
Maoists killed in Abujhmarh encounter carried 48L cash bounty
Six Maoists were killed during a fierce encounter in the dense forests of Pariya-Kakur in Abujhmarh in Narayanpur district of Bastar division.
The operation was conducted under the state-led "Marh Bachao Abhiyan" and part of the broader Operation Monsoon, has marked a significant achievement for Narayanpur Police and joint security forces, including DRG, STF, and BSF units.
Among the six Maoists killed were Rahul Punem alias Lachhu (38), DVCM, Commander, PLGA Platoon No.
01 from Sukma, Ungi Tati (24), Member from Jagargunda, Sukma, Manisha (25), Member from Sonpur, Narayanpur, Tati Meena alias Somari alias Chhoti (22), Member from Gangloor, Bijapur, Harish alias Kosa (25), Member from Pamed, Bijapur and Kudam Budhri (21), Member from Dhanora, Narayanpur.
Each carried an individual reward of Rs 8 lakh announced by the Chhattisgarh govt.
Police officials said that despite difficult terrain and heavy rains, security forces launched an intensive search operation based on specific intelligence inputs.
The offensive began on July 17 and involved DRG personnel from Narayanpur, Bastar, Kondagaon, and Kanker districts, supported by STF units and the 129th, 133rd, and 135th battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF).
On July 18, intermittent gunfire exchanges erupted between Maoist cadres and the advancing forces. The operation culminated in a major breakthrough with the recovery of six bodies and a cache of sophisticated weapons, including one AK-47 rifle, an SLR, a 12-bore gun, 11 BGL launchers, and 83 BGL shells.
Explosives, Maoist literature, and survival items were also seized from the site.
With this operation, the total number of Maoists neutralized in Bastar in 2025 has risen to 204.
Addressing the press at Police Line, Narayanpur, Inspector General (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said, "A determined and effective campaign is underway across Bastar against the banned CPI (Maoist). The neutralization of over 200 Maoists this year underscores the unwavering commitment of the police and security forces to restore peace and development."
Superintendent of Police, Narayanpur, Robinson Guria, added, "We are in a decisive phase of eliminating Naxalism from Bastar. Those still trapped in this hollow ideology must surrender and return to the mainstream. If not, they will meet the same fate."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Spain, UAE visit set to create over 14,000 jobs in state, says MP CM
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on late Sunday night said that his official visit to the UAE and Spain is set to create over 14,000 jobs in the state. Yadav stated that following the Madhya Pradesh Global Dialogue-2025, the state received investment proposals worth over Rs 11,119 crore. In a post on X, CM Yadav stated, "With the motto 'Make in India-Make in Madhya Pradesh,' investment proposals worth over Rs 11,119 crore have been received in all major sectors under the 'Madhya Pradesh Global Dialogue-2025' concluded in UAE and Spain. These will create more than 14,000 new employment opportunities in the state. After the visit to both nations, I reached Bhopal today and shared information with journalist friends." "In Madrid, Spain, the 'Invest in Madhya Pradesh - Business Forum' was held, where discussions took place with over 200 corporate and diplomatic representatives," he said. "Addressed over 500 expatriate entrepreneurs at the 'Friends of MP' conference held during the Dubai visit. Conducted one-to-one strategic meetings with heads of more than 30 international and national companies during the visit," he added. CM Yadav stated that, under the Madhya Pradesh Global Dialogue-2025, he signed MoUs and held productive talks with investors to promote the state's potential growth. In a post on X on Saturday, CM Yadav said, "Under the Madhya Pradesh Global Dialogue-2025, during the Spain visit, I engaged in discussions with entrepreneurs, investors, and businesspersons, signed MoUs, observed global agri-models like Mercabarna, and also met with the Indian diaspora. This visit will strengthen the vision of a developed Madhya Pradesh on the global stage." CM Yadav on Saturday said that his visit to Dubai and Spain is nearing its conclusion, highlighting the tour's focus on exploring opportunities for the state's progress and promoting employment, industries, and tourism. Speaking from Barcelona, CM Yadav said, "We have reached the last leg of our Dubai and Spain visit. As we had set the objective of our tour, we were to explore all the areas for the progress of our state with our Indians connected to Madhya Pradesh, especially everything that provides employment. We also went to the industries and restaurants to promote tourism. Wherever there are Indian restaurants, we visited them.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
For Jharkhand families who lost men working abroad, road to getting compensation is long
