Latest news with #Maoist
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Anti-Maoist strike force in Chhattisgarh DRG counters multiple challenges during intensified operations
BASTAR: This year, 21 May emerged as an epoch-making day marked by exceptional operational efficiency in the ongoing battle against India's single biggest internal security challenge, the CPI (Maoist). On that day, the valiant District Reserve Guard (DRG) in south Chhattisgarh's Bastar eliminated the dreaded supreme commander of the Naxals, Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, who was the general secretary of the banned outfit. The DRGs are well-trained forces with combat capabilities raised in the strife-torn Bastar zone with a mission, to take on the Maoist challenge that has persisted as a virtual war against the state for over four decades. The DRG, a special combat team of the Chhattisgarh police force, came into existence in 2012 in Narayanpur and Kanker. Witnessing its effective and successful outcome, it was later established in the remaining five districts, Bijapur, Jagdalpur, Sukma, Kondagaon, and Dantewada, across the Bastar range. They operate under the command of the respective district police chiefs.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Two Maoists charge sheeted by NIA in 2022 Jharkhand arms recovery case
New Delhi: In a fresh set of chargesheet, two more accused have been named by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a 2022 case relating to seizure of arms and ammunition as part of a conspiracy by the banned CPI (Maoist) terror conspiracy to attack security forces in Jharkhand. The charges were filed by the agency against Ranthu Oraon and Niraj Singh Kherwar, both hailing from Jharkhand, taking the number of accused in the case RC-02/2022/NIA/RNC to 25. The NIA has chargesheeted the two under the Arms Act, Explosive Substance Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Acting on a tip-off, the local police and CRPF personnel had, in February 2022, launched a joint search operation in the forest area of Bulbul, Lohardaga, Jharkhand, where CPI (Maoist) cadres had gathered to plan an attack on security forces in the Bauxite Mines Area to take revenge against the arrest of their top commander, Prashant Bose. The gathering was led by the terror organisation's Regional Commander Ravindra Ganjhu, along with active cadres Balram Oraon, Muneshwar Ganjhu and 45-60 other cadres. On their way to Bahabar Jungle, the security forces had come under indiscriminate firing by the CPI (Maoist) cadres at Harkatta Toli and Bangla Pat. An encounter followed, after which the security forces extensively searched the area and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Jharkhand Police had initially charge sheeted nine persons in the case. Subsequently, between August 2023 and May 2025, NIA filed five supplementary chargesheets against 23 persons. This included nine accused already chargesheeted by Jharkhand police and further charged under new sections by NIA. NIA, during the course of investigation, found that the conspiracy was aimed at carrying out terrorist and violent acts and armed rebellion with the objective of threatening the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the nation, and destabilising the government. Credible evidence collected by NIA against the arrested accused, including Zonal Commander, Sub-Zonal Commander, Area Commander and armed cadres, had also revealed complicity of other CPI (Maoist) cadres and overground supporters. NIA is hunting out the other co-conspirators as part of its efforts to dismantle the CPI (Maoist) network in the country.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Surrendered Maoist dies by suicide inside open prison in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh
A 30-year-old surrendered Maoist was found dead in a surrender inmates' open jail in Hazaribagh district. Jail authorities confirmed that the inmate — identified as Chhota Shyamlal Dehri, also known by the aliases Santu Dehri and Somlal Dehri — was found unresponsive inside his allotted cottage during the morning headcount Saturday. According to jail officials, Dehri hailed from Dukhan Dehri village in Jharkhand's Dumka district. He had been transferred from Central Jail Dumka and entered the 'surrender prison' on February 9, 2021. He was facing trial in eight pending criminal cases related to Naxal activities. The incident came to light during the morning headcount when Dehri, who was lodged in Ward No. D, did not respond to calls from prison staff. Speaking to The Indian Express, Jail Superintendent Jitendra Kumar said the deceased was an unmarried man from Dumka district and had been living alone in one of the 100 cottages meant for surrendered Naxals. 'Each inmate is given an individual unit that includes a room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. This isn't a typical prison, but a rehabilitation facility for surrendered cadres,' Kumar said. The deceased had been moved to the Dumka prison in February 2021 and was an undertrial in connection with eight different cases. He had reportedly surrendered on April 22, 2020, after initially joining the banned outfit due to a land dispute in his village. 'He joined the Naxal outfit hoping they would help resolve his land issue, but when that didn't happen, he became disillusioned and surrendered,' Kumar added. Authorities found the body after security personnel conducting morning rounds received no response when they knocked on his door. 