Security forces have been engaged in an encounter with a large formation of Maoists at an undisclosed location in Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmad area since Thursday morning. Security personnel are safe and search operations are underway in the area, police sources said. The Maoists’ top leaders are suspected to be hiding in Abujhmad – an unsurveyed area larger than the state of Goa. It is spread across Narayanpur district and extends into parts of Bijapur and Dantewada. According to sources, security forces set off from a nearby police camp after getting tipped off about the presence of Maoists. “The encounter began at 8 am (Thursday) and the firing took place at regular intervals. All security personnel are safe. Search operations are on,” a police officer said. The officer said the forces were trying to determine if any Maoists were injured or killed in the encounter. A senior police officer said top Naxal leaders like Political Bureau member and CPI(Maoist) general secretary Basavaraju alias Nambala Kesava Rao, Political Bureau member Mallejula Venugopal alias Sonu alias Boopathy, Political Bureau member Devji alias Tirupathi, Central Committee members Kosa alias Satyanarayana Reddy and Ramachandra Reddy alias Gudsa Usendi are hiding in Abujhmad. “They have a three-layer security cover, with the last layer having 20-30 chosen fighters,” the officer said. The Chhattisgarh government’s Revenue Department has been unable to complete land survey in 90 per cent of Abujhmad as it has been one of the main strongholds of the Maoists. More than 40 anti-Maoist operations have been undertaken this year, including six major operations since April, during which a total of 63 Maoists were killed. Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, said: “Four new security camps have been established in 2024 so far, covering about 20 per cent of the security vacuum in Abujhmad. In total, we have covered about 50 per cent of the security vacuum in Abujhmad till now. We won't allow any part of Abujhmad to be used as a safe hideout by Maosists with the intention of carrying out their nefarious activities in this region.”