In Bandhkharo village in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district, Madan Mahto sits on a blue plastic chair by the door, peering into the distance. Every time someone walks by, he starts in anticipation but sits back down, disappointed. Madan is waiting for the remains of his son, Rameshwar Mahto. A lineman working in Kuwait and the only earning member of the family of six, Mahto died of 'cardiac and respiratory arrest' on June 15. For his family, Rameshwar's death has dealt a major blow, with the family now seeking what they see as their 'last resort' – compensation. To push for this, the family had refused to accept the body, relenting only earlier this week. 'My father had worked for the company since 2013,' his son Kishor says. 'But the company is now saying my father's death was a natural death and not an accident. My father worked hard for this company for over a decade, and now they say there will be no compensation.' The family isn't alone. A state with a significant migrant outflow, Jharkhand is increasingly witnessing a growing number of families refusing to accept bodies of migrants dying abroad – all in a struggle to get compensation. Consider this: last year, the body of Hiraman Mahto, who died of natural causes in December, returned to India after over two months. Likewise, the body of Faljit Mahto, who died in Saudi Arabia in March this year under unclear circumstances, came back 40 days later. The body of Santosh Mahto, who died in Malaysia in June last year, returned to India 21 days later. According to migrant rights' activist Sikandar Ali, the problem is compounded by the difficulties in keeping track of blue-collared migrants. 'Such cases are not new in Jharkhand. The government has no record of them until something goes wrong,' he said. 'For families who have lost their sole breadwinners, the fight for compensation often turns into an endless wait just to see the body.' For the families, it's usually a dilemma, where the urge to see a loved one's body return grapples with the need to ensure the family's survival. 'I long to see my son's body but I'm equally troubled by our debt of over Rs 10 lakh,' Rameshwar's mother Dalwa Devi, in her 80s, said. 'People keep barging in every few days to demand repayment of a loan we took.' Jharkhand is a state with a significant migrant outflow – according to a 2023 migration survey by the Jharkhand government, some 45 lakh people from the state migrated to various places for livelihoods. This number includes domestic as well as international migrants. Among those going abroad, migrants from Jharkhand usually head to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Iran, Niger and Mali. Given the number of migrant workers from the state, the Jharkhand government has implemented the Jharkhand Migrant Labourers Survey and Rehabilitation Scheme. Aimed specifically for skilled or semi-skilled workers, the scheme makes provision for death or injury caused in a workplace accident outside of the state. But workers who die of natural causes – such as Rameshwar – are ineligible for such compensation. According to Ali, companies either send scouts to Jharkhand's Hazaribagh and Giridih districts to look for migrant workers, or get them to enlist through WhatsApp. 'Later, interviews are held in big hotels, and candidates are offered better pay than they previously got. However, they are never told about the terms of their contract, social security benefits, or other legal provisions,' he said. According to Rameshwar's oldest son Kishor, a report sent by IMCO, the Kuwait-based company his father worked for, puts the cause of death as 'Cardiac and Respiratory arrest due to severe Cerebral Haemorrhage'. 'Because of that, the company says we don't qualify for compensation,' he said. On its part, the company claims that while natural deaths are not covered under their compensation policy, other benefits are covered. 'Under the Kuwaiti labour laws, if a worker has completed 10 years of service, they are entitled to a severance package, half a month's salary for each of the first five years and full salary for each of the next five. But we require proper paperwork before anything can be processed,' the official said. In some cases, companies finally agree to pay but the road to it is long and gruelling. In the same village, the family of Dhananjay Mahto, a 29-year-old who died of 'failure of dominant neural centres in the brain' in Saudi Arabia on May 24, spoke about how it took 50 days of 'painful negotiations' to get the company he worked for to pay the compensation. Like Rameshwar's family, they too refused to accept the body until the payment was made. 'Although we eventually received Rs 9 lakh from the company and Rs 5 lakh under a state government scheme, the company had initially put us under severe mental stress by denying compensation due to the 'natural death' clause. I told them I had no option left but to commit suicide. That statement finally pressured them,' Dhananjay's older brother Khirodhar says. The family finally received the body on July 13. Shikha Lakra, head of Jharkhand's State Migrant Control Room under the Labour Department, said the state government had approached the Indian Embassy over Rameshwar's case. According to activist Sikandar Ali, the general lack of awareness leaves workers vulnerable to potential exploitation. 'Workers are only focused on earning money and don't pay attention to their contracts. Due to a general lack of legal awareness and understanding of foreign laws, they become vulnerable in cases of exploitation, such as low wages or no compensation to families after death,' Ali said. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
FirstUp: Monsoon session begins, India to receive Apache helicopters... Top news today
