Hyderabad: On Thursday, September 5, six Maoists were killed in a fierce gunfight between security forces and extremists near the inter-district border of Bhadradi Kothgudem and Mulgu districts in Telangana, according to police reports.

The clash began in the early hours of the day and resulted in the neutralization of six Maoist cadres, including two female members of the banned group. Two personnel from the Greyhounds Force, a specialized unit of the Telangana police focused on counter-insurgency operations, were injured in the encounter. One of the injured personnel is reported to be in critical condition and is undergoing treatment.

A cache of weapons was recovered from the site of the encounter, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Karkagudem police station in Mulgu district. The operation was initiated after police received intelligence about a significant Maoist presence in the area, with speculation that some Maoists had recently crossed from Chhattisgarh.

This incident follows another major offensive on September 3, where nine Maoists were killed near the inter-district borders of Dantewada-Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. That operation, conducted by a joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Bastar Fighters, and the District Reserve Guard (DRG), also resulted in the recovery of various weapons, including Self Loading Rifles (SLR), .303 rifles, .315 rifles, and explosive materials.

Senior police officials revealed that the Maoists killed in the Telangana encounter had a combined bounty of Rs 59 lakhs on their heads. This includes six members of the proscribed outfit with rewards of Rs 5 lakhs each and a member of the Dandkaranya Special Zonal Committee (DSZC), Randhir, who had a bounty of Rs 25 lakhs.

The recent surge in operations against Maoist insurgents reflects a strategic shift by the security forces, following indications from the Union Home Minister about intensified efforts to deliver a decisive blow to the Maoist movement.

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