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Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Indian Express
Friday's encounter killed Maoists in charge of ensuring safe passage to senior leaders, Chhattisgarh police say
Police in Chhattisgarh said that the six Maoists killed in an encounter on Friday were cadres of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) platoon 1 and were responsible for ensuring the safe passage of senior Maoist leaders. The six had a collective bounty of Rs 48 lakh on them, police said. One of the Maoists was identified as Rahul Punem (38), alias Lachhu Punem, from Dalla village in Sukma. He was a Divisional Committee member and commander of platoon 1. Four of the killed Maoists were women, officials said. Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range Sundarraj P said, 'One AK-47 rifle, one SLR rifle, one 12-bore rifle, and 11 BGL launchers, among other weapons, were recovered.' The Superintendent of Police for Narayanpur district, Robinson Guria, said there were multiple challenges during the operation. 'We had to cross several rivers and nullahs that were swollen and deep due to the rainy season. The nearest police camp was around 20-25 km away.' The encounter took place in the Pariya-Kakur forest area in the Abhujmad region near the Maharashtra, Kanker and Narayanpur trijunction. The spot is about 50 km from Narayanpur district headquarters. Abujhmad region is larger than Goa in size and remains 90% unsurveyed. The operation was undertaken by a joint team comprising District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel from Narayanpur, Kanker, Bastar, and Kondagaon districts, Special Task Force (STF) units of Chhattisgarh, and battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF). So far this year, 221 Maoists have been killed in Chhattisgarh.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
23 Maoists, including members of guerrilla army, surrender in Chhattisgarh's Sukma
Twenty-three Maoists allegedly involved in the murders of several security personnel and tribal villagers in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, with a collective bounty of Rs 1.18 crore, surrendered before the police on Saturday. Eight hardcore Maoists from the formidable Battalion 1 of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), were among those who surrendered. None of the 23 Maoists surrendered with weapons. Among those who surrendered is a divisional committee member (DVCM) identified as Lokesh alias Podiyam Bhima, 35. 'Since 2007, he has been involved in at least nine cases of attacks, killing several security personnel in the Bastar region,' Kiran Chavan, Superintendent of Police, Sukma, said. At the state level, the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee is the top committee, followed by DVCMs in every division. Another Maoist who surrendered was identified as Ramesh alias Kalmu, 35, who was the guard commander of top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma. Both have a bounty of Rs 8 lakh each. Since 2024, after anti-Naxal operations intensified, over 1,450 Maoists have surrendered to the police. 'There are several factors behind the surrender,' Chavan said. 'The new surrender Naxal policy, the Niyad Nellanar scheme, new police camps coming up in remote villages, increasing police influence, the inhuman and directionless ideology of Naxals and the exploitation and atrocities faced by them in the organisation, coupled with the discrimination by Telugu cadres, led to the surrender,' he explained. The Maoists who surrendered also did not like the violence inflicted on tribals, Chavan added. Every surrendered Maoist would be given Rs 50,000 as a surrender amount and get skills training. On Friday, 22 Maoists with a bounty of Rs 37.50 lakh, including a DVCM member, had surrendered in Narayanpur.
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chhattisgarh: 23 Maoists with ₹1.18 crore bounty surrender in Sukma district
Raipur: Twenty-three Maoists with a cumulative reward of ₹1.18 crore surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday, police said. This comes a day after 22 Maoists with a ₹37.5 lakh bounty, who were active in the Abhujmad forest region, surrendered in Narayanpur district. Some of the 32 Maoists who surrendered on Saturday were active in the Aamdai, Jagargunda, and Kerlapal areas, a police officer said. (Sourced) Around 11 senior Maoist cadres surrendered, including 35-year-old divisional committee member Lokesh, alias Podiam Bhima, and a few others from the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, considered the strongest armed formation of the CPI (Maoist). 'This surrender wave clearly shows that the ideological grip of the Maoist movement is weakening. Their senior cadres are disillusioned with the hollow promises of the outfit, frustrated by violence against innocent tribals, and deeply affected by growing internal factionalism,' inspector general of police of Bastar Range Sundarraj P said. Also Read: Chhattisgarh: Woman Maoist killed in Kanker encounter Other prominent Maoists include Ramesh alias Kalmu Kesa, Kawasi Masa, Madkam Hunga, and Punem Deve, each carrying a reward of ₹8 lakh. 'Four cadres carrying a bounty of ₹5 lakh each, one with a bounty of ₹3 lakh, and seven others with a ₹1 lakh bounty each were also among the 23 Maoists who surrendered their arms,' the officer added. The surrendered Maoists cited atrocities on civilians, lack of direction in the movement, and pressure from continuous security force operations along the Sukma-Bijapur district border as key reasons for laying down arms, Sukma's superintendent of police (SP) Kiran Chavan said. Also Read: Top Maoist sniper killed in Bijapur during anti-naxal operation: Police Some of the 32 Maoists who surrendered on Saturday were active in the Aamdai, Jagargunda, and Kerlapal areas, the officer said. Each Maoist who surrendered received ₹50,000 as immediate assistance and will be rehabilitated under the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maoist Influence In Maha Shrinks To 16 Talukas, Gadchiroli Remains Key Battleground