The Monsoon session of the Parliament is set to begin today with nearly eight new bills on the agenda. India will receive its first consignment of Apache attack helicopters. In the US, a court hearing in the dispute between Harvard University and the administration of President Donald Trump will take place in the Massachusetts district court. read more The Monsoon Session of the parliament is set to begin. File image/PTI It is set to be a busy Monday with several events lined up for the day. Firstly, the monsoon session of the Parliament is set to begin from today. Meanwhile, a hearing in the ongoing legal dispute between Harvard University and the administration of President Donald Trump will take place today. The Canadian government is likely to 'adjust' counter tariffs on US steel and aluminium. India will receive its first consignment of Apache attack helicopters. TMC will hold its annual Martyrs' Day rally today in Kolkata. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day. Monsoon session of Parliament to commence The monsoon session of the Parliament is set to commence today and run until August 12. This will be the first full session after recent significant events, including a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and 'Operation Sindoor,' a retaliatory military operation. According to NDTV, eight new bills are on the agenda, some of which include amendments to Goods and Services Tax (GST) laws, new taxation laws, and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business. There will be a total of 21 sittings. Ahead of the session, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will hold an all-party meeting on July 20 to discuss the upcoming legislative agenda and foster constructive discussions. Trump and Harvard University dispute hearing A hearing is scheduled to take place between Harvard University and the administration of President Donald Trump in a federal court. The dispute is concerning the freeze of federal grants to the prestigious institution. Harvard reportedly refused to comply with the White House's demands for sweeping changes to its governance and admissions policies among other things. Representational image/AP The dispute stems from the administration's decision in April this year to freeze over $2.2 billion (Rs 18,370 crore) in federal grants and $60 million (Rs 499 crore) in contracts to Harvard. This move came after Harvard reportedly refused to comply with the White House's demands for sweeping changes to its governance, admissions policies, and its approach to issues such as antisemitism on campus and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The administration has also linked its actions to concerns about Harvard's handling of student protests. Harvard University swiftly responded by filing a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the funding freeze is unlawful, unconstitutional, and constitutes government overreach into academic independence. Canadian govt to 'adjust' counter tariffs on US steel and aluminium Today marks the last day of the Canadian government's 30 days to reach a deal on US tariff levies. It will likely adjust its 25 per cent counter tariffs on US steel and aluminium in response to a doubling of US levies. This move is part of an ongoing strategy to protect Canada's domestic industry while navigating a complex trade dispute with the United States. The Canadian Ministry of Finance stated that the adjustments are designed to align with progress made in these broader trade discussions. This approach allows Canada to maintain pressure on the US while also signalling a willingness to find a negotiated solution. The trade conflict began earlier this year when US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on a wide range of goods, including a 50 per cent duty on steel and aluminium from Canada. In response, Canada implemented its own retaliatory tariffs on roughly $30 billion worth of American goods. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India to receive Apache helicopters India is set to receive the first consignment of three Apache attack helicopters from the United States today. These highly anticipated 'tanks in the air,' will significantly enhance the combat strength of the Indian land forces. The first batch of the much awaited Apache helicopters will take arrive on July 21. File image/AP The helicopters are scheduled to arrive at the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad. Their deployment is specifically planned for areas near the Pakistan border, particularly in the desert sector near Jodhpur, where the Army had established its first Apache squadron in March 2024. TMC to hold its annual Martyrs' Day rally Trinamool Congress (TMC) is set to hold its annual Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata today. The Martyr's Day commemorates the killing of 13 Youth Congress workers in police firing during a protest on July 21, 1993. The incident is considered a pivotal moment in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's political career and the formation of the TMC itself. The rally is traditionally held in front of Victoria House in Esplanade, central Kolkata, and draws hundreds of thousands of party workers and supporters from across West Bengal. This year, the event holds particular significance as it will be the last Martyrs' Day rally before the 2026 state Assembly elections. Earlier, the Calcutta High Court imposed restrictions on the timings of processions to minimise traffic congestion for office-goers. The court also suggested that the TMC consider shifting the venue to a larger ground like Brigade Parade Ground or Salt Lake Stadium from next year, citing public inconvenience. With inputs from agencies