Three Maoists killed in Maredumilli forest encounter in Alluri district
In the aftermath, Greyhounds forces are actively combing the Maredumilli forests after receiving intelligence suggesting additional Maoist presence in the area. Both Uday and Aruna were subject to outstanding rewards for information leading to their capture.
The Maoist Party Central Committee has experienced a significant decline in membership; it originally boasted 42 members upon its formation 21 years ago. This figure has dwindled due to encounters and voluntary surrenders, with four fatalities reported in encounters just this year. Notably, 11 of the remaining 16 members are of Telugu origin. Intelligence sources are currently assessing candidates for the position of Chief Secretary in light of these developments.
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Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Nuns among three held for alleged human trafficking in Chhattisgarh, forced conversion of Bastar's tribal girls, sparks political storm
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Railway Police have arrested three persons including two nuns on charges of alleged human trafficking and forced religious conversion of three tribal girls from Maoist- affected Narayanpur district under the age of 20. The girls were being taken to Agra on July 25 from Durg railway station, said railway police, adding that the girls were being taken for nursing jobs. The three arrested were identified as Sister Preeti Mary (45) and Sister Vandana Francis (50), both from Kerala congregation, and Sukaman Mandavi (19) from Narayanpur. They were arrested by GRP based on a complaint by a local Bajrang Dal functionary. According to the police, the trio was allegedly taking three tribal girls from Narayanpur to work as nurses at a hospital in Agra, while also attempting to convert them to Christianity. The girls, all under the age of 23, were intercepted at Durg station just before boarding the train by GRP. A GRP official said that whenever girls or anyone leaves a village for work, it has to be recorded in the 'palayan register' and intimated to the 'gram sachiv' but none of it was done when checked, nor did the alleged accused carry written consent from the parents, which is mandatory. The girls said the nuns were taking them to Agra in Uttar Pradesh on the pretext of jobs and that Mandavi had brought them to Durg railway station, from where they had to go to Agra with the two nuns, a GRP official said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo It was after the initial probe that members of Bajrang Dal protested at the railway station platform and demanded arrest of the alleged accused. They submitted a complaint to the GRP. Based on their statements and preliminary questioning of the accused, police registered Case number 60/2025 under Section 143(3) of the IPC for human trafficking, and Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act (1968). The alleged accused were produced before the court and sent on judicial remand. The issue has triggered a nationwide political storm and Church and Opposition Congress alleging that minorities are being targeted under the BJP-led administration. Lok Sabha MP and senior Congress leader KC Venugopal on Monday posted on X, 'UDF MPs held a strong protest outside Parliament today against the shocking arrest and harassment of Catholic nuns in Durg in Chhattisgarh. They were targeted by a violent mob despite no wrongdoing. By the BJP-RSS ecosystem, all minorities are treated as criminals and lumpen elements are unleashed to intimidate fellow citizens practising their faith.' This jugalbandi between Bajrang Dal goons and the police in Chhattisgarh shows the BJP's real intent towards religious minorities, Venugopal said in his social media post, adding, 'We demand their immediate release and justice for the innocent nuns.' Venugopal has written to Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai strongly condemning Bajrag Dal's vigilante action and appealing for strict action against perpetrators. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sharply reacted to the move, 'Two Catholic nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh after being targeted for their faith - this isn't justice, it's BJP-RSS mob rule. It reflects a dangerous pattern, systematic persecution of minorities under this regime. We will not be silent. Religious freedom is a constitutional right. We demand their immediate release and accountability for this injustice.' Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai reacted stating, 'Three daughters from Narayanpur were promised nursing training and subsequent employment. They were handed over at Durg railway station by a local man to two nuns, who were taking them to Agra. There was an attempt to lure them with false promises and carry out human trafficking under the guise of religious conversion.' 'This is a serious matter concerning the safety of women. The investigation is currently ongoing. The case is subjudice and the law will take its own course. Chhattisgarh is a peaceful state where people of all religions and communities live in harmony. It is extremely unfortunate that a sensitive issue involving the safety of our daughters from Bastar is being given a political colour,' CM said. The three girls have been placed under protection at the Bhilai Sakhi Centre. GRP officials also said that photographs of minor girls and the contact details of a priest were found with the nuns, along with some official documents under scrutiny. Durg police maintain that the arrests were made based on legal provisions and witness statements. 'The three women were being taken under the pretext of employment, but the circumstances raised suspicion. The investigation is ongoing,' a GRP officer said. BJP slams Congress for backing accused BJP has strongly criticized Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Venugopal, for allegedly siding with those accused in the trafficking and religious conversion of tribal girls from Bastar. In a statement issued on Tuesday, BJP's state media in-charge Amit Chimnani said, 'Due to their politics of appeasement, top Congress leaders have chosen to stand with the accused in the trafficking of Bastar's daughters. Shockingly, even Chhattisgarh Congress, which should be supporting the state's daughters, is echoing the voices of their national bosses. Once again, it has become evident that Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh merely follow the commands of their high command and have no concern for the people of the state.' Chimnani added that the daughters of Chhattisgarh will never forgive the Congress for this betrayal.
