Latest news with #Maoist-hit
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Maoist Influence In Maha Shrinks To 16 Talukas, Gadchiroli Remains Key Battleground
Nagpur: The Maharashtra govt has declared that Maoist influence in the state is now confined to just 16 talukas, with 12 in Gadchiroli district and four in Gondia, signalling a significant decline. A government resolution (GR) on Friday highlights the waning strength of the Maoist movement, particularly in their former stronghold of Abujmarh, straddling Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. The GR also directed the Maharashtra director general of police (DGP) to monitor and review the Maoist tag on the twin districts of Gadchiroli and Gondia and submit a detailed report. Security forces estimate that only around 30 armed fighters of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and 15 logistics supporters remain active in the region, with their leadership facing an imminent collapse. The GR supersedes earlier notifications from 2004 and 2005 that identified multiple districts, including Nanded, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gondia, and Gadchiroli as Maoist-hit, said sources. Over the years, sustained operations by security forces significantly weakened the Maoist grip. A 2021 review led to the current classification, designating the entire Gadchiroli district (12 talukas) and four talukas in Gondia— Gondia, Salekasa, Arjuni Morgaon, and Deori — as Naxal-affected. Gadchiroli has been a focal point of anti-Maoist operations, with significant successes in recent years. Over the past two years, approximately 35 Maoists were neutralised, 65 surrendered, and 70 were arrested in the district. In contrast, Gondia has seen minimal Maoist activity, with only three cadres surrendering and one arrested in the same period. The stark reduction in Maoist strength is attributed to relentless security operations, loss of local support, and internal disarray within the Maoist ranks. Abujmarh, once a formidable bastion, is now described as a tottering stronghold, with security forces closing in on the remaining cadres. The state's efforts to curb Naxalism date back to govt decisions in 2004 and 2005, which initially declared multiple districts and talukas as Naxal-affected. Subsequent reviews and GRs in 2013, 2014, and 2015 refined these classifications, reflecting the evolving situation. The 2021 Cabinet meeting further emphasised aligning Maharashtra's list of Naxal-affected areas with the Central Government's designations, prompting the latest review. The DGP's report, which informed the recent GR, underscores the sharp decline in Maoist activities and the need for continued vigilance.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Enhance CCTV surveillance at railway stations: DGP YB Khurania
BHUBANESWAR : In a move to tighten vigil on anti-social elements and prevent crimes, DGP YB Khurania on Monday directed the Government Railway Police (GRP) to enhance CCTV surveillance across all the railway stations in the state. Addressing a meeting on railway security here, the DGP emphasised installation of CCTV cameras at the railway stations which do not have any video surveillance of their own and urged the police to further enhance the storage capacity of the existing systems. He directed the police officers to identify the railway stations where drugs like ganja and opium are loaded and unloaded, and initiate stringent action against the peddlers/dealers transporting the contraband. Anticipating that the left-wing extremists may attempt to disrupt train services near the railway stations in Maoist-hit districts, Khurania instructed GRP and Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers to prevent incidents of Naxal violence and keep a close watch on human trafficking. The DGP further warned that action will be initiated against the miscreants found involved in hurling stones at moving trains. 'Strict action will also be taken against pick-pockets and anti-socials engaged in theft, snatching and loot on railway station platforms and in moving trains,' he said further asking the GRP officers to display photographs of habitual offenders in the railway stations. Khurania also informed that adequate security arrangements have been made for Rath Yatra. Special trains from various districts will arrive in Puri during the chariot festival and adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure no untoward incident takes place, he said.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Chhattisgarh tribal family alleges school cook killed in encounter was not Maoist
Bijapur (Chhattisgarh): A tribal family in Chhattisgarh's Maoist-hit Bijapur district has alleged that their sole breadwinner, a mid-day meal cook at a local government school, was killed in a 'staged encounter' by security forces- a claim the state police have rejected. Mahesh Kudiyan had been working as a mid-day meal cook at a local government school since 2023, according to his family and the school's headmaster. (Sourced) On June 10, security forces said they had killed seven Maoists, including a wanted cadre named Sudhakar, during an operation inside the dense forests of Indravati National said that among the bodies later identified was that of Mahesh Kudiyam, a 35-year-old resident of a remote village under the Madded block. However, Mahesh's family alleged that he had no connection with Maoists and he was a cook at a local school. Mahesh's widow, Sumitra Kudiyam, said, 'My husband had gone to the forest to fetch our cattle. By evening, he hadn't returned. Later, we heard from villagers that he had been taken by security forces and the next day, he was declared a Maoist and shown dead in the encounter.' 