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Operation Black Forest

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Operation Black Forest
Part of the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency

Locations in India affected by the insurgency (as of 2018)
Date21 April 2025 – 11 May 2025[1]
Location
Border between Chhattisgarh and Telangana, India
Result Indian government claims military victory[2]
Karreguttalu Hills secured by Indian forces[3]
Belligerents
 India Naxalites
Commanders and leaders
India Amit Shah Unknown
Units involved
Insurgents
Casualties and losses

18 security personnel wounded[2][4] Battle of Kareguttalu Hill:

5 security personnel wounded[5]

4 fighters killed[6]
22 fighters arrested[7]
450 IEDs seized[4]
2 tonnes of explosives[4]
Several rifles and ammunition[4]
Battle of Kareguttalu Hill:

Per India
31 Naxals killed[8]

On 21 April 2025, Indian security forces began a massive military operation against Naxalite insurgents in areas located between the states of Chhattisgarh and Telangana.[8]

The Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah announced on 14 May that the offensive had concluded in a major success for the Indian forces, killing 31 Maoists, including top commanders.[2] Though only 4 deaths could be confirmed.[9] Shah further stated that India will soon be "Naxal-free".[8]

Background

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Main article: Naxalite–Maoist insurgency

The Naxalite-Maoist insurgency began in India in 1967, when a faction of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) launched a people's war against the Indian government of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.[10] The insurgents took inspiration from the Chinese Communist Revolution in their decision.[11] The ensuing confrontation between the recently formed insurgency and the Indian government ended in the fragmentation of the group by the early 1970s into more than 40 small separate groups.[12]

The Naxalites saw their peak of insurgency in the 2000s, when they orchestrated prison attacks, freeing prisoners and killing Indian security forces personnel.[13] The Naxals also tried to assassinate high-profile Indian politicians, such as N. Chandrababu Naidu (then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh) in October 2003.[14]

In 2007, the Naxals assassinated Sunil Kumar Mahato (a member of parliament), and continued with an intensified campaign, killing approximately 700 people between 2005 and 2008.[15]

Operation

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On 21 April 2025, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Special Task Force and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) launched the largest and most significant mission of its kind against Naxals.[16] The Chief of the CRPF Gyanendra Pratap Singh confirmed that security forces completed the operation in the Karreguttalu Hills between the borders of the states of Chhattisgarh and Telangana, facing severe weather conditions and retrieving 28 bodies of the 31 killed Naxalites.[16] Home Affairs Minister Shah also confirmed that there were no security personnel casualties.[16][8]

However, later sources linked to local police confirmed that 18 security forces were wounded in the operation.[2][4] The CPRF further commented that the mission had achieved "more than expected" and that the security forces will meet the government's deadline to eliminate the Naxalite insurgency.[2] Military sources claimed that Naxalite headquarters were targeted in the mountains.[17]

The chief of the Chhattisgarh Police also stated that the Maoist leadership had been "dislocated" in the operation and that their military formations had either "got divided or sheltered elsewhere."[2]

Security forces later said that the Karreguttalu Hills were being "sanitised" from Naxals to be soon opened for movement of locals.[3]

Reactions

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the operation and said that the killing of 31 Naxalites underscores the commitment of the government and that it is "moving in the right direction to root out left-wing extremism."[18] Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated and hailed the forces involved in the operation, calling on the Naxalites to immediately lay down arms.[7][1] Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav also welcomed the military operation calling on the Naxals to "surrender or be eliminated."[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Achieving a historic success in the resolve of a 'Naxal-free India', security forces kill 31 Naxalites in the biggest-ever operation against Naxalism at Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) on Chhattisgarh-Telangana border". Ministry of Home Affairs (India). 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Security forces claim top Maoist leaders either killed or injured in 'Operation Black Forest'". The Hindustan Times. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b Singh, Animesh (15 May 2025). "Op Black Forest dealt big blow to Naxals in Bastar: Security forces". Tribune India. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e Kumari, Priyanka (15 May 2025). "Amit Shah visits AIIMS Delhi, meets 5 security men injured in encounter with Naxals | Video". India TV News. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Hindu was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Anti-insurgency ops to 'flush out' Naxal leadership from Karegutta lu hills on Chhattisgarh-Telangana border called off".
  7. ^ a b "Amit Shah congratulates security force, Chhattisgarh Police after 22 Naxals surrendered in Sukma". ANI News. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d "31 Naxals Killed In 21-Day Operation On Telangana-Chhattisgarh Border: Amit Shah". ABP News. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Anti-insurgency ops to 'flush out' Naxal leadership from Karegutta hills on Chhattisgarh-Telangana border called off".
  10. ^ Sharma, Pratul. "How India's PMs navigated three main security challenges". The Week India. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  11. ^ Sobhan, Shakeel. "India: 60 Years of Maoist insurgency and its human cost". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  12. ^ P.V. Ramana (2011). Michael Kugelman (ed.). India's Maoist Insurgency: Evolution, Current Trends, and Responses. Woodrow Wilson International Center. pp. 138–141.
  13. ^ "Operation jailbreak: Naxals run amok in Bihar: 341 inmates flee". The Times of India. 14 November 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Indian politician survives attack". BBC News. 1 October 2003. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Datasheet - Maoist Insurgency". South Asia Terrorism Portal. 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "31 Maoists killed in 21-day anti-Naxal operations at Karregutta hills; Amit Shah hails 'historic breakthrough'". Live Mint. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  17. ^ Naidu, Jayprakash S (12 May 2025). "Anti-insurgency ops to 'flush out' Naxal leadership from Karegutta hills on Chhattisgarh-Telangana border called off". Indian Express. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Govt Committed To Establishing Peace In Naxal-Affected Region: PM Modi". Deccan Chronicle. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  19. ^ "CM urges Naxals to surrender, fetes security forces in B'ghat". Times of India. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
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