News Analysis India

Tag: Maoists

  • Two women Naxalites carrying Rs 28 lakh bounty killed by security forces in MP

    By PTI

    BALAGHAT:Two women Naxalites, collectively carrying a reward of Rs 28 lakh on their heads, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, a police official said.

    The face-off took place in Kadla forest area under Garhi police station limits in the wee hours, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sameer Saurabh said.

    The deceased Naxalites were identified as Sunita, an Area Committee Member (ACM) and Commander of Bhoramdev Committee, a wing of the Maoists, and Sarita Khatia Mocha, ACM and active in Vistar Dalam, he said.

    Both of them were carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh each, the official said. Guns, cartridges, some other ammunition and Naxal literature were recovered from them, he said, adding that a search operation was underway in the area.

    BALAGHAT:Two women Naxalites, collectively carrying a reward of Rs 28 lakh on their heads, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, a police official said.

    The face-off took place in Kadla forest area under Garhi police station limits in the wee hours, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sameer Saurabh said.

    The deceased Naxalites were identified as Sunita, an Area Committee Member (ACM) and Commander of Bhoramdev Committee, a wing of the Maoists, and Sarita Khatia Mocha, ACM and active in Vistar Dalam, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Both of them were carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh each, the official said. Guns, cartridges, some other ammunition and Naxal literature were recovered from them, he said, adding that a search operation was underway in the area.

  • Families of five Maoists who were gunned down allege ‘fake encounter’ by Jharkhand police 

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: Family members of the five Maoists who were gunned down on Monday alleged that it was a fake encounter as the police shot them in their heads even as they gathered to surrender. 

    Meanwhile, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, who was on a day-long visit to Chatra on Tuesday to boost the morale of the security forces, rejected their allegations saying that there is no merit in the allegations made by the family members of the Maoists who were killed in a police encounter.

    “There is no substance in the allegations as whatever happened is before everyone. Now, legal proceedings will continue on its own way,” said the DGP.

    Notably, in a historic achievement by Jharkhand police, five hard-core Maoists -two Special Area Committee (SAC) members and three Sub-Zonal commanders, were gunned down by security forces at Lawalong in Jharkhand’s Chatra on Monday.

    Those who were killed in police encounters include Sub-zonal Commanders Amar Gnjhu, Nandu and Sanjeev Bhuiyan, besides SAC members Gautam Paswan and Ajit Oroan alias Charlis. The SAC members had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh each, while the Sub-zonal commanders had prize money of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads. Family members of SAC Member Gautam Paswan said that they had reached Chatra with the intention to surrender, but were killed by police calling it an achievement for them.

    “Police have killed my father in a fake encounter as they have been killed from close range on their heads. I will go to Human Rights Commission seeking justice from them,” said SAC member’s son Chandan Paswan. According to Chandan, since, the police does not want them to lead a dignified life hence; they killed his father so brutally.

    “They also want us to join the Maoist group. This is not an encounter; it is just a cold blooded murder,” said Chandan Paswan. Gautam’s brother Girija Paswan informed that his brother was about to surrender before police and hence he was in regular contact with police, but he was killed in fake encounter. “My brother was shot in his head after he surrendered before police. Police officials had told us that Gautam Paswan will surrender before them very soon and hence, he was approaching Chatra district. In between, he was killed in a fake encounter,” said Girija Paswan.

    A proper investigation must be done, for which, they will take the matter to the Court, he added.

    Santosh Yadav, son-in-law of sub-zonal commander Ajay Yadav alias Nandu also sought justice calling the encounter as fake. “Had there been an encounter, there would have been firing from both the sides, but no firing was done from the other side. Moreover, all of them were shot on their heads, which is quite unlikely,” said Santosh Yadav.

    RANCHI: Family members of the five Maoists who were gunned down on Monday alleged that it was a fake encounter as the police shot them in their heads even as they gathered to surrender. 