'He was innocent. We are poor but law-abiding. My children (seven, four of whom are school-going) keep asking when their father will return. I don't know how I will raise them alone,' she said. Another villager, Irma Veladi, said, 'We saw security personnel take him from near the forest. He was unarmed, simply looking for his cattle. The next thing we heard was that he was killed as a Maoist. It is wrong.' Ramesh Uppal, the headmaster of the local government school and Mahesh's employer, confirmed his identity and role in the school. 'Mahesh joined us as a mid-day meal cook in 2023. He worked regularly and earned ₹ 1,200 per month. He was last present at the school in April this year,' said Uppal. However, the Bastar police in a statement on Sunday said that the killing took place during a series of anti-Maoist operations carried out in the National Park area of Bijapur district. The operations, the statement said, were based on intelligence inputs and resulted in the recovery of seven bodies after exchanges of fire with Maoists. Among the deceased were two top Maoist leaders — Gautam alias Sudhakar, a Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist), and Bhaskar Rao, a State Committee member of the same group. According to the press statement, one of the other deceased was identified as Mahesh Kodiyam, a resident of Irpagutta village under Farsegarh police station limits. The statement said that, based on inquest proceedings, Mahesh was a party member of the banned CPI (Maoist) and was associated with the outfit's operations in the National Park division. It further noted that Mahesh had worked as a cook assistant at the primary school in Irpagutta, appointed by the local school management committee, and had received wages until March 2025. The note stated that an investigation was underway to determine how he came into contact with top Maoist leaders like Sudhakar and Bhaskar Rao. IG Bastar Range Sunderraj P, quoted in the release, said: 'The security operation was based on credible intelligence inputs and local-level information. Weapons, Maoist literature, and other items were recovered from the encounter site. Regarding Mahesh Kodiyam, available intelligence indicates his links with the outlawed organisation. However, if any suspicious or contradictory circumstances come to light, we are committed to conducting a fair and impartial investigation.' The statement also reiterated a call to all individuals with direct or indirect links to the banned CPI (Maoist) to sever ties with the outfit, warning that continued association poses a threat not just to public safety but also to the lives of those involved.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
Guerrillas' Call Ambush Tactic Still Takes A Heavy Toll On Commandos
Nagpur: The 'call ambush' strategy unleashed by guerrillas has exacted a heavier toll on security forces than jungle encounters in Maoist-hit states and the death of additional superintendent of police Akash Rao Giripunje in a IED blast in Sukma earlier this week reignited concerns over the deadly tactic. This calculated guerrilla warfare method, which exploits routine administrative procedures, has prompted security forces to overhaul their standard operating procedures, yet the threat remains formidable, said a senior security official. The 'call ambush' follows a sinister pattern. First, Maoists orchestrate arson in a village, often coercing locals to contact police for a spot 'panchanama' — a formal investigation to document losses for compensation claims, which is integral to the probe. When security personnel respond, they are lured into a trap where Maoists execute a three-pronged strategy — rigging the area with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), detonating blasts to disorient the commandos, and unleashing indiscriminate gunfire. The killing of ASP Giripunje in Sukma exemplifies this tactic. Responding to a villager's call to probe an arson incident, Giripunje and his team were ambushed in a meticulously planned attack involving IEDs and gunfire, leaving no chance for retaliation. In Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, a hotbed of Maoist activity, 'call ambushes' have been a recurring menace. Commandos in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district have suffered heavy casualties from 'call ambushes.' In 2009, Maoists killed 51 security personnel in the district in different incidents, with a particularly devastating incident near Markegaon in February, where 15 cops were ambushed while heading to conduct a 'panchanama' following an arson attack. Prompted by villagers under Maoist coercion, the small contingent was unprepared for the assault, with Maoists rigging the area with explosives and opening fire, killing all the 15. Also in 2009, a similar 'call ambush' led to the killing of 16 security personnel, including around six women cops near Hattigota in Dhanora tehsil of north Gadchiroli. In the same year, the Maoists deployed similar strategies to wipe out 17 cops from Laheri outpost in south Gadchiroli. In 2019, another 'call ambush' in Jambhukheda, Kurkheda taluka, claimed 13 policemen, who were responding to a panchanama request. "We urge villagers in Gadchiroli to get the panchanama done through video calls and such methods or delay the process before sanitising the area, deploy bomb detection and disposal squads and move after opening roads which are safe for movements of troopers," said a senior official of Maharashtra police. In Chhattisgarh in