
18k detonators, explosives seized in West Singhbhum
2
3
4
Jamshedpur: In a major recovery, security forces have unearthed 18,000 live detonators along with some explosives hidden by Maoists in the West Singhbhum district on Tuesday.
The explosives were recovered from a hilly forest in the Maoist-hit Husipi village under the Tonto police station of the district.
According to the police officers, the explosive items were found when the joint security forces comprising personnel of the CRPF 60 Battalion, Jharkhand Jaguar (JJ) and district police came across the detonators hidden underground while conducting a combing operation in the area after getting specific tip-offs.
Police have said the search and combing operation was carried out based on intelligence inputs about the explosives being hidden in the forest by the Naxalites to target the security forces.
"The recovered detonators and explosives were defused in a controlled manner by a bomb disposal squad of the district police," a senior district police officer said.
The officer further said the search operations were being carried out extensively in the forested area and would be continuing to recover explosives and other contraband items, if any, planted or hidden by the outlawed group to target security forces, civilians or their adversaries.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Doctor's Day 2025
,
messages
and quotes!

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Sarpanch killed by Maoists 2 decades ago, his family is first to get home under new Chhattisgarh scheme
The wife of Masa Sodi, a 40-year-old former village sarpanch who was murdered by Maoists in 2005, became the first beneficiary of the new Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025, getting a permanent house built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) scheme. According to the government, hundreds of surrendered Maoists and victims of Maoist violence will be beneficiaries of the scheme. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, 'The Centre has sanctioned 15,000 houses for such beneficiaries in Chhattisgarh.' Masa Sodi's wife, Sodi Hungi (48), is a resident of Oiras village, located over 20 km from Sukma district headquarters. Hungi has two sons and three daughters. The family has received Rs 95,000 in two instalments under the scheme and is set to get another instalment to make the total amount Rs 1.35 lakh. They also spent some of their own money to build their four-room house. After Masa Sodi's death, Hungi sold liquor and worked as a domestic help to raise their five children, said one of the sons, Rama Sodi (27). While the three daughters did not go to school, the two sons lived and studied in neighbouring Dantewada district. 'My mom did a lot of work and suffered a lot. We have seen many terrible days — I cannot express in words. I do not know why my father was killed… I was in class 1. We never found out which Maoists killed him. For all we know, those Maoists are already dead. For the past several years, Maoists have stopped coming to our village. I dropped out of college after HSC and we are farmers,' Rama said. Until recently, the family had a kutcha house, but last month the construction of their new house was completed and they have since moved in.


News18
a day ago
- News18
Nun Arrests Threaten BJP's Kerala Christian Project: How The Party May Undo The Damage
Last Updated: The state unit of the BJP has already sent its General Secretary, Anoop Antony—the party's Christian face in Kerala BJP—to Raipur to engage with Chhattisgarh leaders Two Catholic nuns from Kerala — Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI) — were arrested by the Railway Police in Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion of tribal girls from Maoist-affected Narayanpur. Although their bail pleas were rejected on July 30 by a Durg court, which referred the nuns to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Bilaspur, the political fallout has already begun and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — the new kid on the bloc in Kerala politics, which saw a 3.7% jump in vote share with its first ever Lok Sabha seat from the state in 2024 election backed by the Christian community in the state—stands to lose much of its hard-earned political space among the community that so far aligned with either the Congress-led UDF or the Left-led LDF. Sources indicate that while the intervention in the BJP came from the highest quarters to douse it before it turns into a wildfire, the Kerala BJP is in a precarious situation. Undoing Christian outreach in Kerala? The Kerala BJP has invested heavily in building goodwill with church leaders—organising Sneha Yatras, nurturing Christian leadership within the party, and portraying a moderate, inclusive face to Kerala's sizable Christian electorate. According to 2011 census, Kerala's Christian population makes up roughly 18-19% of the state's total population. But the arrest has thrown all that into disarray. BJP insiders admit it is a 'severe headache" that has the potential to seriously undo the ground gained among Christians, a vote bank the BJP hoped to cultivate ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. Daily street protests in solidarity with the two nuns have become a common sight in different parts of Kerala, including Thrissur—BJP's first-ever Kerala seat that was won backed by the overriding support of the Christian community. What should trouble the BJP is the active role played by the Church, where powerful bodies such as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church threw their weight behind the agitation. In Thiruvananthapuram, Father Eugene Pereira, Vicar General of the Latin Catholic Archdiocese, who has been the face of many protests from the Vizhinjam Port Protest in 2022 to Muthalapozhi protests too, lent his voice for the two arrested nuns, calling it 'a violation of the constitutional rights of minorities". The Church of South India (CSI) Synod Secretariat—one of the largest Protestant denominations in India, which covers four southern states—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana and the union territory of Puducherry — has now come out with a condemnation, making it politically hard for the BJP. In a statement issued here on Thursday, CSI Synod general secretary C. Fernandas Rathina Raja said, 'Such acts not only violate the fundamental rights but also infringe upon the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom and the right to practice and propagate one's faith." BJP's damage control The BJP, whose state unit understands the precarious situation they are in, have found an ally in its top leadership, which has stepped in for a timely stitch to save nine. