Maoists Kill 3 Telangana Greyhounds Commandos in Landmine Blast: Police

Three junior commandos from Telangana’s Greyhounds, the state’s specialized anti-Maoist task force, were killed in a landmine blast early Thursday morning at the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. According to senior Telangana police officers, the blast was triggered by Maoists, marking the first fatal encounter with Left-wing extremists (LWE) for Telangana Police this year. The incident occurred during a routine area domination exercise by the commandos in the Veerabhadravaram-Tadapala hillocks of the Wazeedu-Perur forest zone in Mulugu district, which is known to be Maoist-affected.

Mulugu district and its neighboring Bhadradri Kothagudem district have been longstanding hotspots for Maoist activity. The police clarified that the fatality did not happen during any planned offensive operation but rather during a routine exercise to maintain dominance over the region. This distinction is important as it highlights the nature of the mission being non-combative and routine, contrasting with the ongoing security operations in neighboring Chhattisgarh. For the past three weeks, Chhattisgarh Police have been actively hunting down Maoists in the Karregutta hillock area, located at the border. However, the Telangana Police did not participate in this joint operation and the fatalities in Telangana were a result of a routine exercise.

Telangana’s approach towards Maoists has largely been one of encouragement for them to surrender rather than engaging in direct confrontation. In recent times, nearly 300 Maoists have surrendered in the Mulugu district, which borders Chhattisgarh. Telangana’s state policy has focused on rehabilitation and reintegration, offering incentives to those who lay down arms. Despite this, the state still faces challenges with Maoist violence and encounters like the one on Thursday morning.

The deaths of the three Greyhounds commandos come at a politically sensitive time. Senior leaders of Telangana’s ruling Congress party have been urging the central government to initiate “peace talks” with the Maoists to resolve the long-standing insurgency. These calls for dialogue have been growing in volume, especially from local political leaders, who are concerned about the ongoing violence and its impact on the state’s peace and stability.

The incident has put a spotlight on the ongoing security operations in the region, with some questioning whether the current strategy of encouraging surrenders and non-violent engagement is enough in the face of persistent Maoist violence. The Maoists, while weakened in some areas, continue to carry out attacks, especially in border regions like Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem, where their influence remains strong.

In conclusion, while the Telangana Police maintain their stance on encouraging surrenders, the deaths of the commandos in the landmine blast reflect the persistent security challenges posed by Maoist forces in the region. The incident has drawn attention to the broader issue of the Maoist insurgency in India and has sparked renewed calls for peace negotiations, particularly from Telangana's political leaders. The event serves as a reminder of the delicate balance that the state must maintain between encouraging peace and ensuring the safety of its security personnel while facing the threat posed by Maoist extremists.