Latest news with #anti-Naxalite
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Commandos plan final assault on Maoist top guns in Abujmarh
1 2 Nagpur: Maharashtra's elite C-60 commandos are gearing up for a final assault on Abujmarh, tottering headquarters of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army, buoyed by CM Devendra Fadnavis's historic visit to the area on Friday. In Odisha, police have intensified searches in Charmal forests of Sambalpur after reports about the influx of Maoists pushed out by security forces' offensives in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The spotlight, though, remains on Abujmarh, where Operation Clean-up aims to decimate the last vestiges of the military wing of the five-decade old Maoist movement in Maharashtra's eastern flank, say top sources in the state's anti-Naxalite apparatus. A top guerrilla on the radar is central committee member Mallojula Venugopal Reddy, alias Bhupathi or Sonu. Intelligence inputs suggested he was holed up deep inside the booby-trapped forested hills of Abujmarh and spotted a few km off Kawande -- the hamlet CM Fadnavis visited two days ago. Although Bhupathi had appealed to the Centre for a ceasefire and despite his wife Tarakka surrendering a year ago, the veteran may opt to fight till his last breath. Apart from the uncertain terrain, the battle-hardened C60 commandos are also concerned about rains which would make the hills unapproachable with numerous overflowing rivulets and nullahs. Other Maoists on the hit list are Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy alias Kosa, Madvi Hidma, Devuji alias Devji and CPI (Maoist) general secretary Ganapathy. They are frequently shifting bases in Abujmarh and in the three-state junction of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Another top leader, Prabhakar, head of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, is also a challenge for the forces. Kosa, a veteran revolutionary, and Bhupathi are considered the ideological fountainhead and brother of the late Maoist leader Mallojula Koteswara Rao (Kishenji). Intelligence reports suggest the duo is desperately changing locations to evade capture, moving through the treacherous terrain of Abujmarh, a region known for its inaccessibility and strategic importance to the Maoists. Sources claimed the youngest among the last few politburo members, Hidma, heading "Battalion One" in Chhattisgarh, is likely to have suffered injuries in gun battles with forces last month and has gone underground. "All the top Telugu leaders of the Central Committee and Politburo are 60 years and above, which has made them unsuitable for this challenge," said a top cop. Pressure on top cadres intensified after 12 senior Maoists surrendered to Gadchiroli police on Friday, a significant setback for the outfit. The surrendered cadres, reportedly from the Maad area, are believed to have provided critical intelligence about the movements of Kosa and Bhupathi. In Odisha's Sambalpur, intelligence inputs suggested suspicious movement of some rebels from Chhattisgarh, prompting the searches. "It is not fully confirmed if the rebels dispersed and are trying to shift their bases. Considering their dwindling numbers in Odisha, it is not likely that they will mount offensive action against forces," said a senior police officer. Earlier, DGP Y B Khurania said Odisha police are working hard to nip Left-wing extremism in the bud, reiterating the police effort to meet the Centre's target of eliminating LWE violence by March 2026.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Fadnavis first Maha CM to set foot on Abujmarh foothills, says Kawande hamlet is bridge to deliver governance
1 2 3 4 Gadchiroli: In a historic step, Devendra Fadnavis on Friday became the first Maharashtra chief minister to set foot on the foothills of Abujmarh, the once booby-trapped Maoist headquarters and the nerve-centre of the self-styled 'jantana sarkar' of the guerrillas. He touched down at Kawande, a remote village on Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, where the Maoists till a year ago, ran a parallel administration, collected taxes, and operated kangaroo courts. Kawande has now emerged as a symbol of transformation of Gadchiroli, marked by the dismantling of Maoist influence and infrastructure and its integration into mainstream governance, say security experts. Fadnavis also oversaw the surrender of 12 hardened Maoists, carrying rewards exceeding ₹1 crore in Gadchiroli. However, top Maoist ideologue Bhupathi alias Sonu, who had appealed to the Centre for a ceasefire, remained elusive. Lauding security forces, the CM said, "I appeal to the guerrillas still holed up in the forests to give up arms." Fadnavis also attended a collective wedding ceremony of 13 former Maoists, blessing the couples as they embraced mainstream life. Security experts told TOI that the mass surrender was testament to relentless efforts of Gadchiroli's anti-Naxalite security apparatus, which built police outposts like Kawande in 24 hours deep inside the liberated zones of guerrillas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Addressing the elite C-60 commandos, Fadnavis said, "Kawande is not just a police post, but a bridge to deliver governance to the people. The establishment of six security outposts in two years, transformed areas once under the jantana sarkar's shadow into centres of state authority. Our fight against Naxalism is in its final phase and we have set a deadline of March 2026 to wipe out the menace," he said, crediting Shah's stringent measures and the leadership of the Gadchiroli police. To bolster security infrastructure, 19 vehicles, including bulletproof ones, were handed over to the police, funded through the District Planning and Development Committee. The commandos too have been armed with advanced AK-103 rifles and ASMI pistols. Coordination with local communities and focus on intelligence-driven operations have neutralised 28 Maoists, arrested 31, and 44 have surrendered in 18 months. Fadnavis also conducted a drone inspection of a 120-meter-long interstate bridge over the Korma Nala on State Highway 380, with a ₹10.7 crore budget, aimed at connecting Maharashtra with Chhattisgarh. This infrastructure, monitored by DIG Ankit Goyal, will enhance accessibility in areas once isolated by Maoist control. At a beneficiary meet, Fadnavis engaged with locals, distributed benefits under schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