    Meanwhile, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, who was on a day-long visit to Chatra on Tuesday to boost the morale of the security forces, rejected their allegations saying that there is no merit in the allegations made by the family members of the Maoists who were killed in a police encounter.

    “There is no substance in the allegations as whatever happened is before everyone. Now, legal proceedings will continue on its own way,” said the DGP.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Notably, in a historic achievement by Jharkhand police, five hard-core Maoists -two Special Area Committee (SAC) members and three Sub-Zonal commanders, were gunned down by security forces at Lawalong in Jharkhand’s Chatra on Monday.

    Those who were killed in police encounters include Sub-zonal Commanders Amar Gnjhu, Nandu and Sanjeev Bhuiyan, besides SAC members Gautam Paswan and Ajit Oroan alias Charlis. The SAC members had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh each, while the Sub-zonal commanders had prize money of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads. Family members of SAC Member Gautam Paswan said that they had reached Chatra with the intention to surrender, but were killed by police calling it an achievement for them.

    “Police have killed my father in a fake encounter as they have been killed from close range on their heads. I will go to Human Rights Commission seeking justice from them,” said SAC member’s son Chandan Paswan. According to Chandan, since, the police does not want them to lead a dignified life hence; they killed his father so brutally.

    “They also want us to join the Maoist group. This is not an encounter; it is just a cold blooded murder,” said Chandan Paswan. Gautam’s brother Girija Paswan informed that his brother was about to surrender before police and hence he was in regular contact with police, but he was killed in fake encounter. “My brother was shot in his head after he surrendered before police. Police officials had told us that Gautam Paswan will surrender before them very soon and hence, he was approaching Chatra district. In between, he was killed in a fake encounter,” said Girija Paswan.

    A proper investigation must be done, for which, they will take the matter to the Court, he added.

    Santosh Yadav, son-in-law of sub-zonal commander Ajay Yadav alias Nandu also sought justice calling the encounter as fake. “Had there been an encounter, there would have been firing from both the sides, but no firing was done from the other side. Moreover, all of them were shot on their heads, which is quite unlikely,” said Santosh Yadav.

  • Maoists torch construction company vehicles in Jharkhand’s Chatra district

    A group of 15-20 Maoists arrived at the road construction site and set ablaze two JCB machines of the firm engaged in the work.

  • Chhattisgarh: Maoists abduct, kill journalist’s kin on suspicion of being police informer

    By PTI

    BIJAPUR: Maoists abducted and killed the brother of a journalist on suspicion of being a police informer in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, a senior police official said.

    The victim, Basant Jhadi, was abducted by Maoists on Friday and killed on Monday after they held a ‘jan adalat’ (people’s court or kangaroo court) in Kotapalli village on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said on Wednesday.

    Jhadi, who was the brother of a local journalist, was killed on suspicion of being a police informer, he said.

    “As per the information received so far, the victim’s relatives have performed his last rites, but they are yet to lodge a police complaint,” the official said.

    Maoists often hold ‘jan adalat’ where persons suspected to be loyal to the state are killed in full public view.

    In the past also, there have been a number of incidents of Maoists killing people on the suspicion of being police informers in south Bastar region, which comprises Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma districts.

    BIJAPUR: Maoists abducted and killed the brother of a journalist on suspicion of being a police informer in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, a senior police official said.

    The victim, Basant Jhadi, was abducted by Maoists on Friday and killed on Monday after they held a ‘jan adalat’ (people’s court or kangaroo court) in Kotapalli village on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said on Wednesday.

    Jhadi, who was the brother of a local journalist, was killed on suspicion of being a police informer, he said.

    “As per the information received so far, the victim’s relatives have performed his last rites, but they are yet to lodge a police complaint,” the official said.

    Maoists often hold ‘jan adalat’ where persons suspected to be loyal to the state are killed in full public view.

    In the past also, there have been a number of incidents of Maoists killing people on the suspicion of being police informers in south Bastar region, which comprises Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma districts.

