As India mourns the loss of soldiers in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the country’s security forces are simultaneously engaged in the largest-ever anti-Naxal operation deep within the dense forests of Karregutta, located along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. With over 7,000 personnel mobilized and top commanders overseeing the mission on ground, the operation is targeting the core of Maoist leadership believed to be hiding in the area.
This high-stakes mission, now in its fourth day, involves forces from the CRPF, COBRA units, District Reserve Guards, and state police from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The scale of the effort reflects its strategic importance—so much so that CRPF Director General GP Singh chose to remain in Chhattisgarh, skipping a high-level meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah following the Pahalgam incident, to personally supervise the operation.
Armed with helicopter-borne machine guns, drones, and modern surveillance gear, security forces are believed to have surrounded around 500 Naxals, including top commanders such as the notorious Hidma. Reports suggest that at least five Maoists have been killed so far, with blood trails indicating more casualties. Officials suspect that the rebels belong to the PLGA Battalion No. 1, one of the most feared and influential Maoist units in the region.
Security sources report that a significant cache of weapons, explosives, and Maoist literature has been recovered during the sweep. The Chhattisgarh Police has labeled the ongoing operation as “decisive,” with early assessments pointing towards a major disruption in the Naxal chain of command.
Apart from DG Singh, several senior officers are closely involved in on-ground coordination and strategic planning. Officials believe that if this mission succeeds in dismantling the upper leadership of the Maoists, it could mark a turning point in India’s decades-long struggle against Left-Wing Extremism.
While the immediate focus remains on clearing the area, officials stress that the long-term challenge will be maintaining control over the liberated region. The next phase would likely involve dismantling the smaller splinter groups and cutting off their support networks, ensuring the gains of this unprecedented operation are not reversed.
