Raipur: Two days after a CRPF officer lost his leg in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, security forces claimed to have closed in on the Naxalite hideout at the Karregutta Hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border on Tuesday. Officials claimed that the forces are now preparing for the ‘final assault’ in what is being considered the biggest-ever operation against Left Wing Extremism in the country.
Sagar Borade (32), an officer of the elite 204 CoBRA battalion, had moved forward on Sunday to rescue a jawan – injured in a landmine blast in the encounter zone – when he accidentally stepped on the IED. Severely injured, he was airlifted to AIIMS, New Delhi, where his left leg had to be amputated. He has been recommended for a gallantry award.
Security forces claim that they have completely surrounded nearly 1,000 Maoist guerillas – including top leaders like Hidma and Deva – at the Karregutta Hills. On Monday, nearly 2,000 more troops joined the operation, led by the CRPF. Nearly 20,000 personnel are engaged in the operation.
Approaching the hideout is risky as all routes have been heavily mined by the rebels. Over the last 15 days, at least 120 IEDs have been detected and disposed by the security forces.
“Ten security forces personnel have been injured in this operation. Three women Maoists have been neutralised and a large number of weapons, ammunition and explosives has been seized. We are using latest technology to track the movement of the extremists around their camp,” a senior official said.
While helicopters are being used only for deployment of troops and casualty evacuation, about 20 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are in operation for surveillance and reconnaissance. Authorities have refuted allegations by Maoist-sympathisers that the helicopters and drones are being used for actual combat.
Imagery and maps are being provided to the security forces by the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), based on inputs being sent by the UAVs. Apart from IEDs, there are scores of fortified bunkers inside the forests, making approach difficult.
