IN A high-impact escalation of counter-insurgency operations in southern Chhattisgarh, security forces on Wednesday neutralised 22 Maoists in a sustained encounter near Keregutta Hills, situated along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border. The area has been under tight siege as part of ‘Operaytion Sankalp’—the region’s longest-running anti-Maoist initiative, now in its 15th consecutive day. Drone footage captured during the ongoing assault has surfaced, showing a sizeable group of Maoists taking cover beneath trees as they attempt to repel the coordinated offensive by specialised units. The confrontation, which erupted early on Wednesday morning, remains active with gunfire exchanges continuing across forested ridges and rocky enclaves.

 

“Confirmed,” said Additional Director General of Police (Naxal Operations), Vivekananda Sinha. In an exclusive confirmation to ‘The Hitavada’, he noted, “The engagement is still active. Security forces have inflicted heavy losses on the Maoists. DRG, CoBRA, CRPF, and STF units are leading the operation with sustained precision.” Keregutta, once considered a virtual sanctuary for senior PLGA cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist), was surrounded following credible intelligence indicating the presence of high-ranking insurgent operatives stockpiled with food and arms for a prolonged standoff. Multiple tactical units launched a layered containment strike under ‘Operation Sankalp’, methodically tightening their hold across the topography. Security officials familiar with the terrain confirmed that elite units intercepted internal Maoist communication and propaganda in recent days, which included appeals for ceasefire and dialogue.

 

However, authorities held firm on their strategy, refusing to dilute operational momentum. Despite Telangana forces initially refraining from full-scale engagement, Chhattisgarh units maintained an uncompromising cordon, culminating in Wednesday’s massive breakthrough. According to security sources, several slain Maoists could be part of Indravati Area Committee, PLGA Company No. 06, and Platoon 16, all crucial nodes in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) chain of command. A senior ground-level commander remarked, “We’ve breached a deeply embedded stronghold that had once served as a sanctuary. The volume and calibre of weapons recovered—AK-series rifles, LMGs, SLRs, and .303 rifles—validate the scale of the enemy’s embedded infrastructure.”

 

Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Gyanendra Pratap Singh, has been personally monitoring updates from New Delhi, while CRPF IG Rakesh Aggarwal, Bastar Range IG Sundarraj P., and ADGP Vivekananda Sinha are overseeing on-ground coordination and high-frequency tactical assessments. Notably, the Keregutta campaign also underlines a strategic shift in force posture—from defensive disruption to full-spectrum dominance. The mission’s continuity amid rough terrain and operational fatigue showcases a deliberate intent to dismantle long-held Maoist bastions without negotiating from a position of compromise. As per field intelligence, more Maoist casualties could be confirmed by nightfall, as combing operations continue amid the unforgiving contours of the hills. “This is not just a tactical win; it is symbolic. We are reclaiming geography long considered irretrievable,” a senior CRPF officer told this newspaper reporter on condition of anonymity. A field officer of intelligence agency remarked, “The Red Corridor’s twilight appears closer than ever along this stretch of southern Chhattisgarh, where the fight now hinges not merely on firepower, but on psychological encirclement.”