News Analysis India

Tag: Chhattisgarh

  • India to construct 12 crucial roads in ‘mission mode’ to neutralise Naxal menace

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: In what may turn out to be a decisive, final step in the country’s battle against Naxals, the government has ordered construction work in ‘mission mode’ of 12 crucial roads that lie deep in the Naxal dominated belt.

    Sources told this newspaper that construction work on some of these roads has been pending for more than a decade now. The roads, once constructed, will allow mass mobilization of security forces in areas that the forces have not been able to penetrate till now in large numbers. Some of these roads were functional, sources added, till around three decades ago when Naxals blew them up with the purpose of keeping the forces away.

    These 12 crucial roads, located in the three worst Naxal-hit districts in the country—Sukma, Bijapur and Dantewada; all in Chhattisgarh–covering about 478.6 kms have been sanctioned over the past one decade but 214.8 kms of road construction is still pending, according to senior home ministry officials.

    “The decision has been taken in view of the marked improvement in the security situation on the ground. The target is to complete 76.8 km of pending road construction by June next year and the remaining pending work will be completed on a priority basis in the next few years too. Idea is to reclaim the region in Maoists’ heartland and uproot them,” a top home ministry official said.

    The enormity of completing the construction of these roads can be gauged from the fact that as many as 53 CRPF personnel have been killed during the construction of these roads over the last eight years. 17 CRPF jawans have been injured too during construction work of these roads since 2014, home ministry data accessed by this newspaper reveals. The Director-General of Central Reserve Police Force, the primary combat force against Naxals in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism, has instructed the troops on the ground to expedite completion of work of the 12 critical roads on mission mode in coordination with Chhattisgarh police, sources said.

    Of the 12 roads, five falls in Sukma district, one in Dantewada, and four are in the Bijapur district while two roads are located on the Bijapur-Sukma border and Dantewada-Sukma border. The roads will not only prove pivotal for the development of locals in the area but it would be a victory of security forces against Maoists in their strongest base.

    According to sources, two such roads — one connecting Bheji to Chintagufa (which is to be about 30 km long) and the other 8 km long stretch Golapalli to Paidagudem-were sanctioned in the year 2012 and 2015—but the work on these roads is yet to begin. However, the government has set a target of 10 km stretch of Bheji-Chintagufa road by June next year and the entire Golapalli-Paidagudem is to be built by March next year.

    Another 38.8-km long crucial road connecting Pali to Barsoor in Dantewada district–that was sanctioned in July 2010–is to be completed by June next year, as per the government’s blueprint.

    For the important 56-km long Dornapal-Jagargunda road that was sanctioned in September 2015, 22-km work is still pending and the government is eying a target of mid-2023 to complete the stretch, sources said.

    The decision has been taken in view of the steep decline in violence levels as well as the geographical spread of Left-wing extremism in the country over the past decade. CRPF has not suffered a single casualty during road construction activities in the past four years which is a big achievement of the force, a senior CRPF official pointed out.

    “Maoists know the roads will be a big setback for them and therefore, time and again they have launched some of their deadliest attacks against security forces involved in the construction process to delay the construction work,” said the paramilitary official, who is posted in Chhattisgarh.

    The quadrilateral patch of Sukma, from Dornapal to Kistaram and Bheji to Jagargunda on Gollapalli track serves as a haven for Naxals. The area helps ultras in movement across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Odisha and Maharashtra through Chhattisgarh, but also for their guerrilla warfare training amid the dense forests and inaccessible terrain. 

  • Eight Maoists including six carrying rewards on their heads arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: As many as eight suspected hardcore Maoists, six of them carrying rewards on their heads, were taken into custody during the joint operation launched by the security forces in the forested terrain of Morepalli in the strife-torn Sukma district of south Chhattisgarh.

    The forces also recovered four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), detonators, batteries, some weapons, Maoist literature and items of daily use.