  • Maoists abduct, kill journalist’s kin on suspicion of being police informer in Chhattisgarh

    By PTI

    BIJAPUR: Maoists abducted and killed the brother of a journalist on suspicion of being a police informer in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, a senior officer said on Wednesday.

    The victim, Basant Jhadi, was abducted by Naxalites on Friday and killed on Monday after they held a ‘jan adalat’ (people’s court or kangaroo court) at village Kotapalli on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, said Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P.

    Jhadi, who was the brother of a local journalist, was killed on suspicion of being a police informer, he said.

    “As per information received so far, the victim’s relatives have performed his last rites, but they are yet to lodge a police complaint,” the IPS officer said.

    Maoists often hold ‘jan adalat’ where persons suspected to be loyal to the state are killed in full public view.

    BIJAPUR: Maoists abducted and killed the brother of a journalist on suspicion of being a police informer in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, a senior officer said on Wednesday.

    The victim, Basant Jhadi, was abducted by Naxalites on Friday and killed on Monday after they held a ‘jan adalat’ (people’s court or kangaroo court) at village Kotapalli on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, said Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P.

    Jhadi, who was the brother of a local journalist, was killed on suspicion of being a police informer, he said.

    “As per information received so far, the victim’s relatives have performed his last rites, but they are yet to lodge a police complaint,” the IPS officer said.

    Maoists often hold ‘jan adalat’ where persons suspected to be loyal to the state are killed in full public view.

  • Chhattisgarh: Powerful pipe bomb recovered in Maoist-hit Kanker; cops say major tragedy averted

    By PTI

    KANKER: Security forces on Thursday recovered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) – suspected to have been planted by Maoists – in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, police said.

    The explosive packed in an iron pipe, weighing 10 kg, also called a pipe bomb, was seized near Tekapar village under Koyalibeda police station limits when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on a search operation, said Amarnath Sidar, Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Antagarh.

    While cordoning off a forested hill, the patrolling team detected the bomb hidden under bushes along a dirt track to target security forces, he said, adding that a major tragedy was averted with the recovery.

    The explosive was later neutralised by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), he added.

    Maoists generally plant explosives and iron spikes on such tracks to target security personnel during their long search operations in jungles, the official said.

    KANKER: Security forces on Thursday recovered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) – suspected to have been planted by Maoists – in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, police said.

    The explosive packed in an iron pipe, weighing 10 kg, also called a pipe bomb, was seized near Tekapar village under Koyalibeda police station limits when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on a search operation, said Amarnath Sidar, Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Antagarh.

    While cordoning off a forested hill, the patrolling team detected the bomb hidden under bushes along a dirt track to target security forces, he said, adding that a major tragedy was averted with the recovery.

    The explosive was later neutralised by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), he added.

    Maoists generally plant explosives and iron spikes on such tracks to target security personnel during their long search operations in jungles, the official said.

  • Centre claims unprecedented success by security forces in their battle against left-wing extremism

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: In the year 2022, the security forces have achieved unprecedented success in their ongoing battle against left-wing extremism across the country, said the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.

    A statement issued by the ministry said that seven Maoists were killed while 436 were either arrested or surrendered in Chhattisgarh.

    In Jharkhand,  four Maoists were killed and 120 were arrested. 

    In Bihar, 36 Maoists were either arrested or surrendered. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, three Maoists have been killed by security forces.

    The statement claimed that the security forces have achieved success in Operation Octopus, Operation Double Bull and Operation Chakrabandha in the fight against left-wing extremists.

    As a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ against left-wing extremism, Maoists were ousted, for the first time, from their strongholds in  ‘Budhapahad’ situated at the Chhattisgarh -Jharkhand border and the extremely inaccessible areas of Chakrabandha and Bhimabandh in Bihar. In these places, permanent security forces camps have been set up, said the statement.

    “All these areas were strongholds of top Maoists and a huge quantity of arms, ammunition, foreign grenades, Aero Bombs and IEDs were recovered by the security forces at these places,” said the statement.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the CRPF and the State Security Forces for this decisive success and affirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue the ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ against left-wing extremism and this fight will be further intensified.

