Mulugu, Feb 20: Five Maoists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Karreguttalu forest area of Mulugu district along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border.

According to reports, the gun battle erupted during a joint search operation in the forests near Doli and Jelia villages under Venkatapuram mandal. The operation, code named Black Forest‑2, was carried out by CRPF, COBRA, Greyhounds, and District Reserve Guard (DRG) units, with nearly 5,000 personnel participating.

Karreguttalu hills are known to be a stronghold of the banned CPI (Maoist) organization. Preliminary reports suggest that security forces came face‑to‑face with a group of armed Maoists, triggering the exchange of fire. While five Maoists were killed, their identities are yet to be confirmed. Police sources suspect they were members of the Maoist area committee.

Security forces recovered automatic weapons and other materials from the site. Intelligence inputs also suggest that senior Maoist leaders, including Devaji, Mala Raji Reddy, and Bade Chokkram alias Damodar, may be hiding in the region.

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Following the encounter, security has been tightened along the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border, and combing operations have been intensified to flush out remaining Maoist cadres.