Railway personnel killed in IED blast in Odisha-Jharkhand border
The deceased was identified as Itua Oram, working as a 'key man' in the Indian railways, the police said.
Police suspected involvement of Maoists in the blast as Maoist posters were found near the blast site in Sundargarh district.
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The Hindu
26 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Why Maoists are on the wane in the once-dreaded Red Corridor
Once considered a formidable internal security threat, Maoist insurgency has shrunk from controlling the vast Red Corridor to just 18 districts of the country. The underlying factors are not only the targeted development schemes and sustained counterinsurgency operations, but also internal rifts, ideological rigidity, leadership crises, and alienation of support base, according to security experts and the surrendered members of the outfit. At its peak in the late 2000s, the Red Corridor spanned nearly 180 districts, encompassing a large part of India's population. However, official statistics shows the scale of decline: the incidents of Left-Wing Extremism dropped by more than 50% between 2004-14 and 2014-23, with fatalities falling by nearly 70%. Naxal-related violence had peaked at 1,936 incidents in 2010, but plummeted to 374 by 2024, while deaths dropped from 1,005 to 150. A close examination of Dandakaranya by security experts – a forested expanse covering parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra that was treated by Maoists as their de facto capital for over two decades – indicated some possible reasons behind their waning influence. As disclosed by several surrendered Naxal leaders, the outfit prioritised military preparedness and ideological indoctrination over any tangible development in the regions it controlled, and the very communities which it claimed to be championing suffered. In the recent past, the outfit has reportedly been facing a leadership crisis. The resignation of Muppala Lakshmana Rao, known as Ganapathy, in 2018 is considered to be the turning point. He was succeeded by Basava Raju, but the crisis deepened. He leaned heavily on military offensives rather than 'political outreach and civil engagement', alienating the support base. In May 2025, he was among the Maoists gunned down by security forces in the Maad region of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur. The CPI (Maoist), through its Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, said that Raju's death was a result of betrayal from within, including the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army Company No. 7 that was responsible for his security. While the reported internal rifts have been crucial, operations by security forces have accelerated the collapse of the outfit. The killing of Maoists in Narayanpur during the 21-day-long exercise, hailed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism, dealt yet another blow to the outfit. Security agencies have reasons to believe that the outfit's decision-making body, Politburo, has now just four active members: Muppala Lakshmana Rao aka Ganapathy, Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Abhay, Deo Kumar Singh alias Deoji, and Misir Besra. Ideologically, the outfit is said to be losing its relevance with the younger peasants and tribals increasingly focused on education, employment, and integration into mainstream society. In his Mann Ki Baat address last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about one Om Prakash Sahu from Gumla in Jharkhand, which was once infested with Naxal activities. '…Om Prakash Sahu ji left the path of violence. He started fish farming. Then he inspired many friends like himself to do the same,' said Mr. Modi, adding that over 150 families of Basia block in Gumla have joined fish farming. Several surrendered leaders and members have advocated shunning of violence. Ginugu Narsimha Reddy, a former Central Committee member who surrendered along with his wife in December 2017, has spoken about finding peaceful solutions. He has also highlighted differences within Maoist groups. The internal disputes, underscored by the surrendered Maoists, are said to be compounded with the outfit being isolated politically.
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
India shot down six Pakistani aircraft including five fighter jets during Op Sindoor, says IAF chief
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian restaurateur alleges police inaction after burglary at Southampton restaurant
After burglars broke into Padharo, a popular vegetarian restaurant in Southampton, late at night last week, stealing several bottles of expensive alcohol and cash, the owner, Ankit Vaghela, said police did not come to the scene despite an emergency call and instead asked him to email CCTV footage of the three suspects. Burglars broke into Padharo, a popular Southampton vegetarian restaurant, stealing cash and expensive alcohol.(X-@Go_Southampton) Vaghela reviewed the footage himself and found the cash register broken and left behind, but the cash missing. Some bottles from the bar were also smashed or stolen. 'It was very heartbreaking to be told that officers will be able to review the damage in three to five working days and that no forensics were available at the time,' news agency PTI quoted Vaghela as saying. 'There was glass everywhere. As a business, we can't afford to remain closed and had to get things cleaned up and the glass fixed. We are still struggling to operate smoothly without a proper cash register, which will take time, but are determined to welcome our guests with the same level of service we are known for in the city,' he added. Originally from Gujarat, Vaghela said a similar break-in happened around the same time last year when a burglar smashed through a different entrance but fled with injuries. 'It is extremely worrying and a safety concern as other businesses in the city centre have been similarly targeted. But we have to trust the process and hope for justice,' he said. The recent break-in came just days after the restaurant hosted players from the Indian women's cricket team, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, during their match against England. The local community has shown strong support following a social media post from the restaurant. 'Please be extra vigilant. We would hate for anyone else to go through this. But we are determined. We've spent the time cleaning up the mess, and we are back open. We refuse to let this define us. Now, more than ever, we're relying on our wonderful community,' Vaghela said. Hampshire Police, investigating the July 31 incident, said they take such cases seriously. 'Every deployment decision is based on informed risk assessments to make sure the most serious cases are prioritised, and officers are on scene where there is an immediate threat to life or a crime in action,' the police said. 'On this occasion, based on the initial information we were given regarding the offenders no longer being at the scene, our investigation could get underway without any immediate attendance. That investigation is progressing with lines of enquiry identified, such as CCTV, and we are in touch with the victim to provide them updates on our investigation,' the statement added. With PTI inputs