    “Acting on a tip-off about the movement of Naxalites in the region, a joint anti-Maoist operation was carried out by the Sukma police and the 201 battalion of CoBRA, an elite unit of the CRPF, in the remote forested areas. During the search operation, eight people were detained and following interrogation their identities were revealed. The state government has declared rewards against six of them,” said Sunil Sharma, Sukma district superintendent of police.

    After cross-verifying their identity, an FIR has been lodged and they would be produced before the local court, the SP added.

    Those arrested included Kawasi Raju, a Maoist battalion cadre, and Kamlu Mada, a militia company commander, who carried rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 5 lakh respectively besides four other cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation, each carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on their heads.

    “The disclosures by the eight who were arrested led to the recovery of IEDs planted in remote inhospitable terrain. Such major joint campaigns will continue further and the security forces will ensure with their efforts to get rid of the areas cited as the rebels’ stronghold,” said Yogyan Singh, DIG CRPF (Sukma range).

    Sukma is among the worst Maoist-affected districts in the country.

  • Eight naxals arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Eight naxals, six of them collectively carrying a reward of Rs 17 lakh on their heads, have been arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, police said on Friday.

    The arrest was made from a forest near Morpalli village under Chintalnar police station limits on Thursday during an “area domination operation” of the CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), an elite unit of the CRPF, and the District Force of police, they said.

    Acting on intelligence about movements of naxals in the area, the security forces had launched the operation on November 2, said Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Sunil Sharma. The joint squad nabbed eight ultras near Morpalli, 450 km from Raipur, he said.

    Of those arrested, Kawasi Raju alias Santu, a `battalion’ member, and Kalmu Mada (25), a ‘militia company commander’, carried rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 5 lakh on their heads, Sharma said.

    Komram Kanna (38), Madkam Hidma (29), Tursam Mudraj (45) and Madkam Enka (25) carried rewards of Rs 1 lakh each. Two others who were arrested were identified as Madkam Soma (32) and Madkam Mutta (40).

    The security forces also recovered 35 detonators, six gelatin rods, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), batteries, wires and other materials from their possession, the SP said. A local court remanded the rebels in judicial custody on Friday, he added.

  • WATCH | Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel whipped to ‘bring prosperity’ for state

    By Express News Service

    Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel was whipped on Friday as part of a ritual on the occasion of Govardhan Puja. 

    As part of the Govardhan Puja tradition, the CM got whipped with ‘sonta’ (whip made up of kush, a grass) before he sought blessings for the prosperity of the state, according to officials. According to the villagers, the whip is a special one that is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune.

    प्रदेश की मंगल कामना और शुभ हेतु आज जंजगिरी में सोटा प्रहार सहने की परंपरा निभाई।सभी विघ्नों का नाश हो। pic.twitter.com/bHQNFIFzGv
    — Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) November 5, 2021
    The video was recorded in a village in the Durg district of Chattisgarh when the CM was taking part in the ritual. The chief minister was clad in traditional attire and a green turban.

    Baghel was seen standing with his arms stretched before a man starts whipping him. After eight rounds, the man stopped and hugged the CM.

    In a video posted by Baghel on Twitter, a middle-aged man was seen whipping the Chhattisgarh CM as drums and other musical instruments were played in the background.

    As per the tradition, on Govardhan Puja, a person is beaten up with the whip with full force on his hands as people believe that the practice helps in getting rid of the problems and bringing good luck, a report said. 

  • Innovative products made using cow-dung elevate rural economy in Chhattisgarh

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: The unutilised disposable cow-dung procured by the state from livestock owners and villagers has opened up the scope of employment, generation of trade activities and the potential to boost the rural economy.

    Under the scheme ‘Gaudhan Nyay Yojana’ launched last year, the Bhupesh Baghel government is buying cow-dung at Rs 2 per kg.

    The utility of the cattle dung besides producing massive vermi-compost manures has now been much diversified, creating varieties of useful products.

    Ahead of Deepawali festival, hundreds of women-run Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have got orders to supply lakhs of eco-friendly diva (earthen lamps) besides some other utility products made out of cow-dung to different cities of the country.

