In a significant development on the Maoist front, a massive search operation has been launched in the Maoist-affected Sukma District and surrounding area of Chhattisgarh, including Bijapur and the bordering regions of Telangana.
As per the reports, the said operation was launched in the wee hours of January 11, in which a large number of troops from CRPF, Chhattisgarh police and District Reserve Guard (DRG) are committed.
According to the initial reports, the operation has been launched with the objective of targeting battalion no 1 of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) – CPI (M). The battalion is said to be led by the infamous Madavi Hidma, mastermind of many deadly attacks on security forces, including the Bijapur 2021 attack in which 22 jawans were martyred.
The operation has been launched on a massive scale, and no such large-scale deployment of troops has ever been made in any operation of that sort, said sources.
It’s been reported that a few men from the CRPF have also been injured in the operation in which reportedly helicopters are also being used; however, clearing the air, IG Bastar range issued a short statement and confirmed that all the security personnel involved in the operation are safe.
It’s been learnt that the operation can be categorised as some sort of surgical strike on the Communist terrorists in which a massive dent has been done to the Maoists.
It should be noted that recently in a public gathering in Korba of Chhattisgarh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that efforts are on to eradicate the Left-wing terror before the Lok Sabha election of 2024, following which this massive operation has been launched. More details are still awaited as there has been no official word from the Maoists or the Security forces on the operation yet.
