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

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

From ancient wisdom to modern nationhood: The Indian story

By Syed Osman Sher South of the Himalayas lies a triangular stretch of land, spreading about 2,000 miles in each direction—a world of rare magic. It has fired the imagination of wanderers, settlers, raiders, traders, conquerors, and colonizers. They entered this country bringing with them new ethnicities, cultures, customs, religions, and languages.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov, the artist who survived Stalin's cultural purges

By Harsh Thakor* Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov (September 14, 1885 – April 20, 1964) was a Soviet artist, professor, academician, and teacher. His work was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize, the highest artistic honour of the USSR. His paintings traced the development of socialist realism in the visual arts while retaining qualities drawn from impressionism. Gerasimov reconciled a lyrical approach to nature with the demands of Soviet socialist ideology.

Thali, COVID and academic credibility: All about the 2020 'pseudoscientific' Galgotias paper

By Jag Jivan* The first page image of the paper "Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis" published in the Journal of Molecular Pharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs , Vol. 2, Issue 2 (2020), has gone viral on social media in the wake of the controversy surrounding a Chinese robot presented by the Galgotias University as its original product at the just-concluded AI summit in Delhi . The resurfacing of the 2020 publication, authored by Dharmendra Kumar , Galgotias University, has reignited debate over academic standards and scientific credibility.

Development at what cost? The budget's blind spot for the environment

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The historical ills in the relationship between capital and the environment have now manifested in areas commonly referred to as the "environmental crisis." This includes global warming, the destruction of the ozone layer, the devastation of tropical forests, mass mortality of fish, species extinction, loss of biodiversity, poison seeping into the atmosphere and food, desertification, shrinking water supplies, lack of clean water, and radioactive pollution.

Public money, private profits: Crop insurance scheme as goldmine for corporates

By Vikas Meshram The farmer in India is not merely a food provider; he is the soul of the nation. For centuries, enduring natural calamities and bearing debt generation after generation while remaining loyal to the soil, this community now finds itself trapped in a different kind of crisis. In February 2016, the Modi government launched the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) with the stated objective of freeing farmers from the shackles of debt. It was an ambitious attempt to provide a strong safety net to cultivators repeatedly devastated by excessive rainfall, drought, and hailstorms.

Search This Blog