Military offensive vs. Maoist resistance: Unfolding tensions in Karegatta Hills amidst peace offer

By Harsh Thakor*

A significant military operation is underway in the Karegatta hills, located along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The central and state governments have deployed between 4,000 to 20,000 armed personnel, primarily paramilitary forces, with possible reinforcement from the army, as part of an encirclement-suppression campaign targeting Maoist insurgents. The conflict has intensified, with reports of escalating armed confrontations.

The Communist Party of India (Maoist) has reiterated its willingness to engage in peace talks, contingent upon the cessation of Operation Kagaar, the halt of new armed camp constructions, and the declaration of a mutual ceasefire. The Maoists have criticized the state's actions, describing them as oppressive measures aimed at suppressing revolutionary and democratic resistance movements.

The CPI (Maoist) has called for an end to what they term "genocidal aggression," which reportedly includes cutting off essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine to the affected areas. Despite these challenges, Maoist forces have continued to retaliate against the offensive with reported resilience.

The region's harsh climatic conditions, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, add to the difficulties faced by both sides. Earlier this year, the Maoists issued warnings about the presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and spike traps in the area, urging civilians to avoid the region. Media reports suggest that the Maoists have fortified their positions with bunkers, tunnels, and other supplies, and approximately 500 to 1,000 Maoist combatants are reportedly engaged in active defense.

Casualties have been reported on both sides, with dozens of Maoist fighters reportedly killed and over 40 government personnel hospitalized due to dehydration and injuries, including those caused by IED attacks. The conflict has also extended to the media, with narratives being used as tools in the ongoing struggle.

In Delhi, wall paintings by the bsCEM group have appeared in various locations, including Delhi University North Campus and Connaught Place, demanding peace talks with the CPI (Maoist), the cessation of Operation Kagaar, and an end to the encirclement campaign in the Karegatta hills.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

Whither space for the marginalised in Kerala's privately-driven townships after landslides?

By Ipshita Basu, Sudheesh R.C. In the early hours of July 30 2024, a landslide in the Wayanad district of Kerala state, India, killed 400 people. The Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Vellarimala and Chooralmala villages in the Western Ghats mountain range turned into a dystopian rubble of uprooted trees and debris.

Advocacy group decries 'hyper-centralization' as States’ share of health funds plummets

By A Representative In a major pre-budget mobilization, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), India’s leading public health advocacy network, has issued a sharp critique of the Union government’s health spending and demanded a doubling of the health budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.

Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s views on religion as Tagore’s saw them

By Harasankar Adhikari Religion has become a visible subject in India’s public discourse, particularly where it intersects with political debate. Recent events, including a mass Gita chanting programme in Kolkata and other incidents involving public expressions of faith, have drawn attention to how religion features in everyday life. These developments have raised questions about the relationship between modern technological progress and traditional religious practice.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Election bells ringing in Nepal: Can ousted premier Oli return to power?

By Nava Thakuria* Nepal is preparing for a national election necessitated by the collapse of KP Sharma Oli’s government at the height of a Gen Z rebellion (youth uprising) in September 2025. The polls are scheduled for 5 March. The Himalayan nation last conducted a general election in 2022, with the next polls originally due in 2027. However, following the dissolution of Nepal’s lower house of Parliament last year by President Ram Chandra Poudel, the electoral process began under the patronage of an interim government installed on 12 September under the leadership of retired Supreme Court judge Sushila Karki. The Hindu-majority nation of over 29 million people will witness more than 3,400 electoral candidates, including 390 women, representing 68 political parties as well as independents, vying for 165 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Zhou Enlai: The enigmatic premier who stabilized chaos—at what cost?

By Harsh Thakor* Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1949 until his death and as Foreign Minister from 1949 to 1958. He played a central role in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for over five decades, contributing to its organization, military efforts, diplomacy, and governance. His tenure spanned key events including the Long March, World War II alliances, the founding of the PRC, the Korean War, and the Cultural Revolution.

Pairing not with law but with perpetrators: Pavlovian response to lynchings in India

By Vikash Narain Rai* Lynch-law owes its name to James Lynch, the legendary Warden of Galway, Ireland, who tried, condemned and executed his own son in 1493 for defrauding and killing strangers. But, today, what kind of a person will justify the lynching for any reason whatsoever? Will perhaps resemble the proverbial ‘wrong man to meet at wrong road at night!’

Delhi Jal Board under fire as CAG finds 55% groundwater unfit for consumption

By A Representative A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India audit report tabled in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on 7 January 2026 has revealed alarming lapses in the quality and safety of drinking water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), raising serious public health concerns for residents of the capital.

Search This Blog