Latest news with #Maoist-affected
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Grandpa, come home': Granddaughter of top Maoist commander Devji makes appeal
Raipur: In the turbulent wake of the encounter killing of topmost Maoist commander Basavaraju, an emotional letter and video message from the granddaughter of senior Maoist commander Tipiri Tirupati alias Devji has surfaced, where she pleads with him to lay down arms and return to the family. Devji and his granddaughter, Itlu Suma Tipiri, who is in a Telangana college, have never met as he went underground long before she was born. A central committee member, Devji is considered a potential successor to Basavaraju but Suma is calling him back to the life he left behind. Devji, known to be a ruthless Maoist commander, led the 2007 attack on Geedam police station in Dantewada, which was the first of many brutal ambushes to follow. He heads Maoist 'military commission', in effect the head of PLGA, the same post that Basavaraju held before being made CPI(Maoist) general secretary in 2018. A day ago, Bastar IG P Sundarraj had issued a blunt warning to Maoist commanders: surrender or die. "We consistently get information about the locations of top Maoist leaders. They can be eliminated anytime by security forces. They have only one option now: surrender and join the mainstream or get killed by security forces," Sundarraj said. Suma appears to realise the fate that may befall her grandpa. "Dear grandfather, please come home. I send you my heartfelt greetings. I've always longed to meet you, but sadly never got the chance. Whenever I read about you in the media, I feel both pride and pain. I know you gave everything to the cause of an egalitarian society, but recent events have been deeply saddening," she says, adding: "You've seen and achieved so much, but now we ask you to come back. Your family waits at the door. Please don't forget us." Suma questions the state's ongoing anti-Maoist operations, particularly 'Operation Kagaar' -- a high-intensity crackdown launched in Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh. "Why aren't similar actions taken against infiltrators from Pakistan and Bangladesh? It pains me to see people celebrating the killing of Maoists with sweets. These are also human lives," she argues, without mentioning Indian forces' continued battle against Pak-backed terrorism and the recent Op Sindoor. She reflects on the motivations that drew many, including her grandfather, to the Maoist insurgency, and ends her message with the plea: "You left to stand for the people. But now, your people — your family — are calling you home. Please come back. We are still waiting, with open arms and open hearts." The letter comes two days after TOI reported that Devji and Sonu were believed to be the most probable to become CPI(Maoist) general secretary after Basavaraju's death.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Security forces engage in encounter with Maoists in Jharkhand's Jhariakela
The security forces engaged in an encounter with members of the banned Maoist organisation CPI (Maoist) at around 12 p.m. on May 30. The encounter occurred in the hilly/forest areas of Vangram Tirilposi under Jhariakela Police Station in Jharkhand, a press release said. During the encounter, seeing the security forces gaining an upper hand, the Maoists fled from the incident spot by taking advantage of the forests and mountains. Explosives and other daily-use items were recovered and seized by the security forces during the search operation. Recently, the Indian forces conducted a major anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur, eliminating 27 Maoists, which included top commander Basavaraju. Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI (Maoist), has been involved in Maoist activities for the past 40-45 years and has been involved in more than 200 Maoist activities. Meanwhile, Maoist activity in Bastar and many regions of India has 'reduced significantly' as a result of carrying out operations against the banned and 'illegal' CPI-M outfit, a police official said on Wednesday (May 28, 2025). Inspector General (IG) of police, Bastar, P. Sundarraj told ANI, 'As a result of carrying out operations against the banned and illegal CPI-M outfit, Maoist activity in Bastar and many regions of India has reduced significantly... 4 districts of Bastar sub-division, Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur, and Kanker were identified as the most affected LWE districts... 6 districts of Chhattisgarh, including Bastar, Dhamtari, and Rajnandgaon, will be specially monitored by us for any kind of resurgence'. The IG stated that most of the districts in Chhattisgarh are seeing a drop in Maoist activity. 'In the country, only 18 districts are Maoist-affected, and 28 districts are included in the list of districts of maximum thrust... District of maximum thrust means that Maoist activity in the district has reduced to a great extent, but strict observations are still required... Most of the districts in Chhattisgarh are seeing a drop in maoist activity...,' he said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
17 Maoist cadres, militia members from Chhattisgarh's strife- torn south Bastar region surrender before police in Telangana
As many as 17 Maoist cadres and militia members from the Dandakaranya forest region in neighbouring Chhattisgarh have returned to the mainstream by turning themselves in before the police in Kothagudem town on Friday, police said. Among them are two Area Committee Members (ACMs), four party members, and 11 militia members, all hailing from the restive south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. According to police, 282 Maoists of various cadres mostly from the Maoist-affected Bijapur and Sukma districts of Chhattisgarh have surrendered before the Bhadradri Kothagudem district police so far this year. One of the main factors that prompted them to abjure the path of violence and return to the mainstream is the prompt implementation of welfare measures under the 'Operation Cheyutha' programme of the district police for rehabilitation of the surrendered Maoists, police said. Addressing the media in Kothagudem, Superintendent of Police B. Rohit Raju said, 'At present CPI (Maoist) cadres are moving in the forested stretch along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border.' 'Those residing in these border villages should desist from extending any cooperation to Maoists. They should alert the police if they notice any movement of the cadres of the outlawed organisation,' the SP added.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh: Heroic Bastar cops get out-of-turn promotions for anti-Maoist operations
