Hyderabad, Sep 5 – In a big clash, six Maoists lost their lives during a gunfight with police in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana. The encounter unfolded near Raghunathpalem in the Karakagudem mandal, close to the Chhattisgarh border.

The firefight occurred as police were conducting combing operations in the dense forest area. Reports suggest that some senior Maoist leaders from Telangana were among those killed. During the confrontation, two police officers sustained injuries. Further details on the incident are pending.

Despite the decline of left-wing extremism in Telangana over the past decade, areas along the border with Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra continue to see Maoist activity. The leadership of the banned CPI (Maoist) is notably comprised of individuals from Telangana, which poses ongoing concerns for law enforcement.

This encounter is a significant setback for the Maoists, who have been attempting to revive their operations in the state. The clash comes shortly after a similar operation in Chhattisgarh, where nine Maoists, including six women, were killed on September 3. This operation, targeting the Maoist presence along the Dantewada and Bijapur districts, involved a joint effort by various security forces.

Among those killed in Chhattisgarh was Macherla Esobu, a prominent Maoist leader from Telangana, also known as Jagan, Dada Randev, and Randhir. Esobu, who had been active in the Maoist movement since the 1980s, played a key role in the CPI (Maoist)'s central military operations and was responsible for the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border region. The operation in that area is ongoing, and local villagers are on high alert due to the violence.

Nine Maoists Killed in Dantewada Clash: Ongoing Joint Operation by DRG and CRPF in Chhattisgarh