Hans India
4 hours ago
- Hans India
Alert on Telangana-Chhattisgarh border for Maoist ‘Martyrs' Week'
Hyderabad: Police were on high alert on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border in view of the Martyrs' Week being observed by the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist. Police beefed up security and launched search operations in areas bordering Chhattisgarh in Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts. The CPI-Maoist has called for Martyrs' Day week from July 28 to August 3 and appealed to people to make the programmes a success. Security personnel were conducting vehicle checks in agency areas of Venkatapuram, Wazeedu, Eturunagaram, and Kannaigudem 'mandals' (blocks) in Mulugu district. Meanwhile, Maoist banners and pamphlets surfaced in Charla mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Monday. Maoists displayed banners and kept pamphlets on the highway near R. Kothagudem and at Danavaipeta village in Charla mandal. Through these banners and pamphlets, the left-wing ultras appealed to people to make Martyrs' Week celebrations a success. The banned outfit condemned Operation Kagar of the Central government in Chhattisgarh. Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were on high alert in the border areas of Bhadrachalam sub-division. Security personnel were thoroughly inspecting vehicles on the roads from Bhadrachalam to Charla, Venkatapuram. CPI-Maoist observes the Martyrs' Week every year to commemorate the death anniversary of Charu Majumdar, who had initiated the Naxalite movement in West Bengal in 1967 with the Naxalbari uprising. Majumdar had died in police custody on July 28, 1972. Meanwhile, police have also beefed up security in the Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) region in view of the Maoists' call to observe Martyrs' Week. Vehicle checking was intensified in the agency areas in the region as part of the measures to foil any programme. The Maoist movement in both the Telugu states is at its lowest ebb due to massive setbacks to the banned outfit during the anti-Maoist operations over the last 10-15 years. However, police remained on alert on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border and in the AOB region to foil the continued attempts by Maoists to revive their activities.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
400 new mobile towers to boost digital connectivity in Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: Central Govt is set to install 400 new BSNL towers in the Maoist-affected and remote regions of Chhattisgarh in a phased manner, to boost digital connectivity in the state's most underserved areas. This was announced by Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Telecommunications, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, during his visit to Chhattisgarh on Sunday. Tower installation will proceed in phase manner, after approvals from security agencies and the forest department. 'BSNL is already providing high-quality 4G services across India, and this expansion will help realize our mission of delivering connectivity to even the last village,' Sekhar said. Sekhar underscored the Centre's commitment to fast-tracking development in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-hit areas. 'Schools in these regions are being digitized to help students prepare for exams like JEE and NEET. Special facilities for differently-abled children are also being introduced,' he said. Chairing a high-level review meeting in Raipur, Union minister Sekhar assessed the performance of key schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Gramin, and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How NTUC Club Is Reinventing Golf in Singapore Golf Asia Read More Undo He expressed satisfaction with Chhattisgarh's implementation pace, calling the rural development push 'transformative for both infrastructure and housing.' Highlighting local innovations, Sekhar praised the 'pink auto' initiative aimed at women's empowerment. The programme provides women with ownership-based auto-rickshaws, creating avenues for self-employment. 'Such initiatives, driven by Self-Help Groups (SHGs), are empowering women through financial support, training, and market access,' he said. Sekhar said the government's approach is to strengthen digital, physical, and social infrastructure in an integrated manner, making the vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.
