While Telangana police are not involved, Chhattisgarh forces are reportedly using Venkatapuram in Telangana’s Mulugu district as a base.
Published Apr 27, 2025 | 10:05 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 27, 2025 | 10:05 AM
Operation against Maoists. Representative Image.
Synopsis: Unconfirmed reports suggest five Maoists were killed in the Dharmatallagudem forest, across the Telangana border. The area has become a battleground, with thousands of security forces deployed following receipt of intelligence about a large Maoist presence.
An unspecified number of Maoists are suspected to have been killed in a police operation in the jungles of Karreguttalu hillocks in Chhattisgarh, near the Telangana border, during a four-day exchange of fire. One CRPF jawan was injured in a firefight on Saturday, 26 April.
The area has become a battleground, with thousands of security forces deployed following receipt of intelligence about a large Maoist presence.
Unconfirmed reports suggest five Maoists were killed on Friday in Dharmatallagudem forest, across the Telangana border.
Telangana police have distanced themselves from the operation, stating it is entirely conducted in Chhattisgarh’s 145-acre Karreguttalu region. Limited information on casualties is reaching Telangana due to the operation’s location.
Security forces are battling in harsh conditions, with some fainting from dehydration in sweltering heat. On Friday, 12 policemen were treated for dehydration in Venkatapuram and Bhadrachalam. Helicopters are being used to deliver food and water to the forces.
Maoists had warned locals and police against entering Karreguttalu, citing planted explosives. They accused the police of using deceptive tactics to trap them, though police suspect top Maoist leader Hidma is hiding in the dense jungle.
While Telangana police are not involved, Chhattisgarh forces are reportedly using Venkatapuram in Telangana’s Mulugu district as a base.
The Union government’s Operation Kagar, aimed at eliminating Maoists, has intensified in Chhattisgarh, where Maoist activity is concentrated. Security forces, using modern technology and sophisticated weapons, are advancing from Mulugu (Telangana), Bijapur (Chhattisgarh), and Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) to block the escape routes, escalating tensions in the region.
On 25 April, Maoist Northwest Sub-Zonal Bureau leader Rupesh demanded an immediate halt to the operations, expressing readiness for peace talks. He urged the government to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue, proposing a one-month pause in military actions.
Rupesh claimed the government’s aggressive approach undermines the potential for a peaceful resolution to the problem through talks.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