Nagpur: The Maharashtra govt has declared that Maoist influence in the state is now confined to just 16 talukas, with 12 in Gadchiroli district and four in Gondia, signalling a significant decline. A government resolution (GR) on Friday highlights the waning strength of the Maoist movement, particularly in their former stronghold of Abujmarh, straddling Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. The GR also directed the Maharashtra director general of police (DGP) to monitor and review the Maoist tag on the twin districts of Gadchiroli and Gondia and submit a detailed report. Security forces estimate that only around 30 armed fighters of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and 15 logistics supporters remain active in the region, with their leadership facing an imminent collapse. The GR supersedes earlier notifications from 2004 and 2005 that identified multiple districts, including Nanded, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gondia, and Gadchiroli as Maoist-hit, said sources. Over the years, sustained operations by security forces significantly weakened the Maoist grip. A 2021 review led to the current classification, designating the entire Gadchiroli district (12 talukas) and four talukas in Gondia— Gondia, Salekasa, Arjuni Morgaon, and Deori — as Naxal-affected. Gadchiroli has been a focal point of anti-Maoist operations, with significant successes in recent years. Over the past two years, approximately 35 Maoists were neutralised, 65 surrendered, and 70 were arrested in the district. In contrast, Gondia has seen minimal Maoist activity, with only three cadres surrendering and one arrested in the same period. The stark reduction in Maoist strength is attributed to relentless security operations, loss of local support, and internal disarray within the Maoist ranks. Abujmarh, once a formidable bastion, is now described as a tottering stronghold, with security forces closing in on the remaining cadres. The state's efforts to curb Naxalism date back to govt decisions in 2004 and 2005, which initially declared multiple districts and talukas as Naxal-affected. Subsequent reviews and GRs in 2013, 2014, and 2015 refined these classifications, reflecting the evolving situation. The 2021 Cabinet meeting further emphasised aligning Maharashtra's list of Naxal-affected areas with the Central Government's designations, prompting the latest review. The DGP's report, which informed the recent GR, underscores the sharp decline in Maoist activities and the need for continued vigilance.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
No Monsoon Slowdown, C60s To Go After Maoists In Flooded Jungles Of Abujmarh
Nagpur: The monsoon fury will be a big challenge for security forces, when they storm the booby-trapped Maoist headquarters of Abujmarh with Union home minister Amit Shah breaking tradition to continue operations in the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army's (PLGA) bastion in the forested hilly terrains of Central India. While the monsoon was expected to bring a breather to the last standing dalams (formations) and a handful of top guerrillas, Shah's no-respite formula shattered their hope to reorganise, revamp, rehabilitate, and reinvent themselves between June and September, after their truce call was unilaterally junked by the govt. According to senior officials, Abujmarh's flooded rivers, rivulets, and nullahs significantly hinder anti-Maoist operations by restricting mobility, disrupting logistics, and reducing visibility. This offers Maoists a tactical advantage as their cadre comprising local tribals remain holed up in these terrains. The flooded Indravati, Parlakota, Pamulgautam, Godavari, and Pranhita rivers, close to Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, along with Dina and Bande rivers in Gadchiroli, and Kotri and Doodh rivers in Kanker, have been major hurdles for commando operations. Godavari's tributary, the Shabari in south Chhattisgarh, and major nullahs in Gadchiroli and adjoining Chhattisgarh, have posed challenges in penetrating deep into Maoist dens in the tottering red citadel of Abujmarh. With combat boots of security forces sinking in wet forest floor or slipping on slushy hilly terrains, the operations would be near impossible, said a senior official associated with anti-Maoist operations. Another official stated there are high chances that sudden torrential rains may also leave commandos marooned amidst overflowing nullahs and rivers, and poor visibility may further hamper movement. Abujmarh's part in the Bastar region is affected by the Indravati and Godavari rivers and their tributaries. The Doodh river and several unnamed rivulets affect the Kanker side of Abujmarh, largely cutting off villages. The Indravati river also affects Bijapur and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh, from where several operations were launched in the recent past. In Maharashtra's Gadchiroli's Bhamragarh taluka, considered the gateway to Abujmarh from the Gadchiroli side, is among the worst-hit regions during the flood. The Indravati and Godavari rivers, along with Pamulgautam and Parlakota, render the region inaccessible and impossible to use as a launchpad. Another two significant rivers of Gadchiroli, Dina and Bande, are known to flow with much gusto during the monsoon and often above safe levels in the southern part of the district, cutting it off from the headquarters. However, the govt's commitment to continue operations during the monsoon, supported by advanced technology and infrastructure development, aims to deny Maoists this traditional advantage. While Maoists may gain some breathing space, their ability to recharge and retaliate is constrained by recent losses and sustained commando pressure, said an official from a security agency. Meeting Union home minister's March 2026 deadline, which includes an unprecedented continuance of operations in the monsoon, the outcome depends on the security forces' ability to navigate monsoon challenges.
