Imedi television said Emzar Kvitsiani, a former presidential envoy to the mountainous district, the only Tbilisi-controled part of Abkhazia, and 50 supporters were trying to break through toward the breakaway region.
The channel said the breakthrough attempt had been made before the four-hour ultimatum given to Kvitsiani by the Interior Ministry to surrender expired. The channel also said police had arrested 31 Kvitsiani supporters who had put up resistance to the police.
Novosti Georgia news agency said no official confirmation of the report had followed.
Georgia started the operation after Kvitsiani said he did not recognize Tbilisi's rule on Sunday. He said Georgian troops were moving to the area to disarm former members of his Hunter border guard battalion, which was formally disbanded in 2005, though most members refused to lay down their arms.
Rustavi-2 television earlier said about 80 former members of the battalion laid down their arms earlier in the day after receiving security guarantees from the authorities.
