No Monsoon Slowdown, C60s To Go After Maoists In Flooded Jungles Of Abujmarh

Time of India

5 days ago

Nagpur: The monsoon fury will be a big challenge for security forces, when they storm the booby-trapped Maoist headquarters of Abujmarh with Union home minister Amit Shah breaking tradition to continue operations in the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army's (PLGA) bastion in the forested hilly terrains of Central India.
While the monsoon was expected to bring a breather to the last standing dalams (formations) and a handful of top guerrillas, Shah's no-respite formula shattered their hope to reorganise, revamp, rehabilitate, and reinvent themselves between June and September, after their truce call was unilaterally junked by the govt.
According to senior officials, Abujmarh's flooded rivers, rivulets, and nullahs significantly hinder anti-Maoist operations by restricting mobility, disrupting logistics, and reducing visibility.
This offers Maoists a tactical advantage as their cadre comprising local tribals remain holed up in these terrains. The flooded Indravati, Parlakota, Pamulgautam, Godavari, and Pranhita rivers, close to Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, along with Dina and Bande rivers in Gadchiroli, and Kotri and Doodh rivers in Kanker, have been major hurdles for commando operations.
Godavari's tributary, the Shabari in south Chhattisgarh, and major nullahs in Gadchiroli and adjoining Chhattisgarh, have posed challenges in penetrating deep into Maoist dens in the tottering red citadel of Abujmarh.
With combat boots of security forces sinking in wet forest floor or slipping on slushy hilly terrains, the operations would be near impossible, said a senior official associated with anti-Maoist operations. Another official stated there are high chances that sudden torrential rains may also leave commandos marooned amidst overflowing nullahs and rivers, and poor visibility may further hamper movement.
Abujmarh's part in the Bastar region is affected by the Indravati and Godavari rivers and their tributaries.
The Doodh river and several unnamed rivulets affect the Kanker side of Abujmarh, largely cutting off villages. The Indravati river also affects Bijapur and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh, from where several operations were launched in the recent past.
In Maharashtra's Gadchiroli's Bhamragarh taluka, considered the gateway to Abujmarh from the Gadchiroli side, is among the worst-hit regions during the flood.
The Indravati and Godavari rivers, along with Pamulgautam and Parlakota, render the region inaccessible and impossible to use as a launchpad. Another two significant rivers of Gadchiroli, Dina and Bande, are known to flow with much gusto during the monsoon and often above safe levels in the southern part of the district, cutting it off from the headquarters.
However, the govt's commitment to continue operations during the monsoon, supported by advanced technology and infrastructure development, aims to deny Maoists this traditional advantage. While Maoists may gain some breathing space, their ability to recharge and retaliate is constrained by recent losses and sustained commando pressure, said an official from a security agency. Meeting Union home minister's March 2026 deadline, which includes an unprecedented continuance of operations in the monsoon, the outcome depends on the security forces' ability to navigate monsoon challenges.