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is believed to have asked the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government not to oppose the bail plea of the two nuns who are expected to walk out on Friday itself. CPIM MP from Kerala John Brittas told the media in Delhi, 'The left delegation MPs met the Home Minister… He promised to facilitate the nuns' release. They will be released on bail tomorrow. That is the expectation. He also said that appropriate instructions have been given to the Chhattisgarh government. They will not oppose the bail of the nuns…" Meanwhile, the state unit of the BJP has already sent its General Secretary, Anoop Antony—the party's Christian face in Kerala BJP—to Raipur to engage with Chhattisgarh leaders, promising resolution and justice for the nuns. While he met the two nuns who are in judicial custody, Antony also had a closed-door meeting with Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio, over the issue and how the release of the two nuns can be secured legally. Interestingly, Kerala BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar was swift in distancing himself from the Chhattisgarh CM's rhetoric, calling the incident a 'misunderstanding" due to procedural lapses—not trafficking or conversion—and pledged party support to the nuns, calling both of them innocent. Interestingly, as Shah promised Brittas about the release of the two nuns on Friday, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and another Christian face of the BJP from Kerala is in the state while the Parliament is in session. It is seen that George Kurian is being sent as the Centre's representative during the nuns' homecoming. Does that mean all is well? No. There lingers a problem within the saffron fold where senior functionaries of Hindu Aikya Vedi, an umbrella organisation of pro-Sangh groups, are taking to social media and lashing out at the 'Christian missionaries" for their alleged 'massive conversion"—something both the state BJP and central BJP are not very comfortable with. Moreover, this momentary glitch between the Church and the BJP in Kerala has given a space to the left and the Congress to exploit further. But every time such glitch happens, I am reminded of a Sangh ideologue who once said, 'Kerala is like a test match. You have to be patient." About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ...Read More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : news18 specials saffron scoop view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 01, 2025, 14:00 IST News politics Nun Arrests Threaten BJP's Kerala Christian Project: How The Party May Undo The Damage Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Widow of Maoist violence finds shelter after 20 years under Chhattisgarh's new Naxal victim rehab policy
RAIPUR: A tribal widow of insurgency-hit Sukma district in Bastar whose husband was killed by Maoists in 2005 after accusing him of working as a police informer, was allotted first special permanent house built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to under the Chhattisgarh's new Naxal victim relief and rehabilitation policy 2025. The house was allotted to Sodi Hungi, a resident of Oiras village under Gadiras gram panchayat, whose husband Masa Sodi was brutally killed by Maoists in 2005 on suspicion of being a police informant. The family had been living in a makeshift kutcha house for years, vulnerable to leaking roofs during rains and infestations of dangerous insects and snakes. An initiative by chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, marks a landmark step in rehabilitating families affected by Maoist violence and surrendered cadres. Under the special allocation of 15,000 from Centre under PMAY Sodi's name was proposed by the panchayat during the 2024-25 for housing assistance. Following approval, she received a total of Rs 1.35 lakh in three instalments, enabling the construction of a permanent pucca house. The home was completed on July 8, 2025, following regular monitoring and technical supervision. Officials said, 'This is the first such house in state, constructed under the special housing scheme for Naxal-affected and surrendered families to reintegrate dignity for victims.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Love at First Sight: The Hand-Painted Book Mug Safasy Undo In addition to the PMAY support, Hungi also benefited from multiple welfare schemes, including the construction of a toilet under Swachh Bharat Mission, 90 days of wage employment under MGNREGA, as well as access to ration cards, Ayushman health cards, and other social security programs. Hungi's sons expressed gratitude toward the move, stating, 'Today, our family is living safely and with dignity. This has only been possible because of the efforts of the panchayat, the district administration, and scheme.' The initiative is part of a broader campaign launched under the 2025 rehabilitation policy, aiming to offer shelter and stability to thousands of families devastated by decades of left-wing extremism.