After Basavaraju, another jolt to maoists: Sudhakar killed
Security forces killed top Maoist leader Gautam alias Sudhakar in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. Gautam carried a reward of Rs 40 lakh. He was a Central Committee Member. He was responsible for violence and radicalizing youth. This is a major blow to Maoist leadership in Dandakaranya region. Security forces recovered an AK-47 and explosives. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads After CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao's (70) killing, another top Maoist and senior Central Committee Member (CCM), Gautam alias Sudhakar , carrying a reward of Rs 40 lakh, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, officials have police said Gautam was a senior Maoist leader responsible for various violent incidents that resulted in the deaths of many innocent tribal civilians and the martyrdom of security personnel. Moreover, as the in-charge of the Maoist ideological training school (RePOS), Gautam was involved in misleading and radicalising the youth with violent and anti-national ideologies, they death of Gautam marks a major success for the security forces and is a significant blow to the Maoist leadership, particularly in the Dandakaranya region. His neutralisation is expected to cause a considerable setback to the already weakening strength of the banned and outlawed Maoist organisation, according to Bastar reward on Gautam may increase as police from adjoining states are yet to collect information and the reward amount on Gautam. Chhattisgarh police said that the exchange of fire broke out in the forest of Indravati National Park area when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation based on inputs about the presence of senior cadres. An AK-47 rifle, along with a large quantity of other explosive material, arms, and ammunition, were also recovered during the search."After the neutralisation of CPI Maoist general secretary Basavaraju on May 21, 2025, this marks another severe blow to the banned and outlawed Maoist outfit across the country. A joint team of STF, DRG, and CoBRA was launched for the search operation in the National Park area of Bijapur district. In 2025 so far, the dead bodies of 186 Maoist cadres have been recovered in the Bastar Range," Bastar police said in a statement on inputs indicated the presence of CCM Gautam alias Sudhakar, along with Telangana State Committee Member Bandi Prakash, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee Member Pappa Rao, and several other armed Maoist cadres in the 2024-2025, more than 403 Maoist cadres have been neutralised and their bodies recovered in the Bastar Range following multiple encounters between Maoists and security forces, police said.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Senior Maoist leader killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh
BIJAPUR: A senior Maoist leader carrying Rs 40 lakh bounty was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, official sources said. According to the sources, Maoists' Central Committee member Gautam alias Sudhakar was gunned down in the latest gunfight, which comes days after CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju was killed by security forces in the Bastar region, dealing a major blow to the armed movement. However, Sudhakar's death is yet to be officially announced. The exchange of fire broke out in the forest of Indravati National Park area when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation based on inputs about the presence of senior cadres, a senior police official posted in Bastar Range told PTI. Personnel belonging to the Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard, both units of the Chhattisgarh police, and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - an elite unit of CRPF) were involved in the operation, he said. The offensive was launched based on inputs about the presence of Maoist leader Sudhakar, Telangana State Committee member Bandi Prakash, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member Pappa Rao, and a few other armed cadres, the official said. "Preliminary reports suggest a strong possibility of major success for security forces in the operation," he said. Search operations were still underway in the area and more details will be shared later, he added.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Crackdown intensifies: Top Maoist leader with Rs 40 lakh bounty killed in Chhattisgarh encounter; operation under way
NEW DELHI: Days after the death of CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, official sources on Thursday said that another senior Maoist leader was killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Maoists' central committee member Gautam alias Sudhakar, carrying a Rs 40 lakh bounty, was gunned down by security forces in a latest gunfight, official sources said. However, officials have yet to announce Sudhakar's death. A senior police official posted in Bastar Range said that the gunfight broke out when a joint team of security personnel was carrying out anti-Naxalite operation in the forest area of Indravati national park. Special task force, district reserve guard, both units of the Chhattisgarh police, and (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - an elite unit of CRPF) were carrying out the operation jointly. The official added that the operation was launched based on inputs about the presence of Sudhakar in the region. Telangana state committee member Bandi Prakash, Dandakaranya special zonal committee (DKSZC) member Pappa Rao, and a few other armed cadres were also present, as per the inputs, the official said. "Preliminary reports suggest a strong possibility of major success for security forces in the operation," he said, adding that search operation is under way.
