NEW DELHI– In one of the largest anti-Maoist operations in recent months, security forces in Chhattisgarh killed 10 insurgents, including a top leader of the banned CPI-Maoist, and arrested 26 others across two districts on Thursday.
The most significant encounter took place in the forests of Mainpur in Gariaband district, where teams from the Gariaband E30 unit, the Special Task Force (STF), and the elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) launched a joint operation based on intelligence reports.
Among those killed was Modem Balakrishna, 58, a Central Committee member of CPI-Maoist. Known by several aliases including Balanna, Ramchandra, and Manoj, Balakrishna was originally from Telangana’s Warangal district and carried a bounty of 10 million rupees (about $120,000). Officials described his death as a decisive blow to Maoist activity in the region.
Separately, in Bijapur district, security personnel arrested 26 Maoist operatives in a series of coordinated raids. Six of those taken into custody were wanted with rewards totaling 1.3 million rupees. The operations were carried out jointly by the District Reserve Guard (DRG), CoBRA 205, CRPF battalions, and local police units from Gangaloor, Bhairamgarh, Usur, Awapalli, and Tarrem.
Authorities said the forces seized a cache of explosives, weapons, and propaganda material during the crackdown. Items recovered included improvised explosive devices (IEDs), pressure-cooker and tiffin bombs, detonators, fuses, batteries, and tools for bomb-making, as well as Maoist banners and pamphlets.
According to police, the arrested militants admitted during interrogation that they were planning to plant IEDs targeting security forces. Cases have been filed under the Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Act, and all suspects have been remanded to judicial custody.
Over the past year, security forces have intensified their campaign in India’s so-called “Red Corridor,” targeting Maoist groups in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Telangana. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly stated that the government is committed to eliminating Maoist violence nationwide by March 31, 2026, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive. (Source: IANS)
