Latest news with #Maoist
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘80 killed in fake encounters', claim Naxals, admitting loss of 357 cadres
Raipur: The banned CPI (Maoists) has admitted in a statement that 357 of its cadres, including 136 women, have been killed across India in the past year. The statement issued by the party's top central committee marks one of the largest single-year losses in recent history for the insurgent group. The development comes ahead of Maoists' annual "Martyrs' Week" to be observed from July 28 to Aug 3. The statement, released in the form of a 24-page booklet in English and Gondi languages, outlines the deaths as "martyrdoms" and claims the majority 281 deaths occurred in the Dandakaranya region, which includes parts of south Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. "Among those killed are four members of the Maoist Central Committee and fifteen from various State Committees which is a heavy blow to the group's leadership ranks," the statement said. The group attributes these losses to 'Kagaar', a term it uses to describe the intensified counter-insurgency offensive being conducted jointly by central and state governments, particularly by security forces operating in the Red Corridor. Maoists claimed that 80 of the deceased were killed in "fake encounters", while 269 were killed in "encirclement attacks". Notably, 31 civilians were also included in the death toll, according to the group's internal records. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The document also asserts that Maoist fighters inflicted casualties on govt forces too — claiming 75 security personnel were killed and 130 injured through IEDs, booby traps, and ambushes over the year. Real Issue Is How Many Maoists Surrendered: Dy CM Sharma Commenting on the recent statement issued by Maoists, deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma who also holds Home portfolio said that Maoists have admitted to the death of over 300 cadres within a year, however, a larger and more important development: "The real issue is not how many Maoists have been killed, but how many have surrendered or have been arrested. That number stands close to 3,000, significantly weakening their network. " He added that many Maoists have been neutralized or rehabilitated, marking a decisive shift in the state's counter-insurgency strategy. The Maoists' statement framed the losses as part of a broader campaign of "resistance" against the state, vowing that their struggle, rooted in Maoist ideology and a commitment to protracted people's war, would continue despite the setbacks. It accused govt forces of targeting injured and unarmed cadres during combing operations and claimed that morale within their guerrilla ranks remains high. Maoists To Observe 'Martyrs Week' Maoist Central Committee has also called for a widespread observance of "Shaheedi Saptah" (Martyrs' Week) from July 28 to Aug 3, urging cadres and supporters to hold memorials in villages, towns, and forests, distribute literature, posters, and organize cultural tributes like songs and plays, propagate the life stories of the deceased leaders as revolutionary role models, encourage youth from oppressed communities to join the movement. The booklet repeatedly urges members to reject surrender and rehabilitation policies of the state and to continue resisting what it describes as "Brahmanical Hindutva fascism" and "imperialist proxy wars." They named the prominent cadres they lost over the past year including Basavaraju (Nambala Kesava Rao), 71, the party's General Secretary and a veteran of 51 years in the movement, killed in an encounter in Bastar on May 21, Vivek (Prayag Manjhi), 66, a Central Committee member from Jharkhand, killed in Bokaro, Chalapathy (Ramachandra Reddy), 62, a senior strategist, killed in Gariaband in Chhattisgarh, Uday, 56, and Sharma, 96, a long-time ideologue from Punjab, who died of illness and Neethi, Rupesh, Chaite, and Karthik — all senior leaders from Dandakaranya and Odisha zones — were also listed among the deceased. Police officials have claimed in recent months that the Maoist movement is at its weakest in decades, citing rising numbers of surrenders, weapon seizures, and steady dismantling of PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) formations.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
MIDC to acquire 3,500 acre for JSW Group steel plant in Gadchiroli
Nagpur: The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has initiated the process to acquire close to 3,500 acres for JSW Group's steel project in Gadchiroli. This follows the announcement by JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal that the group will set up the world's largest integrated steel plant in the district. The land parcel has been identified in the Wadsa taluka of the Maoism-affected district, said a source privy to the development. In terms of area, this will be the biggest land acquisition in the Maoist district, which the state plans to develop as a steel hub. The process has been initiated, and a formal proposal to be put up before the state govt is close to finalisation. The majority of the area is private land, apart from some patches of forest, the source said. The next step includes issuing a notification, intimating the locals, and starting joint measurement. So far, no formal communication has been made to the locals. It will only happen after the proposal is approved by the state govt, said the source. Since some of the villages in the district are covered under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), a resolution approving the acquisition is also likely to be needed, the source said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo In February this year, Jindal announced the plan to set up a steel plant when he attended an event, Advantage Vidarbha, patronised by Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari. Jindal said the plant will have a capacity of 25 million tonnes per year and will be built at an investment of Rs1 lakh crore. The single plant by Jindal will surpass the total capacity of the public sector undertaking Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), which stands at 18 million tonnes at present. JSW's own capacity will be doubled by the plant. The state govt plans to build Gadchiroli as a steel hub. At present, Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited is also building an integrated steel plant and recently got environmental clearance for expanding the capacity of its iron ore mine. Another company, Surjagad Ispat, also has plans for a steel plant in southern Gadchiroli.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Toll-free number soon to provide info on Maoists
