200 C-60 Commandos Storm Abujmarh, Smash Maoist Camp in Fierce 2-Hr Battle

Time of India

12-05-2025

Nagpur: In a meticulously planned operation, 200 elite
C-60 commandos
of
Gadchiroli police
stormed the Maoist headquarters of Abujmarh, dismantling a critical rebel camp at 6:30am on Monday after an intense two-hour gun battle. The operation, conducted in treacherous, forested and hilly terrain on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, dealt a severe blow to the Maoists' ongoing
Tactical Counter Offensive Campaigns
(TCOC), aimed at executing sabotage activities in the region. Bloodstains found on the forest floor indicated heavy casualties among Maoists, though the surviving guerrillas managed to drag the bodies away as they fled.Despite the commandos' efforts to encircle the
Maoist camp
, a steep cliff on one side hindered their movement, leaving a narrow gap that proved to be a lifeline for the 15-member Bhamragarh dalam.
Seizing the opportunity, Maoists exploited the dense forest cover and rugged terrain to escape through this gap. "We had them encircled at three points, but the steep cliff provided a miraculous escape route," said additional SP, Gadchiroli, Yatish Deshmukh. Rebel casualties could not be ascertained till late evening.The operation was launched on the evening of Sunday following precise intelligence inputs on the presence of armed Maoists from the Bhamragarh Local Organisational Squad (dalam) near the newly established Kawande post, 200m off the Chhattisgarh border.
Led by additional superintendent of police (administration) M Ramesh, special operations team navigated the mine-infested jungles of Abujmarh to track down the rebels. "The operation was based on information that trickled in, allowing us to act swiftly," said Deshmukh.Intense firing began at dawn when at least 15 Maoists rained bullets on the commandos at three separate locations in the Sadar Jungle area. The C-60 unit, having laid an overnight ambush, responded with retaliatory fire, engaging the rebels in a fierce two-hour exchange. The rebels used the open cliff side to escape into the dense jungles.A thorough search of the encounter site yielded a significant haul of weapons and materials, underscoring the operation's success. The commandos recovered one INSAS self-propelled rifle, one single-shot rifle, one magazine, one detonator, one radio, three rucksacks, two walkie-talkies, two walkie-talkie chargers, and a large cache of Maoist literature. The seized materials confirmed Maoists' intent to carry out an ambush and other disruptive activities as part of their TCOC strategy. The operation also resulted in decimation of the Maoist camp, further weakening their operational capacity. "Commandos of the Special Operations Team have done a commendable job in pushing back Maoists and dismantling their base," said a senior police official.According to Gadchiroli police records, the Maoist presence in the district was significantly depleted, with only around 30 armed cadres and 15 logistics and supply team members remaining active. The Bhamragarh dalam is one of the last two significant guerrilla formations in the region, alongside Company Number 10. "We nearly wiped out one of these formations, bringing us closer to neutralising the Maoist threat in Gadchiroli," the official added.The operation's success is a testament to Gadchiroli Police's relentless campaign against Maoist insurgency. By penetrating the booby-trapped and heavily forested Abujmarh, a long-standing Maoist bastion, the C60 commandos demonstrated exceptional courage and tactical prowess.