Four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed by Security Forces (SFs) during an operation in a forest between Pedapal and Pidiya villages under Gangaloor Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on September 28, reports The Times of India. A team of SFs comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), launched an operation on September 27, after receiving intelligence inputs about the movement of 120 People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) members of CPI-Maoist’s ‘West Bastar Division committee secretary’ - Papa Rao. When one of the patrolling teams of DRG was cordoning off the said forest area, an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides. After the guns fell silent, the body of one unidentified Maoist was recovered while the other three were dragged away by their colleagues. SFs also recovered an Insas rifle, explosives and a large supply of medicines from the spot.
Separately, seven Maoist sympathisers involved in gun manufacturing and supply for the rebels were arrested by a team of Border Security Force (BSF)’s 4th Battalion during an anti-Maoist operation near Jugda village under Koyalibeda Police Station limits in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on September 26, reports Outlook. They were identified as Chaitu Mandavi (50), Somji Mandavi (31), Hanesh Dugga (30), Manglu Ram Mandavi (25), Saudher Nureti (25), Somaru Nureti (25) and Sundar Lal Aanchla (24). An official said, “The team spotted suspicious activity in a hut and encircled the spot. While one person fled from the spot with a single barrel muzzle loading (SBML) gun, seven people were arrested. Chaitu was engaged in manufacturing and repairing of country-made weapons for the Maoists. So far, he has provided around 50 SBML guns to them. He charged INR 2,000 per weapon".
Meanwhile, hundreds of villagers from tribal hamlets attended the ‘foundation week’ (September 21 to 27) celebration of Maoist’s 16th ‘sthapna diwas’ (Formation Day) organised by the rebels in the remote forested terrain of Abhujhmad, close to the border of Bijapur District in the south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, reports The New Indian Express on September 28. The rebels celebrated their Formation Day. The rebels belonging to ‘Maad Division Committee’ and ‘Bhairamgarh Area Committee’ reportedly attended the event that saw tribals from around 20 villages participating.