Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 10 (HBTV): Amid the ongoing anti-Naxal operations at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the security forces for their efforts.

Addressing the media, the Chief Minister said he had been briefed about the large-scale operations underway in the region.

'We keep holding review meetings of all departments. I have just taken information about the biggest Naxal operation going on at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. We want to thank the security forces for handling the situation there,' Sai stated.

According to a senior police official, April 28 marked the eighth day of a major anti-Naxal operation spread across an 800-square-kilometre area near the border, including the Karegutta hills. More than 24,000 personnel from Chhattisgarh and central forces are involved in the mission, either directly or indirectly.

The objective of the operation is to eliminate the presence of various Naxal groups in the region, including the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Telangana State Committee (TSC), People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, CRC Company, and other Maoist factions. These groups have reportedly used the region as a safe haven to launch violent attacks, posing a threat to innocent civilians.

Weeks earlier, Naxals had released a statement claiming to have planted multiple Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the area. This led to several civilian casualties, including the death of a woman near Usur. Authorities confirmed that the security forces are working to secure the area and ensure the safety of the local population.

Officials affirmed that the operation will continue until all Maoist groups are eliminated. They have also urged Naxal members to abandon violence and surrender, offering them a path to reintegrate into mainstream society.

So far, three Naxals have been killed and their bodies recovered. Two security personnel sustained minor injuries during the operation.

The first incident occurred on the night of April 24, when a Special Task Force (STF) jawan suffered a sprained ankle due to an IED blast. A second explosion took place on April 26, in which a District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan sustained minor injuries. Police officials confirmed that both jawans are in stable condition, receiving medical treatment, and are expected to return to duty soon.

(ANI)