Major Anti-Naxal Operation Launched in Chhattisgarh: ITBP Establishes Base in Former Maoist Stronghold

Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh: In a significant move against Naxalism, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Naxal-affected Narayanpur district have established a new operational base in Lanka village, a former stronghold of Maoist activity. The base has been set up by the 44th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), approximately 140 kilometers from the district headquarters.

A senior official stated, “This ITBP camp is strategically located in the dense forests of Abujhmad in South Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, just three kilometers from the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border. On the other side lies Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, another Naxal-affected area.”

Abujhmad: A Vast and Sensitive Region
The Abujhmad area spans roughly 4,000 square kilometers and is home to nearly 237 villages with around 35,000 residents, primarily tribal communities. The dense forests have long served as a safe haven for cadres and commanders of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Blocking Maoist Supply Lines
The new Lanka ITBP base has effectively sealed a critical access point for Naxals, disrupting their movement and supply chains between Gadchiroli in Maharashtra and Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. According to officials, this is the ninth ITBP camp established in Abujhmad over the past three months under a comprehensive operational plan to penetrate deep into Naxal-affected zones.

Other ITBP camps are located in Adjhum, Idwarya, Adar, Kudmel, Jatlur, Dhobe, Dodi Marka, and Padmeta, all aimed at blocking long-standing corridors used by Naxals between Telangana, Maharashtra, and Abujhmad. The Lanka Company Operating Base (COB) is situated about six kilometers north of the Indravati River, facing Bedre in Bijapur district.

Eight Battalions Deployed
Officials confirmed that around eight ITBP battalions have been deployed across Chhattisgarh for anti-Naxal operations. The base at Lanka will also support ongoing infrastructure projects, including long-delayed bridge construction at Bedre, which will improve accessibility to major villages in Abujhmad and shorten travel time in the region.