Security forces seize 711 explosive shells near Chhattisgarh's Karregutta Hills

Security forces have seized 711 Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) shells hidden by Maoists near the Karregutta Hills in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. According to a report by India Today, following this major seizure, the police have warned citizens not to visit the area, as there is a possibility that unexploded ammunition and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are still present.

This success was achieved during a joint search operation carried out by the Bijapur district police, the 196th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the 204th Battalion of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the CRPF. A police official stated on Thursday that the operation was conducted based on specific intelligence.

The search operation was carried out in the forest area around the security forces' Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Tadpalla village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Usur police station. During the investigation, 711 BGL shells hidden by Maoists were found near the Karregutta Hills, located approximately 1.5 km north-west of the Tadpalla FOB. The seized ammunition was secured according to established security protocols.

Following the incident, the police have requested local citizens to stay away from Karregutta Hills and its surrounding areas. Warning the public, the police official said, "Citizens should avoid visiting Karregutta and the surrounding hills at this time, as the presence of IEDs and other explosive materials cannot be ruled out." Furthermore, he stated that a demining operation will be carried out as part of a planned exercise in the area.

BGL shells are explosive ammunition capable of causing severe damage to vehicles and infrastructure, as well as inflicting fatal injuries.

Karregutta Hills, located on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, were once considered a secure hideout for senior Maoist leaders. Between April and May last year, security forces conducted an operation for 21 days in the dense forests around these hills, in which at least 31 Maoists were killed. Security forces also established a new camp in this area in November last year.

It is noteworthy that this seizure comes at a time when Chhattisgarh was declared free from the presence of armed Maoists on March 31 this year.