In the largest anti-Naxal operation of 2025 so far, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in coordination with the Chhattisgarh Police has killed three female Maoists along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The offensive, launched to neutralize top Maoist commander Hidma, has already spanned more than 60 hours and involves nearly 5,000 personnel.
The joint operation, which began on Monday from Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh and pushed into the Karregutta hills of Telangana’s Mulugu district, continues with intermittent exchange of fire. Officials confirmed that the assault is spearheaded by the elite 210th battalion of the CRPF’s CoBRA unit, backed by Chhattisgarh’s Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), regular CRPF personnel, and Telangana Police.
By Thursday morning, three female Naxals were confirmed dead, with their bodies and weapons recovered from the conflict zone. “The operation is still ongoing. The terrain is challenging and heavily laden with improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” a senior CRPF officer stated.
CRPF Director General G P Singh has been supervising the operation closely from Raipur and Jagdalpur since April 21. To bolster the massive manhunt, four helicopters, two drone squadrons with around 40 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and satellite imaging support from the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) have been deployed.
According to intelligence inputs, Hidma—one of the most-wanted Maoist commanders and leader of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1—was last spotted near a fortified bunker in the Karregutta Hills with an armed unit, prompting the launch of the operation.
Officials have described this mission as the most expansive and strategically crucial anti-Naxal offensive of the year, highlighting its significance in the central government’s broader goal of eradicating Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 2026. The rugged terrain of Chhattisgarh and adjoining Telangana continues to be considered the final stronghold of Maoist insurgents in India.
Sources By Agencies
