEDs, 818 BGL shells, 899 bundles of Cordex, detonators, and large quantities of explosives. Security forces destroyed four Maoist technical units, which were used for the manufacture of BGL shells, locally fabricated weapons, IEDs, and other deadly weapons. Large quantities of ration, medicines, and daily-use items were also seized from various hideouts and bunkers. Forces had to navigate and defuse over 450 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to reach the Maoist stronghold, believed by the insurgents to be impenetrable. Over 15 IEDs blasted leaving 18 jawans injured. "They thought no one could cross that terrain, but our forces proved them wrong," said DGP Gautam. However, all the injured jawans are now out of danger and are receiving the best treatment in various hospitals. The situation atop Kareguttalu Hills is extremely harsh, with daytime temperatures exceeding 45°C, causing many soldiers to suffer from dehydration. Despite this, they continued the operation with high morale. A base camp and helipad were established on the hilltop to support the mission, which was launched following detailed technical intelligence collection and 24-hour analysis, DG CRPF said. The Maoists killed included many from PLGA battalion who carried Rs 1.72 crore cash bounty. From 21 April to 11 May 2025, 21 encounters took place, in which the bodies of 31 uniformed Maoists, including 16 women. Preliminary investigation suggests that the deceased belonged to the banned CPI (Maoist), under PLGA Battalion No. 01, Telangana State Committee, and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee. The process of detailed identification of the bodies is ongoing. Ahead of the press briefing, Maoist central committee member and spokesperson Abhay released a statement admitting the death of 26 comrades and appealed for peace talks. He also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify whether the government is open to negotiations. According to CRPF DG Singh, the anti-Maoist operations have intensified since 2014 with a unified and multi-dimensional strategy. "We have strengthened joint capabilities through integrated training between state and central forces. Today, we are leveraging advanced technology for precise surveillance on Maoist movements," he said. As a result of these efforts the number of most-affected districts by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) has fallen from 35 in 2024 to just 6 in 2025. “Maoist-affected police station jurisdictions have reduced from 330 in 76 districts (2014) to 151 in 42 districts (2024). Civilian and security force casualties have dropped significantly, with security personnel deaths falling from 88 in 2014 to 19 in 2024. Maoist surrenders increased, with 928 in 2024 and 718 already in 2025. The number of encounters has risen, with 2089 Maoists killed since 2014 — 197 neutralized in just the first four months of 2025,” said CRPF DG. The govt attributed this shift to increased development efforts in remote regions, including construction of roads, mobile towers, schools, and health facilities. More than 320 security camps have been set up across LWE-hit states since 2019 — 185 of which include Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), joint task forces, and 68 night-landing helipads, the officer said. Tightening Financial Noose and Child Recruitment Under Scrutiny Security agencies, including the NIA and SIA, have intensified investigations into Maoist financial networks, successfully choking funding sources. DGP Gautam stated that four Maoist technical divisions were destroyed during the Karregutta operation alone, in a 1,200 square km area. Officials also condemned the Maoists' continued use of child soldiers. “Children are being recruited into Bal Sangham and Chetna Natya Mandali, used as couriers, and later trained to carry weapons,” DG Gautam said. The Road Ahead: Targeting Full Eradication by 2026 The Maoist leadership is reportedly fragmented and hiding in smaller units. Forces have pledged to neutralize or force the surrender of remaining leadership cadres by the end of 2025. “The belief in their invincibility has been shattered,” said DG Gautam. “We are determined to eliminate the Maoist threat from India by 2026.” The Kareguttalu Hill range spans about 60 km in length and varies from 5 km to 20 km in width, forming a highly difficult terrain. Over the past two and a half years, the Maoists gradually established their base here, housing about 300–350 armed cadres, including the Technical Department (TD) Unit of the PLGA Battalion and other key organizations. Based on intelligence inputs, a comprehensive and detailed operational plan was developed, and from 21 April 2025, a large-scale joint operation was launched by the Chhattisgarh Police and the Central Reserve Police Force. This has become the largest and most extensive anti-Maoist operation to date and stands as an excellent example of coordination among various state and central agencies. The aim of this operation was to weaken the armed strength of the Maoists, neutralize their armed groups, clear them from these difficult terrains, and dismantle the PLGA Battalion.