    The products include colourful Diwali diyas of different sizes, idols of Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, mobile & candle stand, name-plates, sleepers, key-chains, flower-pots, firewoods, incensed sticks, herbal Gulal for Holi festival among others. The process to make paints, pen, cement and bricks using the cow-dung has already begun. 

    Diwali diyas, slipper, idols prepared from cattle-dung.

    The varied products are being prepared at Gauthan (cattle shed premises), that the state government intends to develop as Rural Industrial Parks in different districts.

    Besides the three different types of vermi-compost, now various innovative products are being made through value addition on cowdung. Recently, the project on power generation from cow dung was inaugurated by the CM in various Gauthan units.

    Around 5 per cent of the available dung are being used for making innovative products presently and the remaining are returned to soil as organic manures (vermi-compost).

    “The novel initiative on buying cow-dung and covering it into vermicompost and other useful products in Chhattisgarh has helped revitalise rural economy, especially the women SHGs that secured an income of Rs 46 crore from the unique scheme. The move has emerged as a good source of livelihood in villages,” said Kamalpreet Singh, Agriculture production commissioner.

    “All different quality products which are being prepared in Gauthan would be standardised and the efforts will be put for sale on e-commerce market and online shopping. To begin, these would be available with single branch name at Chhattisgarh C-Mart stores (selling Chhattisgarhi products under one roof),” revealed Bhartidasan S, state nodal officer of ‘Garuva-Narva-Ghuruva-Badi’.

    In Chhattisgarh, out of the 7202 Gauthans, there are nearly 2000 where a group of women are seen engaged in multi-activities. Some are preparing a thick malleable blend of dung with added natural binding mixture of powdered herbs, tamarind etc, while another group mould the dung into different shapes and colours of diyas. 

  • ‘Big’ anti-Naxal operation on the cards, forces to resume two-pronged offensive against Naxal: Home Ministry

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: With the rains coming to an end, and the visibility in the densely forested jungles increasing, the forces are ready to resume their two-pronged strategy against Naxals – penetrating deeper into Naxal strongholds and setting up security camps.

    Sources in the Home Ministry also told The New Indian Express that “big” anti-Naxal operations could be on the cards in states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha, where the red extremists are still present in substantial numbers.

    Forces are eyeing a target of setting up as many as 24 Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), including ten in Chhattisgarh, seven in Maharashtra, six in Jharkhand and one in Odisha, before the year-end.

    Besides these 24 camps, the government is also mulling a few more camps in Jharkhand and Odisha, a senior government functionary said, adding that the idea is to corner Maoists by opening up new police and paramilitary camps to cut down the area of Maoist influence to a minimum and then go out after big Maoist leaders.

    “CoBRA, CRPF’s anti-Naxal specialized wing, in coordination with various state police forces is closely monitoring the movement of Maoists especially the senior rank holders. The strategy is to tighten the noose around Maoists by expanding the network of security camps, especially in core Naxal areas. With the rains now over, the work on security camps has already been expedited. Big anti-Naxal operations would follow thereafter,” said a senior CRPF official who is deployed in Chhattisgarh.

    A senior intelligence official in New Delhi said that wanted Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, along with about dozen armed Maoists was seen near Sulenga and Grda villages in Dantewada district around two weeks ago.

    After the 2017 Burkapal encounter, security forces are employing various strategies to counter the influence and movement of Maoists. There has been a steep decline in violence levels as well as the geographical spread of Left-wing extremism in the country over the past decade.

    The number of affected districts identified under the security-related expenditure (SRE) scheme came down to 70 in July 2021 from 126 in April 2018. Even the most-affected districts declined to 25 in July 2021 from 35 prior to April 2018 with these districts accounting for 85% of the Naxal violence in the country. 

  • Chhattisgarh records 35 coronavirus cases, one death

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh on Saturday recorded 35 new coronavirus infections and one death, a health department official said. The caseload in the state thus increased to 10,06,020, while the death toll reached 13,576.

    The recovery count rose to 9,92,127 after eight people were discharged from hospitals and nine others completed home isolation during the day.

