Woman Maoist gunned down in encounter near Chhattisgarh-Telangana border
RAIPUR: A woman Maoist was killed during an encounter with security forces in the Karregutta Hills region of Bijapur, near the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, where a fierce anti-Maoist operation has been underway since April 21.The body of the woman Maoist, along with a .303 rifle, was recovered on May 5. This marks the fourth confirmed Maoist casualty in the operation since April 24. Officials believe more Naxalites may have been killed or critically injured, though the rugged terrain has hindered confirmation and recovery efforts.In a major development, security forces have launched a final offensive against Naxal hideouts in the Karregutta area of Telangana. During this intensified operation, a CRPF officer sustained severe injuries and lost a leg after stepping on a pressure IED, further underscoring the dangerous nature of the terrain and the scale of the threat.According to Inspector General Sundarraj P (Bastar Range), the joint operation—led by the DRG, STF, CoBRA, CRPF, and other security forces—has been in full force for over two weeks. It targets Maoist strongholds deep within the dense forests of southern Chhattisgarh and bordering Telangana.Officials report that hundreds of Maoist hideouts and bunkers have been destroyed. A substantial cache of explosives, detonators, food supplies, medicines, and daily-use items has been recovered. More than 100 IEDs have also been found and defused during the campaign.Despite challenging geography and logistical difficulties, security forces continue with full commitment, pushing forward in what is being described as a decisive phase of the anti-Maoist operation, closely monitored by both Central and State agencies.Search operations are still ongoing, and authorities plan to issue a detailed statement once the mission concludes.In a separate incident on the same day, Naxalites abducted and murdered Muchaki Rama, the deputy sarpanch of Tarlaguda village in Sukma district. Police confirmed that he was taken from his home and later killed by the insurgents.According to official data, 68 civilians have been killed in Naxalite-related violence across the Bastar region in 2024 so far.
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