11 security personnel hurt in IED blasts during Chhattisgarh anti-Maoist op
11 security personnel hurt in IED blasts during Chhattisgarh anti-Maoist op
Eleven jawans were injured as multiple IEDs exploded during a forest operation near Karegutta hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, highlighting ongoing anti-Maoist efforts.
Eleven security personnel were injured in six IED blasts during an anti-Maoist operation in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday, police said. The blasts occurred at different intervals as forces moved through a forested area near the Karegutta hills along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border.
The injured jawans were airlifted to Raipur for treatment. Their condition is stable, and they are recovering well, officials said.
The area is believed to be a stronghold of the first battalion of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army, the armed wing of the Maoists. The operation was launched following inputs about Maoist presence in the region.
Three personnel sustained serious leg injuries, while three others suffered splinter injuries to their eyes. This year, 20 Maoists have been killed in separate operations in the state, underscoring a persistent counter-insurgency effort. Bijapur has accounted for a majority of such operations in 2024-25 amid intensified security actions.
The Union government has set a March 31, 2026 deadline for ending the Left-wing insurgency. The killing of Maoist chief Nambala Kesava Rao, alias Basavaraju, on May 20 is cited as a significant recent development in the broader conflict.
Overall, the incident underscores the ongoing risk faced by security forces in forested border areas as they pursue insurgent targets.