'The cottages are locked from the outside at night. In this case, he had also locked the inner door, which is against protocol. When guards received no response, they forcibly opened the door and found him hanging from the ceiling hook. He tied a wire to the hook and then used a rope,' Kumar said. The room was not under CCTV surveillance, as the surrender prison does not follow the standard high-security setup of regular prisons. Officials said the inmate had shown no signs of mental illness during his stay. 'He wasn't under any psychiatric care. Those with such issues are referred to Ranchi for treatment,' Kumar said. However, another official admitted there is a lack of regular psychological counselling at the facility. 'We don't have a trained counsellor in this jail, and honestly, most prisons across the country don't. There's a serious staff crunch. Sometimes NGOs conduct small sessions, but nothing is regular or institutionalised,' he said. Asked about possible stress or depression, Kumar said while Dehri was not undergoing psychiatric care, one fellow inmate shared that the deceased occasionally spoke of stress over unresolved land disputes. According to official information, no suicide incidents have been reported in the Hazaribagh Open Jail in recent years. However, in the last two to three months, four such cases have occurred in other jails across the state; two in Hatuwadh, one in Dumka, and one in Central Jail Hazaribagh. The incident has been reported to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and police at Lohsinghana station have been informed to register an Unnatural Death (UD) case. The family, including his parents and brother, has also been informed. Further investigation is underway. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
NIA chargesheets 3 Maoists for involvement in extortion, forced recruitment in Jharkhand
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted three Maoists for allegedly being involved in extortion and forced recruitment of people in their proscribed outfit in Jharkhand, officials said on Saturday (May 31, 2025). In a supplementary charge sheet filed on Friday (May 30) before a special court in Ranchi, Jharkhand, the NIA charged Krishna Hansda alias Saurav Da alias Avinash Da, Abhijit Korah alias Matla Korah alias Sunil Korah, and Ramdayal Mahto alias Nilesh Da alias Bachchan Da for having a part in the 2023 CPI(Maoist) terrorist conspiracy case, they said. Hansda was the regional committee member of CPI (Maoist), a banned outfit, Korah one of its armed cadres, and Mahto its special area committee member, they said. Korah hails from Bihar, while the other two were Jharkhand native, the probe agency said in a statement. Also Read | Top Maoist leader Basavraju among 27 killed in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur "All three were found to be active members of the proscribed terrorist organisation and a part of its larger conspiracy involving extortion, armed intimidation, and forced recruitment in the general area of Parasnath, district Giridih, Jharkhand," it said. Their roles unravelled with the arrest of Krishna Hansda in January 2023 from the Lucio forest area of the Dumri Police Station under Giridih district. "The local police had recovered levy money, one 7.65 mm bore pistol, and several incriminating documents from his possession," the NIA said. After the seizure, police then registered an FIR against Hansda, Korah, Mahto and several unknown persons, and also filed a charge sheet against Hansda, it said. NIA took over the case and re-registered it in June 2023.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
NIA charge sheets three Maoist guerrillas in 2023 Kerala forest office attack
New Delhi: Three Maoists guerillas from the Kabani Dalam squad were named in the charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a Special Kerala court in connection with the armed attack on the Kerala Forest Department Corporation (KFDC) office at Wayanad in 2023, said an official on Saturday. The charge sheet was filed before the Special Court, Ernakulam, against the three members of the proscribed CPI (Maoist) terrorist organisation on Friday. Those named in the chargesheet are C.P. Moideen alias Girish alias Salil alias Sajan, Manoj P.M. alias Ashique, and P.K. Soman alias Shahid alias Akbar. They have been charged under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Kerala Forest Act, 1961 and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, said an NIA official. A total of five members of CPI (Maoist), armed with deadly weapons, had unlawfully assembled and criminally trespassed into the KFDC office on September 28, 2023, said the chargesheet. They had restrained the KFDC Manager and damaged public property and equipment using iron rods. Raising Maoist slogans, the men had also pasted CPI (Maoist) posters in the office premises, it said. After the incident, four attackers were arrested subsequently by the law enforcement agencies, and one had surrendered before the police. The NIA, which took over the case a few days later, found during the investigation that C.P. Moideen, Manoj P.M., and P.K. Sonam, along with H. S. Ravindra alias Kotehonda Ravialias alias Manoj alias Ramu and Santhosh Kumar A alias Sandhosh Kumar alias Raja, were members of the Military Wing People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) of CPI (Maoist). They had formed a local guerrilla squad named Kabani Dalam in Wayanad forests, and were actively engaged in acts of terrorism, aimed at spreading fear among the public and destabilising the government. The attack at KFDC was part of their violent anti-national agenda, the NIA said.