    “This success becomes even more important because many of these Maoists killed had bounties of lakhs and crores on their heads like Mithilesh Mahto, who had a reward of Rs. 1 crore,” said the statement.

    According to the release, this campaign reaching its final stage is proven by the fact that in 2022 in comparison to 2018, there has been a 39 per cent reduction in the incidents of left-wing extremism-related violence, 26 per cent reduction in the number of sacrifices made by the security forces, the civilian casualties have come down by 44 per cent, the number of districts reporting violence has decreased by 24 per cent and the number of these districts has been reduced to just 39 in 2022.

    NEW DELHI: In the year 2022, the security forces have achieved unprecedented success in their ongoing battle against left-wing extremism across the country, said the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.

    A statement issued by the ministry said that seven Maoists were killed while 436 were either arrested or surrendered in Chhattisgarh.

    In Jharkhand,  four Maoists were killed and 120 were arrested. 

    In Bihar, 36 Maoists were either arrested or surrendered. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, three Maoists have been killed by security forces.

    The statement claimed that the security forces have achieved success in Operation Octopus, Operation Double Bull and Operation Chakrabandha in the fight against left-wing extremists.

    As a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ against left-wing extremism, Maoists were ousted, for the first time, from their strongholds in  ‘Budhapahad’ situated at the Chhattisgarh -Jharkhand border and the extremely inaccessible areas of Chakrabandha and Bhimabandh in Bihar. In these places, permanent security forces camps have been set up, said the statement.

    “All these areas were strongholds of top Maoists and a huge quantity of arms, ammunition, foreign grenades, Aero Bombs and IEDs were recovered by the security forces at these places,” said the statement.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the CRPF and the State Security Forces for this decisive success and affirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue the ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ against left-wing extremism and this fight will be further intensified.

    “This success becomes even more important because many of these Maoists killed had bounties of lakhs and crores on their heads like Mithilesh Mahto, who had a reward of Rs. 1 crore,” said the statement.

    According to the release, this campaign reaching its final stage is proven by the fact that in 2022 in comparison to 2018, there has been a 39 per cent reduction in the incidents of left-wing extremism-related violence, 26 per cent reduction in the number of sacrifices made by the security forces, the civilian casualties have come down by 44 per cent, the number of districts reporting violence has decreased by 24 per cent and the number of these districts has been reduced to just 39 in 2022.

  • Maoists admit to severe setbacks from security forces since December 2020

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR:  The military commission of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), in its latest report on incidents from December 2020 to September 2021, has admitted that security forces inflicted severe losses on its cadres. The banned organisation revealed of having lost 116 cadres across the country, of which 78 were in the Dandakaranya region of Bastar, followed by 10 in Bihar-Jharkhand, 12 in Andhra Odisha Border (AOB), seven in MMC (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh), six in Telangana and four in Odhisa. The report doesn’t incorporate the 26 Maoists killed in the recent encounter in Maharasthra’s Gadchiroli.

    The fatalities included 34 women rebel fighters and 36 trained armed cadres of military wing Peoples’ Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) of the Maoists. The banned outfit during the given period also lost its five key Central Committee members — Purnendu Shekhar Mukherjee, Akki Raju Hargopal, Narendra Singh,Yapa Narayan alias Haribhushan and Katti Mohan Rao. The report cited that these hardcore senior members died owing to serious ailments.

    “The casualty data released by the Maoists differs from ours and this difference is owing to the fact that we count the dead only after having recovered the bodies. It’s the usual practice of the Red brigade to carry with them the bodies of their comrades or injured cadres during gunfights to preempt the possibility of the forces laying hold of Naxal bodies,” said Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police (Bastar zone).