    There are 317 active cases in the state now. Raipur district recorded eight new cases while Korea district recorded four cases. Durg recorded three cases while six districts including Korba reported two cases each.

    No fresh cases were reported in 16 districts of Chhattisgarh. With 21,003 samples being examined during the day, the number of coronavirus tests conducted in the state went up to 1,36,71,558.

    Chhattisgarh’s coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 10,06,020, New cases 35, Death toll 13,576, Recovered 9,92,127, Active cases 317, today tests 21,003, Total tests 1,36,71,558.

  • Chhattisgarh CM slams Modi government over note ban, GST rollout and export of COVID-19 vaccines

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday criticised the Narendra Modi government over its policies, including demonetisation, introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and export of country-made anti-coronavirus vaccine doses amid the pandemic.

    He hit out at the central government after Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier in the day described PM Modi as the most successful administrator of the country after independence.

    Talking to reporters at Raipur airport after returning from Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh tour, Baghel said paddy procurement for the ongoing kharif crop season in the state would start from December 1.

    When asked about Shah’s statement hailing Modi, the chief minister said, “Whatever Amit Shah ji has said, it could be his assessment. But when history will be reviewed, (you) will see when Modi implemented demonetisation what was its impact on the country and economy. What was the impact on the economy when the GST (Goods and Service Tax) was introduced. When vaccines were being manufactured in the country and being exported, there was a continuous rise in corona cases. People will review it.”

    “I think that Modi ji’s name will be recorded as the most unsuccessful and jumlebaaz (one who indulges in rhetoric) prime minister (in the history),” he added.

    When asked about the paddy procurement drive in the state, Baghel said, “It would start from December 1. Early November, who will come to sell paddy during Diwali? Will people will celebrate the festival or will they come to sell their paddy.

    Even paddy harvesting has not been intensified” Those farmers who had water facilities (for irrigation) have started harvesting their crops, but it is not underway at a large scale across the state.” He also said the state government will disburse the third instalment of Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (for the previous kharif season) on November 1, so there will be no shortage of money to farmers.

  • The state must ensure justice isn’t denied to deprived sections, says Chhattisgarh HC Chief Justice

    By PTI

    BILASPUR: Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami on Sunday said the state has to ensure justice is not denied to any person just because he or she is not financially capable.

    Addressing the virtual launch of an e-mega legal service camp organized by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the Chief Justice said, as per Article 39(a) of the Constitution, the task of providing free justice to the deprived sections of society has to be accomplished by the state government by framing acts and rules for its corresponding obligations.

    “The NALSA Act was passed by the state to discharge the obligations provided under the Constitution and the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority (CSLSA) is created by the virtue of this Act. The work of empowering the underprivileged section of society by providing legal information is done by the CSLSA,” he said.

    He said an e-mega camp to provide legal information door-to-door in every village through panels of para-legal volunteers and lawyers is being held as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

    Presiding over the function, Justice Goutam Bhaduri said settlements worth several crore rupees were awarded last year and over 8 lakh people benefited. He asked people to dial NALSA’s helpline number 1005 for legal services.

  • Goods train derails in Chhattisgarh, affects passenger rail traffic movement

    By PTI

    BILASPUR: Eight wagons of a goods train derailed near Surajpur in Chhattisgarh on Sunday, affecting the movement of passenger rail traffic on the route, a railway official said.

    No casualty was reported in the incident, which took place at 2.54 am near Kamalpur railway station on Ambikapur-Anuppur railway route.

    Anuppur is located in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh The train was heading to Bilaspur after unloading goods in Ambikapur, located about 200 km from here, the official said.

    Due to the derailment, the movement of two trains was affected on this single line route, he said.

    The Durg-Ambikapur Express was stopped at Bishrampur railway station and its passengers were sent to their destination in a bus arranged by railway authorities.

    Besides, the Ambikapur-Jabalpur train, which was scheduled to leave from Ambikapur at 6.15 am, was delayed and will depart after the track restoration work is completed, the official said.

    The exact cause of the derailment will be known after an investigation, he added.