April 2021, a similar ambush in Sukma district killed 22 security personnel when forces were lured to a Maoist-controlled area in the pretext of an operation. The Sukma attack in 2025 underscored Maoists' continued ability to exploit community-driven requests, turning routine duties into deadly traps. These incidents highlight Maoists' strategic exploitation of administrative protocols. Beyond Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, 'call ambushes' have plagued other states in the Red corridor. In Jharkhand's Latehar district, a 2021 ambush killed five policemen responding to a 'panchanama' call. In Odisha's Malkangiri district, multiple casualties were reported in 2023 due to similar traps. The tactic's success lies in exploiting the predictability of police responses, turning procedural duties into opportunities for attack. The repeated success of 'call ambushes' has forced security forces to adapt. In Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and other LWE states, police now rely on technology to minimise risks. Video calls, drone surveillance, and remote assessments have become integral to SOPs, allowing forces to verify situations without immediate exposure. In 2023, Chhattisgarh police began using drones extensively after a series of ambushes, a practice now standard across Maoist-hit states. The guerrilla arsenal also includes 'mobile warfare,' where insurgents from multiple locations converge at an ambush point, amplifying attack impact. This, combined with 'call ambushes,' represents two most perilous strategies faced by security forces. The convergence of fighters makes attacks unpredictable, while manipulation of villagers adds psychological warfare.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chhattisgarh deploys 7 young IPS officers to Maoist-affected districts
The Chhattisgarh government has deployed seven young 2021-batch IPS officers to Maoist-hit districts — Sukma, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Narayanpur — to provide them with a first hand experience of a conflict zone and infuse fresh blood in anti-naxal operations, officials said. Another IPS officer from the same batch has been deputed as ASP in the special task force (STF) for anti-Naxal operations in Durg district. The transfer orders came on Tuesday night, just two days after the death of additional SP Akash Rao Girepunje in an IED blast triggered by Maoists in Sukma district. The transfers of these officers mark a significant reinforcement in Maoist affected districts, with all officers being posted as Additional Superintendents of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations), a move aimed at enhancing both tactical execution and localised planning. A senior officer who is part of anti-Naxal operations said, 'This is a good decision, though it should have come earlier. These officers have already completed over 20 months as City Superintendent of Police (CSPs) and deploying them now in core Maoist areas brings sharper focus to command, execution and supervision.' 'Nearly 20 IPS officers are now posted in just four districts, a first for the state. These young, dynamic officers will bring a decisive edge to operations in tough terrain and the smaller jurisdictions allow for specialised, intensive anti-Maoist efforts. Secondly, the redeployment aligns with the Union home ministry's goal of ending Maoist influence in the core zones by March 2026,' said the officer. The IPS officers who have been transferred to the Bastar region are Rohit Kumar Shah (Sukma), Udit Pushkar (Dantewada), Ravindra Meena and Aman Jha (Bijapur), Ajay Kumar and Akshay Sabadra (Narayanpur) and Akash Shrishrimal (Bhanupratappur, Kanker). The eighth IPS officer, Akash Kumar Shukla, has been posted as ASP in Durg. Bijapur superintendent of police Jitendra Yadav described the move as both timely and tactical. 'This will definitely help. The young batches are highly motivated and hardworking. When they come to Maoist-affected districts, they are given responsibilities of anti-Naxal operations such as intelligence gathering and field operations.' Other officers also believe that Tech and TAC (Technology and Tactics) in anti-Naxal operations have evolved manifold and the young recruits will bring in new strategies. 'We already know that even jawans are actively using new Tech and TAC techniques like data standardisation, data analysis, communication encryption and decryption methodologies, probability theory and game theory techniques,' said a second senior police officer. Narayanpur superintendent of police Prabhat Kumar said more and more young IPS officers are now part of four to five day long operations in the forests. 'Young officers have brought and will further bring a paradigm shift in anti-Naxal operations as it is more of a game of heart and mind than of weapon,' Kumar said. Inspector General of Police of Bastar range, Sundarraj P, said, 'This is not just a reinforcement of manpower but a step toward shaping a more responsive and resilient policing ecosystem. These officers will complement the experienced leadership on ground and help build deeper trust with local communities.' Experts believe that the move will give support and planning for SPs of Bastar districts. Former Special Director General of Police RK Vij added, 'This strengthens the SP-level planning and execution ability. Field operations need real-time intelligence and decision-making, and this shift supports both.' The appointments come just days after a tragic IED explosion on June 10 near Dondra village in Sukma killed ASP Akash Rao Girepunje and left two other officers injured.
