Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited AIIMS Delhi to meet five security personnel injured in the 21-day ‘Operation Black Forest’ against Naxals in the Karegutta Hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The operation, hailed as a major breakthrough, resulted in the killing of 31 Naxalites.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited AIIMS Delhi on Thursday to enquire about the health of five security personnel undergoing treatment for injuries received during anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, sources said. The security personnel had participated in the 21-day-long anti-naxal operation, named ‘Operation Black Forest’, carried out in the Karegutta Hills (KGH) on Chhattisgarh and Telangana border. Shah visited Delhi AIIMS’ trauma centre and enquired about their health conditions, besides taking feedback from the doctors attending to them, sources said.
The five security men include three CoBRA commandos of the CRPF, a CRPF jawan and a District Reserve Guard (DRG) of the Chhattisgarh Police. They are: Assistant Commandant of CoBRA’s 204th battalion Sagar Borade, Head Constable Muneesh Chand Sharma of 203rd CoBRA battalion, Constable Dhanu Ram of 204 CoBRA, Constable Krishna Kumar Gurjar of 196th CRPF battalion and Constable Santosh Murami of DRG.
The Union home minister on Wednesday said the security forces have achieved a historic breakthrough in the resolve to make the country Naxal-free with the killing of 31 notorious Naxalites in the Karregutta hills. Shah also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government was determined to root out Naxalism from the country. “I once again assure the countrymen that India is sure to be Naxal-free by March 31, 2026,” Shah had written in Hindi on X.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Chhattisgarh Police have described the operation as a major success as they have demolished the “invincibility” of the Maoists and killed 31 ultras in and around a treacherous hill along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border in the biggest ever coordinated operation carried out by them.
Details of the operation
Chiefs of the CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police, G P Singh and A D Singh respectively, said the 21-day long operation that began on April 21 at the Korgotalu Hills ended on May 11 led to the killing of 31 Maoists, including 16 women, seizure of 450 IEDs, about two tonnes of explosives, many rifles among others and ammunition.
Eighteen security forces personnel were injured in this operation. As many as 214 bunkers were busted and 818 barrel grenade launchers recovered. A total of 21 encounters took place during this operation, according to official data.
Bijapur is one of the six most Naxal violence-affected districts of the country.
(With inputs from agency)