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police have decided to introduce a toll-free number to gather intelligence about Maoist activities. Informers providing credible information will receive monetary rewards while maintaining their anonymity, ADG (anti-Naxal operations) Sanjeeb Panda said on Tuesday. "We will soon circulate the toll-free number for public knowledge. Support of the public is essential to achieve the Centre's target of wiping out Maoist menace from the country by March 2026," said Panda, who assumed charge on Tuesday following his appointment last week. Panda said a comprehensive roadmap is being finalised to eliminate left-wing extremism (LWE) from the state. He also emphasised on intelligence-based operations against Maoists. "We will intensify anti-Maoist operations through proper coordination between special intelligence wing, special operation group, district voluntary force, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and district police," Panda said, adding that Kandhamal and Rayagada are the focus areas of the operations. According to Odisha Police, the state's LWE situation remains under control compared to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where recent operations resulted in casualties of a large number of Maoist. Police said that while 10 districts — Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, and Bargarh — are officially LWE-affected, three districts — Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur — have recorded no Maoist incidents in three years.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
Maoist couple with ₹25 lakh bounty surrenders before police in Ramagundam of Telangana's Peddapalli district
A Maoist couple, who had been working underground mostly in Dandakaranya forest region, for more than three decades, carrying a bounty of ₹25 lakh on their heads, surrendered before Ramagundam Police Commissioner Ambar Kishor Jha in Telangana's Peddapalli district on Tuesday. The duo hail from the erstwhile Adilabad district in Telangana. They were identified as Athram Lachanna alias Gopanna, 65, the banned organisation's Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee Member and in-charge of Division Technical Team, North Bastar, and Chowdhury Ankubhai alias Anithakka, 55, Divisional Committee Member, Technical Team, North Bastar DVC, Chhattisgarh. Lachanna, a native of Parapelli village in Mancherial district, joined the CPI (ML) People's War Group (PWG) of Naxalites in 1983 and initially worked in Chennur dalam in the former composite Adilabad district. Later, he was promoted as Area Committee Member in 1988 and worked as Deputy Commander of Sirpur PWG Dalam. He married Ankubhai, a member of the PWG Dalam, in 1989. In 1995, the naxal couple was transferred to the Technical department and sent to an urban area for party work, police said. Lachanna has a total of 35 cases registered against him in various districts of Telangana. Ankubhai, who hails from Agaraguda village in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, joined the PWG in 1988. She has 14 cases pending against her in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. Police said the couple had quit the banned outfit and returned to the mainstream to lead a peaceful life with their family members by availing the State government's welfare measures for surrendered Maoists.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh: Maoists admit to killings of 357 cadres in a year, CPI (M) central committee issues martyrs' week call
RAIPUR: The banned CPI (Maoists) has admitted in a statement that 357 of its cadres, including 136 women, have been killed across India in the past year. The statement issued by the party's top Central Committee marks one of the largest single-year losses in recent history for the insurgent group. The development comes ahead of Maoists' annual 'Martyrs' Week' to be observed from July 28 to August 3. The statement, released in the form of a 24-page booklet in English and Gondi languages, outlines the deaths as 'martyrdoms' and claims the majority 281 deaths occurred in the Dandakaranya region, which includes parts of south Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. 'Among those killed are four members of the Maoist Central Committee and fifteen from various State Committees which is a heavy blow to the group's leadership ranks,' the statement said. The group attributes these losses to 'Kagaar', a term it uses to describe the intensified counter-insurgency offensive being conducted jointly by central and state governments, particularly by security forces operating in the Red Corridor. Maoists claimed that 80 of the deceased were killed in "fake encounters", while 269 were killed in 'encirclement attacks'. Notably, 31 civilians were also included in the death toll, according to the group's internal records. Despite severe setbacks, the document asserts that Maoist fighters inflicted casualties on government forces too — claiming 75 security personnel were killed and 130 injured through IEDs, booby traps, and ambushes over the year. Maoists Admit Heavy Losses, But Focus Shifts to Surrender Numbers Commenting on the recent statement issued by Maoists, Deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma who also holds Home portfolio said that Maoists have admitted to the death of over 300 cadres within a year, however, a larger and more important development: 'The real issue is not how many Maoists have been killed, but how many have surrendered or been arrested. That number stands close to 3,000, significantly weakening their network. ' He added that many Maoists have been neutralized or rehabilitated, marking a decisive shift in the state's counter-insurgency strategy. Organised Resistance or Decline? The Maoists' statement framed the losses as part of a broader campaign of 'resistance' against the state, vowing that their struggle, rooted in Maoist ideology and a commitment to protracted people's war, would continue despite the setbacks. It accused government forces of targeting injured and unarmed cadres during combing operations and claimed that morale within their guerrilla ranks remains high. However, the details and tone of reflection suggest growing pressure on the Maoist network, especially in Dandakaranya — historically a Maoist stronghold. Martyrs' Week Observance Maoist Central Committee has also called for a widespread observance of 'Shaheedi Saptah' (Martyrs' Week) from July 28 to August 3, urging cadres and supporters to hold memorials in villages, towns, and forests, distribute literature, posters, and organize cultural tributes like songs and plays, propagate the life stories of the deceased leaders as revolutionary role models, encourage youth from oppressed communities to join the movement. The booklet repeatedly urges members to reject surrender and rehabilitation policies of the state and to continue resisting what it describes as 'Brahmanical Hindutva fascism' and 'imperialist proxy wars.' They named the prominent cadres they lost over the past year including Basavaraju (Nambala Kesava Rao), 71, the party's General Secretary and a veteran of 51 years in the movement, killed in an encounter in Bastar on May 21, Vivek (Prayag Manjhi), 66, a Central Committee member from Jharkhand, killed in Bokaro, Chalapathy (Ramachandra Reddy), 62, a senior strategist, killed in Gariaband in Chhattisgarh, Uday, 56, and Sharma, 96, a long-time ideologue from Punjab, who died of illness and Neethi, Rupesh, Chaite, and Karthik — all senior leaders from Dandakaranya and Odisha zones — were also listed among the deceased. Police officials have claimed in recent months that the Maoist movement is at its weakest in decades, citing rising numbers of surrenders, weapon seizures, and steady dismantling of PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) formations.
