Major Blow to Maoists on Tri-State Border; Huge Cache Recovered After Fierce Encounter

Balaghat/Rajnandgaon — In a major setback to Maoist insurgents operating along the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra–Chhattisgarh tri-junction, security forces have recovered a vast cache of Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) supplies from an abandoned camp deep inside the forests of Kauhapani village, under Boratlav police station limits in Balaghat district (Madhya Pradesh).

Following initial contact, nearly 300 personnel from the three states were rushed to the region, and an intensive search operation was carried out across a 15-km radius.

For three days, security teams scoured dense forests, ravines, and hilltops, ensuring the insurgents had no route of escape.

On November 22, during the second phase of the operation, teams from the Chhattisgarh STF, District Reserve Guard (DRG) Rajnandgaon, and DRG Mohla–Manpur–Ambagarh Chouki located a temporary Maoist camp.

Upon spotting the advancing forces, the Maoists fled deeper into the forest, abandoning their supplies in haste.

A large quantity of materials was recovered from the camp, including multiple sets of olive-green uniforms, backpacks, solar panels with charging kits, walkie-talkie units and batteries, explosives and detonators, tents, tarpaulin sheets, cooking utensils, significant stocks of ration, and crucial Maoist documents such as diaries, letters, and propaganda literature.

The four-day joint anti-LWE operation—launched on November 19 after specific intelligence indicated Maoist presence in the hilly terrain—had escalated into a fierce encounter on the very first day.

Inspector Ashish Sharma of Balaghat district police was martyred while courageously leading the assault team. His sacrifice strengthened the resolve of the forces, who tightened their cordon around the area.

Heavy blood trails discovered a few hundred metres from the encounter site indicate that at least three Naxalites suffered serious gunshot wounds, with one believed to be critically injured.

Intelligence sources reported that the fleeing Maoist squad tried urgently to secure medicines and a doctor from nearby villages. However, local tribals—tired of years of extortion and pressure—refused to assist them.

Six specialised teams from STF Baghera, DRG Mohla, and DRG Rajnandgaon carried out the final push. All seized items have been sent for forensic analysis.

Officials described the recovery as one of the largest in the region this year, delivering a major logistical and psychological blow to the already weakened Maoist network.

“The intensified joint operations will continue relentlessly until the last Naxalite is either neutralised or surrenders,” a senior official stated.

— With inputs from IANS