    The official figure of Maoist bodies recovered, as divulged by the Bastar Police, during the past one year is 46. The Chhattisgarh Police usually takes the assistance of surrendered Maoists to identify the dead rebels.  The just released description by the Maoists further stated that during the given 10 months they carried out around 300 guerrilla operations in which 66 security personnel were killed and 85 got injured. The rebels had also killed 40 persons (civilians) accusing them either as police informers or anti-people. They also claimed to have looted 15 modern weapons and thousands of ammunition (bullets) from the forces.

  • Maoists blow up railway tracks in J’khand, train services disrupted on Barkakana-Garhwa route

    By PTI

    LATEHAR/ MEDININGAR: Members of banned CPI (Maoist) suspectedly blew up a portion of railway tracks in Jharkhand’s Latehar district in the early hours of Saturday, disrupting train services on the Barkakana-Garhwa route, police said.

    A blast took place on the railway tracks between Richughuta and Demu stations around 12.30 am, an officer said.

    Members of a CPI-Maoist squad blew up railway tracks in Latehar, disrupting movement of trains on Barkakana-Garhwa rail route, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Palamu Range, Raj Kumar Lakra told PTI.

    The banned outfit has called for a nationwide bandh on Saturday to protest against the arrest of its top leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, by the Jharkhand Police.

    Bose was the mastermind behind more than 100 incidents of attack and arson in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Lakra said the railway authorities are repairing the tracks.

    All the police stations in Palamu, Garhwa and Latehar districts under the Dhanbad Division of Central Eastern Railway have been alerted after the blast, the DIG said. ECR Railway spokesperson PK Mishra said the trolley of a diesel engine has been damaged in the blast.

    Special teams of Barkakana and Barwadih have reached the spot to repair the railway lines and work is on, he said. Several trains have been diverted, while Dehri-Onsone-Barwadih and Barwadih-Nesubogomo special trains cancelled. Movement of passenger buses from Medininagar to Ranchi has also been stopped, a state government official said.

  • Maoists blow up railway tracks in Jharkhand, train services disrupted

    By PTI

    LATEHAR/MEDININGAR/CHAIBASA: Suspected members of banned CPI (Maoist) blew up portions of railway tracks in Jharkhand’s Latehar and West Singhbhum districts in the early hours of Saturday, disrupting train services on Barkakana-Garhwa and Howrah-Mumbai routes, police said.

    A rail track between Sonua and Lotapahar stations in West Singhbhum, under Chakradharpur Division of South Eastern Railway (SER), was damaged past Friday night in a blast that was allegedly triggered by the Maoists.

    The banned outfit has called for a nationwide bandh on Saturday to protest against the arrest of its top leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, by the Jharkhand Police.

    Bose was the mastermind behind more than 100 incidents of attack and arson in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

    Ajay Linda, the district superintendent of police, told PTI that suspected ultras have triggered a low-intensity blast between Sonua and Lotapahar and damaged some sleepers laid underneath the tracks.

    Services on main Howrah-Mumbai line were restored via an alternative track from 8 am on Saturday and services returned to normal two hours later, he said.

    In Latehar, too, a blast took place on the railway tracks between Richughuta and Demu stations around 12.30 am, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Palamu Range, Raj Kumar Lakra, told PTI.

    Maoist cadres squad blew up the tracks, bringing trains to a halt on the Barkakana-Garhwa route, under the Dhanbad division of Eastern Central Railway (ECR), Lakra said.

    All police stations in Palamu, Garhwa and Latehar have been put on high alert, the DIG said.

    ECR Railway spokesperson PK Mishra said a trolley of a diesel engine was damaged in the blast.

    Mishra also said train movement on Richuguta-Tori line, under the Dhanbad division of ECR, could be restored only after ten hours of operation.

    Several trains were diverted, while Dehri-on-Sone-Barwadih and Barwadih-Nesubogomo special trains cancelled, he stated.

    Officials said routes of four express and passengers trains, including Sasaram-Ranchi passenger train and Jammu-Tawi Express, have been diverted in the wake of blast on Tori- Latehar track early on Saturday, Movement of passenger buses from Medininagar to Ranchi has also been put on hold, the officials added.