Five Naxalites were killed on Friday after security forces launched ‘Operation Black Forest-2’ in the Karregutta forest area along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border, officials confirmed.
The fresh anti-Maoist offensive was initiated following specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence and possible congregation of Maoist cadres in the dense forested region. On the first day of the operation, security personnel engaged in a gunfight with the insurgents, resulting in the deaths of five Naxalites. Their identities were yet to be established at the time of reporting. A significant quantity of explosives was also recovered during the ongoing combing operations.
More than 2,000 security personnel have been deployed as part of the coordinated offensive aimed at flushing out Maoists from the Karregutta forest — a relatively small but strategically important patch of land currently surrounded by security forces. Officials estimate that around 150 Maoists could be present in the region.
Security forces have established a tight perimeter around the forest area, and helicopters may be deployed to provide aerial support if required. Authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent any breakout attempts or retaliatory strikes.
The current operation follows a major anti-Maoist offensive conducted in the same forest stretch between April 21 and May 11, 2025. That 21-day-long drive involved nearly 10,000 personnel, including teams from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) of Chhattisgarh, and Telangana Police.
During the 2025 operation, 31 Naxalites were killed, and security forces recovered approximately Rs 1.72 crore in cash. Around 214 Maoists were driven out of the area. A total of 405 landmines, 899 bundles of cordex wire, 818 gelatin sticks, and a large number of detonators and explosives were seized. Additionally, nearly 12,000 quintals of food items allegedly stockpiled by Maoists were recovered. However, senior Maoist leaders, including Hidma, reportedly managed to escape at the time.
Security agencies have intensified anti-Maoist operations in alignment with the government’s stated goal of achieving a “Maoist-Free India” by March 31, 2026. Officials indicated that Operation Black Forest-2 is expected to continue for approximately 15 days, with ongoing coordination between central and state forces.
