New Delhi [India], May 2 (HBTV): In a major step against Naxal insurgency, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Chhattisgarh Police (CGP) have successfully established a Company Operating Base (COB) at Nelangur, strategically located on the Chhattisgarh–Maharashtra border.

This newly established base marks a critical milestone in asserting control over the remote and previously inaccessible Abujhmad region, a known Naxal stronghold. Despite operational difficulties and challenging terrain, security forces have secured the area, dealing a significant blow to the Naxal network.

Authorities believe the establishment of this COB will significantly improve surveillance and operational capabilities in the region, paving the way for enhanced development and security outreach.

The 41st and 45th Battalions of the ITBP, along with the Sector Headquarters in Bhubaneswar, have set up the new COB in Nelangur in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district—an area under the influence of various Naxal organisations.

The opening of the road network in the geographical centre of Abujhmad and Narayanpur is being hailed as a major strategic gain in the fight against Naxalism. This marks a vital gateway for the ITBP to extend its operations to the Maharashtra border within the Abujhmad region under anti-Left Wing Extremism (LWE) efforts.

Since January this year, the ITBP has opened five new COBs to strengthen communication and dominance over the largely uncharted Abujhmad terrain, often referred to as the heart of the Naxal movement in India. Officials stated that more than 100 Naxals, over ground workers (OGWs), sympathisers, and members of the so-called Jantana Sarkar have surrendered to the ITBP and police forces, encouraged by the increasing security presence.

According to ITBP officials, this is the fastest establishment of such a number of COBs by any force in Chhattisgarh. The approach to Maharashtra from Narayanpur is expected to aid both security operations and development efforts, in a region long dominated by the West Bastar, North Bastar, and Maad divisions of Naxal influence.

Under extremely challenging conditions, the ITBP has secured more than five camps in less than three months—one of the fastest operational developments in a core Naxal zone.

‘The development will be crucial for connecting the communication link of the ambitious Bharatmala road project. It will facilitate the construction of road no. 130D of the national highway network, which has remained incomplete due to a security vacuum in the area. This route is set to connect Kondagaon to Allapalli in Maharashtra via Kutul, Mohandi, and Nelangur, reaching the Maharashtra border at Binagunda and Laheri,’ said officials.

The ITBP, after establishing the COB at Mohandi, has added four more COBs—Kodliyar, Kutul (once considered the Naxal capital of Abujhmad), Bedmakoti, and Padamkot—culminating in the successful securing of Nelangur. The Maharashtra border from Nelangur is now just one kilometre away.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) has also been establishing new COBs in northern Narayanpur to reach Gadchiroli and improve connectivity and road infrastructure in the region.

The ITBP has been deployed in Chhattisgarh since 2009 for anti-Naxal operations in Rajnandgaon, with deployments extended to Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts in 2015.

(ANI)