RAIPUR:
In a historic 24-day counter-insurgency operation that shook the stronghold of left-wing extremism, security forces neutralized 31 Maoists, and they have released video footage that the security men captured amid intense firefights, showcasing troopers launching bombs and engaging Maoist fighters in gun battles.To capture and communicate the magnitude of this mission, the forces have produced an 8-minute documentary released on May 14. The film, now being circulated among media outlets, highlights the operation’s challenges and triumphs — from mountaineering-like climbs to high-stakes encounters.Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday visited Galgam region in Bijapur to meet the jawans who were part of the operation and formulate the next phase of counter-insurgency efforts.Security forces dismantled a large-scale arms production facility, and uncovered a cache of explosives, weapons, and survival supplies deep in the Karregutta Hills, once considered an impregnable Maoist fortress.The operation was a joint mission by the CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police, is being hailed as one of the biggest blows to Maoist insurgency in recent years.The video footage released by the forces shows commandos ascended rugged terrain and crossed dense forests using ropes, braving booby traps, and dodging hidden explosives. Helicopters dropped supplies as soldiers advanced day after day into hostile territory.Among the slain were top Maoist operatives, including Area Committee Members (ACM) and Divisional Committee Members (DVCM), signifying a direct hit to the Maoist leadership to PLGA battalion in the region.Four Maoist weapons factories were dismantled, with one yielding detailed manual on how to manufacture sniper rifles. The weapons seized were not just stored but manufactured within mountain caves — some of which doubled as bunkers, ration storage units, and hideouts.Police officials said that troops also discovered that insurgents had stocked rations sufficient for nearly two years, indicating how deeply entrenched and self-sufficient their hideouts were. The caves housed medicines enough to start a small pharmacy, confirming a structured logistical base in the remote mountains.Over 150 underground bunkers and dozens of mountain water sources were found to have supported the insurgents.“This is not just a military victory,” an official in his office noted, “but an opportunity to transition this region from terror to peace through aggressive development.”This operation is not just about numbers, say security experts. It signals a major psychological defeat for the Maoists, whose belief in the invincibility of Karregutta has now been shattered, an official said.“Never before have we recovered such sophisticated, locally built weapons,” said CRPF DG GP Singh. “This shows they were not just surviving here — they were preparing for long-term combat.”State DGP Arun Dev Gautam confirmed the operation destroyed four underground factories, and noted, “The Maoist movement in this zone is not just weakened — it’s rattled.”
