New Delhi [India], March 9 (HBTV): Security forces have launched 'Operation Black Forest 2' on the Karreguttalu hills in Chhattisgarh as part of a major anti-Naxal offensive aimed at dismantling the remaining strongholds of the outfit, according to top security sources.
The Karreguttalu hillocks, located along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border, have long served as strategic bases for Naxal groups. Senior leadership of Naxal formations and technical units were reportedly operating from the area, taking advantage of the natural terrain.
Sources said that nearly 2,000 personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard and the elite CoBRA unit have been deployed in the operation, which began late Tuesday night.
The operation follows the earlier 'Operation Black Forest' conducted between April 21 and May 11, 2025. During that operation, 31 Maoists were killed and large quantities of weapons and explosives were recovered, including 35 weapons, around 450 improvised explosive devices, 818 BGL shells, 10 BGL rounds and 103 detonators.
Security forces also dismantled several Naxal hideouts and logistical bases in the region, which officials described as a major breakthrough in anti-Naxal operations.
Officials said the latest operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs received from arrested Naxals. The offensive is focused in the Nambi Dhara area of the Bastar region near the Karreguttalu hills in Bijapur district.
According to intelligence reports, around 300 Naxals remain active in the region, including four Central Committee Members identified as Ganapati, Devuji, Malla Raja Reddy and Misir Besra.
The operation comes as Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a target to eliminate Naxalism from the country by March 31, 2026.
Shah had reviewed the security situation during a three-day visit to Chhattisgarh from February 7 to 9, which officials described as a key step towards intensifying operations against Left Wing Extremism.
Data compiled by the Ministry of Home Affairs shows that the number of districts affected by Left Wing Extremism has declined significantly, from 126 in 2018 to eight districts as of December 2025, with only three districts now categorised as the most severely affected.
Incidents of Left Wing Extremism-related violence have also dropped sharply from 1,936 in 2010 to 234 in 2025, representing a reduction of around 88 per cent.
Deaths of civilians and security personnel have decreased from 1,005 in 2010 to 100 in 2025.
In 2025 alone, security forces neutralised 364 Naxals, arrested 1,022 and facilitated the surrender of 2,337 militants.
The number of police stations reporting Left Wing Extremism-related violence has also fallen significantly, from 465 in 2010 to 119 in 2025.
Officials said that as the security situation improves, the government is focusing on socio-economic development in previously affected areas. A new category of 'legacy and thrust districts' was introduced in 2024 to continue support for regions that have moved out of the Left Wing Extremism category but still require sustained development.
Currently, 30 districts fall under this category.
As part of the counter-insurgency strategy, the CRPF has also established Forward Operating Bases in former Naxal strongholds to disrupt supply chains and facilitate sustained operations.
Areas such as the Karreguttalu hills, National Park region, Chakarbandha forest and Bhimbandh were once considered 'no-go zones', but security forces have gradually re-established control over them.
In 2025, a total of 61 Forward Operating Bases were set up in core areas, including 32 in Chhattisgarh, nine in Jharkhand, four in Odisha, four in Maharashtra, 11 in Madhya Pradesh and one in Telangana.
Officials said that 2025 proved to be one of the most successful years in anti-Naxal operations, with 12 Politburo and Central Committee members neutralised and several others surrendering due to sustained pressure from security forces.
As of January 1, 2025, around 20 Politburo and Central Committee members were active. By the end of the year, only four remained active.
During the year, security forces also neutralised 21 Special Zonal Committee Members and 73 Area Committee Members.
Officials said that sustained operations have significantly weakened the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.
According to official data, 370 Naxals were neutralised in operations conducted by the CRPF along with other security forces and state police in 2025, including one Politburo member and 10 Central Committee members.
Prominent leaders eliminated during operations included Nambala Keshava Rao, Chalpati, Tentu Laxmi Narsiha Chlam, Gajarla Ravi, Manoj Shadev Soren, K Rachandra Reddy, Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy, Madvi Hidma, Ganesh Uike and Gopanna.
In the same year, 1,175 Naxals were arrested and 2,391 surrendered due to sustained pressure from security forces.
Among those who surrendered were five Central Committee Members identified as Sujata, Mallojula Venugopal, Takkablapalli Vasudeva Rao, Chandranna Malkapuram Baskar and Ramder.
(ANI)