Latest news with #anti-Maoist
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No More Likes, Leaks or Reels: Chhattisgarh security forces go offline social media to keep ops secret in Red zone
Representational image RAIPUR: In a sweeping new directive aimed at enhancing troop safety and operational integrity, security forces deployed in Maoist-affected Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, have been directed to delete all social media applications from their mobile phones. The directive comes amid rising concerns that viral content 'shared inadvertently by personnel' was compromising operational secrecy and putting lives at risk. The order issued by Bastar range inspector general of police P Sundarraj, applies to jawans and officers deployed across all seven districts of Bastar, where anti-Maoist operations are frequently conducted under extreme conditions. Speaking to TOI, Bastar IG P Sundarraj said, 'It in view of confidentiality of anti-Naxal operations and the safety of personnel involved in those operations. The directives have been issued to all security force personnel deployed in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas with regard to usage of social media platforms. 'To ensure that no sensitive or classified information is inadvertently shared online, few proactive steps have been taken as a part of our broader strategy to strengthen security protocols and safeguard the identity and confidentiality of our forces. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Inadvertent use of social media during high-risk operations poses significant security concerns, therefore, all concerned personnel have been urged to exercise utmost caution and strictly adhere to the guidelines issued in this regard,' IG Sundarraj told TOI. The decision reportedly follows a spate of incidents where sensitive photos, videos, and updates from live encounters were circulated online, including footage from a recent operation involving top Maoist leader Basva Raju. The viral material revealed details that could be used by Maoist operatives to understand troop movement and tactics. Digital Silence for Tactical Safety According to the directives, security personnel have now been asked to completely remove apps like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube from their phones, refrain from uploading or consuming social media content during and after operations, avoid using mobile phones unnecessarily while on duty in sensitive zones, submit their phones for post-operation checks to detect any possible information leaks and abstain from any form of photography, videography, or voice recordings during missions. It's about the safety of our men and the success of operations. Social media can't become a weak link in our tactical planning, IG said. Bastar remains one of the most intense conflict zones in India, with at least two worst and insurgency-hit districts of the country. In such terrain, where visibility, coordination, and strategy are already challenged by weather and geography, the added risk of digital leaks has become a top concern. By enforcing digital silence and increased scrutiny, the police hope to preserve operational integrity, protect their personnel from legal and physical risks, and reduce the psychological warfare advantage often gained by Maoist propaganda units through online material, an official said.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
Explosives unearthed in Kandhamal; Maoists' plot foiled
Bhubaneswar: Ina major breakthrough for anti-Maoist operations in Odisha, security forces uncovered a substantial cache of explosives and tactical equipment during a combing operation in Kandhamal district. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a team from the District Voluntary Force (DVF) discovered the Maoist dump deep within Guma reserved forest near Sinahibali village, under the jurisdiction of Belgarh police station, police said. The recovered materials include 564 electrical detonators, 77 non-electrical detonators, four remote controls, two electrical sensors, two battery inputs, one electrical switch, a steel drum with cover and a steel tiffin carrier. Officials believe the cache was intended for use in ambushes targeting security personnel engaged in patrol and combing operations in the region. Kandhamal SP Harish B C confirmed that the operation was carried out with maximum caution, involving a bomb disposal squad that first sanitised the area for booby traps and pressure bombs before unearthing the dump. The forested terrain of Kandhamal, known for its dense cover and strategic value to Maoist insurgents, has long posed challenges to law enforcement agencies. However, recent operations have intensified surveillance and combing efforts, leading to a series of successful recoveries. This latest seizure follows a string of anti-Maoist actions in the region. On June 30, two senior Maoist leaders from Chhattisgarh were gunned down in an encounter in Pushungia forest under Baliguda police limits. A separate operation earlier this month yielded rifles, revolvers, cartridges and communication devices from a Maoist camp. Sources within the security establishment said the recovered detonators and remote devices were likely part of a larger plan to disrupt ongoing counter-insurgency efforts. With Maoist activity reportedly spilling over from Chhattisgarh into Odisha's forests, Kandhamal has become a focal point for coordinated operations aimed at dismantling insurgent infrastructure. Authorities have launched a follow-up investigation to trace the origin of the explosives and identify any remaining Maoist operatives in the vicinity. The success of the DVF team underscores the growing effectiveness of Odisha's anti-Naxal strategy, combining intelligence-led operations with tactical precision. As combing operations continue, officials remain vigilant against further threats in the region.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
