In a significant breakthrough, security forces have apprehended 22 Naxalites and recovered a cache of explosives in separate operations conducted across Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, officials confirmed on Friday.
Eighteen of the arrested Naxalites were taken into custody from three different locations in Bijapur district on Thursday, while the remaining four were captured in Sukma two days earlier, police stated.
A senior official disclosed, “Security personnel apprehended 10 lower-rung cadres from a forest near Gunjeparti village under Usur police station limits in Bijapur district during an anti-Naxal operation.”
The operation was jointly carried out by local police and the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), specifically its 201, 204, 205, 206, and 210 battalions. Maoist pamphlets and explosives were recovered from the site.
In a separate operation, seven Naxalites were apprehended between the forests of Rajpenta and Sarkeguda villages under Basaguda police station limits by the 210 CoBRA battalion and local police. The forces seized two tiffin bombs, a cordex wire, a battery, and other daily-use materials from them.
Another cadre was arrested by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and local police from a forested area near Chihka village under Bhairamgarh police station limits, officials confirmed.
A tiffin bomb and cordex wire were found in his possession.
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Meanwhile, in Sukma district, four Naxalites were taken into custody along with explosive materials.
According to a police official, these individuals were allegedly plotting to target security forces by planting explosives along patrol routes in the Chintalnar area.
“The four lower-rung cadres, identified as Maoist militia members, were arrested from a forested hill near Ravguda village under Chintalnar police station limits on Tuesday,” said a police official.
A joint team comprising personnel from the 74th battalion of the CRPF and the district force carried out the operation.
The arrested individuals, all natives of Morpalli village, were found in possession of 15 gelatin rods, two electronic detonators, eight non-electronic detonators, 12 metres of cordex wire, Maoist pamphlets, one command switch, and other incriminating materials.
“During their interrogation, they admitted that they planned to plant explosives along routes frequently patrolled by security personnel,” the official added.
In another development, three Naxalites, including two with a cumulative bounty of Rs 2 lakh, surrendered in Bijapur on Thursday.
“Lakkhu Karam alias Gunda, Sukhram Awalam, and Narsu Boddu alias Neti turned themselves in. Karam was the president of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangathan (DAKMS) under the Pidiya Revolutionary Party Committee (RPC) of the CPI (Maoist). Awalam was its Jantana Sarkar head, while Neti served as Kamkanar RPC Platoon Deputy Commander,” a district official stated.
Karam and Awalam each carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on their heads, he added.
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