RAIPUR: In recognition of their bravery in combating Maoists, Chhattisgarh govt has granted out-of-turn promotions to 295 police personnel. An order issued by DGP Arun Deo Gautam says that police personnel who displayed exceptional courage during anti-Naxal operations across the region are being rewarded with accelerated promotions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Many havildars have become ASIs and promotions were given to lower and middle rank personnel from district police forces, the Special Task Force (STF), and intelligence units. According to the order, 206 constables have been promoted as head constables, 37 head constables as Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), 15 ASIs as Sub-Inspectors (SIs), 16 SIs as inspectors, three platoon commanders to as company commanders, six assistant platoon commanders as platoon commanders and three 12 personnel were promoted as assistant platoon commanders. Sharing the order copy on social media, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the home portfolio, said, "Hearty congratulations to 295 police personnel of Chhattisgarh Police, who are working with valour, courage and dedication in Maoist-affected areas, for their out-of-turn promotion." "All the security personnel have displayed indomitable courage and bravery while fighting in the frontline against Maoists to protect the Constitution and democracy. With the strength of the arms of soldiers, the future will definitely be filled with development, happiness, peace and new enthusiasm in Bastar," Sharma stated. There's only one jawan among those promoted, who's posted in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district in the Durg division, while all others are posted in Bastar division in different capacities in police, Special Task Force and intelligence branch. Bastar division comprises seven districts -- Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Sukma and Kanker. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to reporters, Deputy CM Sharma said, 'The era of Red terror in Bastar is coming to an end, thanks to the unmatched bravery and unwavering commitment of the state's security forces.' Chhattisgarh police records stated that 425 Maoists have been killed in encounters, 1,444 arrested, and 1,406 have surrendered. These individuals had a combined bounty of Rs 22 crore on their heads.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kept my word, razed terror hideouts to the ground: Modi in Bihar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he had delivered on his promise made during his last visit to Bihar to pursue and punish terrorists and their backers and asserted that the fight against terror was 'neither over, nor has it come to a halt'. 'After the dreadful terrorist attack in Pahalgam, I had promised the country from the land of Bihar that the hideouts of the perpetrators of terrorism would be razed to the ground, that they would get a punishment beyond their imagination. Today, when I have come to Bihar, I have come here after fulfilling my promise,' PM Modi said at a public event in Bikramganj in Rohtas district, referring to India's successful military action against terror organisations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7 under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. On his last visit to Bihar on April 24, PM Modi vowed to punish those responsible for the deadly terror strike in Kashmir that had killed 26 people. 'Friends, today from the soil of Bihar, I say it to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth,' PM Modi said in Madhubani district on April 24. At Friday's event 300km away, the prime minister said those who dared to wipe off 'sindoor' from the foreheads of our sisters have had their hideouts and safe havens reduced to rubble by the brave armed forces in one stroke. In his speech, PM Modi also paid tributes to Mohammed Imtiyaz, a Border Security Force jawan from Bihar who had laid down his life for the country on May 10. 'At present, the enemy has seen just one arrow from our quiver. Our fight against terrorism is neither over, nor has it come to a halt. If terror raises its hood again, it will be dragged out of its hole and trampled,' he said. PM Modi also referred to the progress made in dealing with Maoist violence, saying India was fighting against its enemies, both across the border as well as within the country. He said there were 125 Maoist-affected districts before 2014 when he took over as prime minister. 'Now the number has been reduced to just 18 and the day is not far when they will be completely wiped out to ensure peace, safety, development, education and employment everywhere,' he said. He also took a dig at the Congress and the RJD for 'trying to cheat people with social justice while doing everything to loot and exploit the deprived sections of Dalits and the backward classes when they were in power'. 'Before the NDA government in Bihar, the state was devoid of basic infrastructure, roads and electricity. But that era is over now. Bihar has modern airports and high-speed trains, four- and six-lane roads crisscrossing the state, electricity, and a huge infrastructure development. All these works could have been done earlier also, but those in power looted and exploited the poor by taking away their land for jobs (in an oblique reference to the land for job case involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav). This was their style of social justice to exploit the deprived lot to ensure a lavish lifestyle for themselves. Now they are desperate for power and again trying to lure the deprived lot with social justice talk after doing the biggest injustice with them when they were in power. People need to be wary of them,' he added.
