Security forces have been combing for the past three days on the basis of specific information that a large number of Maoists are hiding in the Bijapur forests in the Dandakaranyam area on the border of Telangana-Chhattisgarh states. A large-scale combing is being carried out in the Karregutta hills in Charla area of Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
In this process, it has been learned from relevant sources that about 20,000 security personnel have surrounded about 1000 Maoists in the forest, who are believed to be hiding in the surrounding areas of Karregutta. The forces have intensified this operation on the basis of specific intelligence information that many top leaders, including most wanted Hidma, are among them.
The areas where the Maoists are hiding have been completely surrounded and continuous search operations are being carried out with the help of drones and helicopters. A special operation titled ‘Bachao Karreguttalu’ is underway. It is learnt that thousands of forces have taken complete control of the Karreguttalu, which is spread over 250 km.
There is a tense atmosphere in the agency due to the propaganda of Maoist movements and police combing. Along with the DRG Bastar Fighter Cobra, CRPF and STF soldiers, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Maharashtra police are combing the forest area day and night using drones and helicopters. With this massive operation, there is a tense atmosphere in border villages like Bhimavaram Padu, Pujari Kanker, Pamedu and Usur.
In the wake of this operation, an encounter took place between Maoists and security forces in the Dharmatallagudem forest area of Bijapur district on Thursday morning. Five Maoists were killed in this encounter. Security forces and local police launched a joint search operation in the Dharmatallagudem forest area after receiving information about the presence of Maoists.
In this process, the Maoists, who came across the police, opened fire. In return, five Maoists died on the spot in the security forces’ fire. The search operation is still ongoing in the area. The death toll is likely to rise further. Top leader Hidma has full knowledge of the Bastar and Abujabad forest areas. It seems that this operation was carried out with him as its target. It is reported that along with Hidma, Maoist battalion chief Deva was also targeted.