Hostile terrain comes in handy for Maoists to ambush Greyhounds

Time of India

09-05-2025

Hyderabad: Maoists exploited the treacherous terrain of Karreguttalu to launch the deadly ambush that claimed the lives of three
Greyhounds commandos
on Thursday. Two of the three slain personnel suffered bullet injuries.
One injured Reserve sub-inspector, who sustained shrapnel injuries, is reported to be out of danger.Authorities are currently investigating whether the Maoists managed to flee with any of the Greyhounds' assault rifles after the attack.Senior police officials, condoling the loss of their colleagues, confirmed the nature of the injuries.
"The three commandos sustained injuries from metal fragments—probably caused by a blast or due to low-grade explosives used by the Maoists," an officer said. "We believe members of the Wazeedu Area Committee orchestrated the ambush after detecting movement of the Greyhounds unit." he said.At the time of the attack, only one Greyhounds unit was operating near Penugolu village in Wazeedu mandal, approximately 4 kilometres northeast of the village, within a forest stretch spanning Mulugu (Telangana) and Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) districts.Though multiple units were deployed across the vast forested area, the ambushed unit was operating alone in a highly challenging, elevated zone near the inter-state border, an area known for difficult access and thick cover."The Maoists had taken position on higher ground and launched their attack from a vantage point. They first triggered a landmine explosion, then unleashed a volley of indiscriminate gunfire, fatally wounding three commandos. The entire assault lasted less than 30 minutes," a senior official said.Following the ambush, surviving team members retreated to safety and returned fire. Reinforcements, including air support, were swiftly sent to evacuate the injured RSI and recover the bodies of the three commandos.Authorities are now checking whether any weapons were stolen in the aftermath. "We suspect the Maoists might have taken some of our rifles, but investigations are underway. There's also a possibility of casualties on their side, although we've yet to confirm it," said a police source.On Friday, director general of police Jitender reiterated his appeal to Maoist cadre to surrender. "Their ideology has not found acceptance among the people of Telangana. It would be in their best interest to lay down arms and return to the mainstream. So far this year, nearly 300 Maoists have surrendered in Telangana and received rehabilitation benefits as per the state's entitlement policies," he said.