In INDIA Bloc's Virtual Meet, Some Complaints And Demands: 10 Points
New Delhi: Top leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc held a virtual meeting on Saturday to decide what issues they should take up during the monsoon session of parliament. The meeting resembled a complaint session with many disagreements, sources said. Here's your 10-point cheat sheet on the INDIA bloc meeting Communist Party of India leader D Raja indirectly objected to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's comment on the Left's ideology in Kerala and its comparison to the BJP's ideological mentor RSS. Mr Raja said senior leaders should be mindful of limits when criticising alliance partners. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar, and Ram Gopal Yadav demanded that such meetings be called regularly. The next meeting of the INDIA bloc could be in the first week of August, sources said. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah suggested raising the issue of full statehood for the Union Territory during the parliament session. The members agreed, and also decided to raise the issue of the Pahalgam terror attack. Dipankar Bhattacharya demanded that the issue of the central government's anti-Maoist campaign and the Maoists' demand for a ceasefire be raised. The Trinamool Congress's Abhishek Banerjee asked if the Pahalgam attack was an intelligence failure, then why did the Intelligence Bureau chief get an extension? "Pegasus is being used against the Opposition, instead of terrorists. The government is trying to bring the NRC through SIR. E-squared [ED and EC] have become puppets of the government," Mr Banerjee said. The India bloc's 24 member parties attended the virtual meeting. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was absent, signalling a departure from the bloc's line of thinking and strategy. The other key attendees included Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. After the meeting, Congress leader and Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari, said there was complete consensus about the concern over national security as it was being compromised in the BJP regime. He said the INDIA bloc has expressed concerns over the repeated claims made by US President Donald Trump that he mediated the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He said Mr Trump has so far made the claims 24 times, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kept quiet and not responded. Mr Tiwari said INDIA bloc parties expressed their concern over SIR in Bihar. He said it was felt that there was an undeclared Emergency during which voters' names were being removed from the list.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Waive ₹13,300 cr. dues for CRPF deployment for anti-Maoist operations in Jharkhand: Soren to Shah
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding that the Centre waive ₹13,300-crore dues in lieu of deployment of CRPF for carrying out anti-Maoists operations in the State. If the State is forced to pay such a huge amount, it will adversely impact development schemes in Jharkhand, Mr. Soren said in a letter to Mr. Shah. 'It is the joint responsibility of the state and central governments to root out extremism... I urge the Centre to completely waive the pending dues of ₹13,299.69 crore to be paid by the state government in lieu of the deputation of Central Reserve Police Force for conducting anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand,' Mr. Soren said. More than 400 police personnel were killed in the anti-Maoist operations, as Jharkhand remains an extremist-hit State since its creation, he said in the letter on Friday (July 18, 2025) evening. 'I expect cooperation and a positive attitude from the Centre in waiving the dues under cooperative federalism,' Mr. Soren said. The CM cited multiple challenges the State faced in executing development schemes due to paucity of funds. 'After the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government is engaged in economic revival, dealing with disasters and successful implementation of other public welfare schemes. Due to its limited resources, the financial burden on the state has increased a lot,' the letter stated. In the Maoist-eradication campaign, the State government has been conducting operations with the help of its available resources and the CRPF, he said. As a result of this, there has been a significant reduction in extremist activities in the State, Mr. Soren said. The Jharkhand Police had on Friday (July 18) said a massive manhunt was underway to nab 55 Maoists, including top CPI (Maoist) commanders, carrying a cumulative bounty of ₹8.45 crore.
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
6 Maoists Killed, Heavy Weapons Recovered In Encounter In Chhattisgarh
At least six Maoists were killed in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Friday in an anti-Maoist operation. They were killed in an ongoing operation between security forces and armed insurgents, which began deep inside the dense forest area of the Abujhmad region of Chhattisgarh. During the ongoing operation, the forces have recovered a large number of firearms, including AK-47 and SLR rifles, explosive materials, and daily-use supplies typically associated with long-term Maoist camps. Security sources have confirmed that the operation is still in progress. This encounter marks one of the most significant recent strikes against Maoist presence in the Abujhmad core zone, a known stronghold of left-wing extremism. Based on credible intelligence inputs regarding the Maoist movement in the area, joint teams of security personnel launched a massive search operation in the region earlier on Friday. The operation has since seen intermittent and intense encounters beginning in the afternoon. Earlier on June 6, the top Maoist leader Bhaskar, who carried a cumulative bounty of Rs 45 lakh, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Indravati National Park area in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur.
