Maoist Insurgency: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2018

Bihar Police arrested two cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) on Sarmastpur village of Karpi Block (administrative unit) in Arwal District, reports News18 on December 21. The two unverified CPI-Maoist cadres included ‘area commander’ of CPI-Maoist for three Districts and his associate. The duo demanded a ‘levy’ (ransom money) of INR 160 million from the construction company. A total of 18 cases are filed in several Police Stations of Arwal, Patna and Aurangabad Districts, which include attack on the base camp of the road construction and demand levy, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Dilip Kumar.  Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres attacked base camp of Gas India Limited (GAIL) engaged in construction of Haldia pipeline project and set ablaze one procaine and two other machines at Kaaj village under Gurua Police Station of Gaya District on December 30, reports Bhaskar. The security guards and construction workers at the base camp were assaulted by CPI-Maoists cadres during the attack. Maoists also have fired few shots after taking away mobile phones from construction workers at the base camp. CPI-Maoist cadres have claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks on Haldia pipeline project in their slogans during the attack. Earlier, CPI-Maoist had demanded INR 10 million as ‘levy’ (ransom money) for GAIL’s Haldia pipeline project under different Police Stations of Gaya District. The construction work of the pipeline project was shut down following the Maoist attack in the Gurua area. This is the fourth attack on GAIL’s base camps involved with construction of Haldia gas pipeline under Amas, Gurua and Mohanpur Police Stations, said Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP), Upendra Prasad. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) decided to strictly implement its decision that underground cadres should exercise caution while contacting their relatives, after the surrender of ‘central committee (CC)’ member Jinugu Narasimha Reddy alias Jampanna, reports Times of India on January 1. CPI-Maoist alerted its cadres and leaders to be cautious while contacting their relatives after it realised that the kith and kin of the underground cadres are under Police surveillance, after the ‘CC’ meeting in February 2017. Read less...

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan (trooper), Ashish Patra (29), was killed during exchange of fire between Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres at hills of Chakarbandha near Balthar village under Barachatti Tehsil (revenue unit) in Gaya District on January 2, reports The Times of India. CRPF sources said that a search and destroy operation was launched at around midnight on January 1 after receiving intelligence input of some splinter group's movement in the area. Commandos of CoBRA (Comando Battalion for Resolute Action) and regular battalion along with civil Police of Gaya and Aurangabad Districts were involved in the operation. Around 3.30pm on January 2, exchange of fire took place between the splinter group and Security Forces (SFs) during which Patra received bullet injury in head and llater succumbed to his injuries, CRPF sources said. Read less...

A Naxalite  [Left Wing Extremist (LWE)] cadre of the of the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction), identified as MD Rashid alias Venu surrendered before the Mahabubabad Superintendent of Police (SP), N Koti Reddy on January 2, reports Telangana Today. Rashid is a native of Kambalapally village in Mahabubabad Mandal (administrative sub-division) and joined the CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction, in 2016.  He also worked for Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist-New Democracy (CPI-ML-New Democracy) Chandranna faction, for three years and got arrested by the Police in West Godavari District. He spent three months in prison. After release from the prison, he led his life by running an autorickshaw. He joined Naxalites at the request of Dubbaka Yesobu of Manuguru, said SP, N Koti Reddy. Only single member, Mokalla Sammaiah alias Nutan, is working presently for the Naxalites as others either surrendered before the Police or killed in an encounter on December 14 in Kothagudem District. “I appeal to Sammaiah to surrender before the Police,” added SP, Reddy. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres identified as Roopesh, Shyna, Anoop Mathew, Veeramani and Kannan were Coimbatore District and Principal Sessions Court at Coimbatore District on January 2, reports The Hindu. Roopesh was brought under tight security from Kerala. They raised slogans demanding release of Muslim convicts who are lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison for more than 10 years, political prisoners and Sri Lankan prisoners. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) belongings like pamphlets, uniforms, mobile sets, chargers, tarpaulin, blankets, torches, diaries, notebooks, tracksuits and eatable items in MaholiaTand hills under Chhatterpur Police Station in Palamu District on January 2, reports Hindustan Times. The SFs gave a hot pursuit to a TMC squad of 30 cadres during an offensive in Kaual-Kurkutta region of Palamu District. The cadres of TPC managed to escape to nearby densely forested areas, said Vimlesh Tripathi, Chhatterpur Police Station in-charge. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres are fast losing support from the ‘Jan Militia’ (people's militia) members and the people of Bastar, Special Director General of Police, Anti-Naxal Operations, D M Awasthi told reporters in Raipur on January 2, reports The Pioneer. Sixty five per cent of Bastar region had been freed of Maoists so far, he said while addressing a press conference here to list out the achievement of Chhattisgarh Police during 2017. “By year 2022, Bastar would be made completely insurgency-free region,” Awasthi said. “Two years ago, there were pockets in Bastar where venturing in was not possible. Now, the movement in such regions has been made possible even for civilians,” he said. After the forces mounted pressure on the Maoists, Awasthi claimed, the rebels are now trying to get active in the forest areas of Rajnandgaon, Kawardha and Balaghat regions that border with Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. As of now, 16 out of 27 Districts in Chhattisgarh have been classified as left wing extremism (LWE) affected of which eight are classified as hyper-sensitive. He said the department has sent a proposal to include Kawardha District in the list of the hyper-sensitive District in view the Maoist presence in the forest areas of that District.Referring to operation Prahaar I and II, carried out in Bastar to flush out the rebels, Awasthi said offensive intelligence-based operations in South Sukma, Maoist core areas and in Abujhmaad areas in Narayanpur District was successfully conducted—inflicting heavy causalities on the Maoist side. However, he said there were two consecutive setbacks to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Bhejji and Burkapal in Sukma District. With losing support of the ‘Jan Militia’ and the people of Bastar, the Maoists are facing a tough time, he added. Awasthi further informed that at present around 75,000 security personnel are deployed in the State for anti-Naxal operations and the situation is well under control. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, BVR Subramaniam further added that the Naxals are now restricted to a triangular patch in Kawardha region at the borders of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Read less...

The Government has no plans to give general amnesty to the militants in Jammu and Kashmir and Maoists who give up violence and arms struggle, the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) was informed on January 2, reports Daily Excelsior. “There is no proposal for general amnesty to the militants,” Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said in a reply to a written question in Lok Sabha. The reply came in response to a question on whether the Government has any proposal for extending general amnesty, along with a lucrative rehabilitation package, to the Maoists and militants who give up violence and arms struggle.The Minister said the Central Government was following a multi-pronged strategy to deal with Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern States. The multi-pronged strategy comprises security-related measures and development-related initiatives. “In Jammu and Kashmir and NE States, the Central Government is also following a policy of talks with those groups who abjure the path of violence and seek resolution of their demands peacefully within the framework of the Constitution of India,” he said. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has succeeded in establishing ‘Revolutionary People’s Committees’ (RPC) in many colonies on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border and re-emerging in Kerala, says Intelligence Sources, reports New Indian Express on January 4 (today). According to the reports, G Krishnamoorthy, 'central committee (CC) member' from Karnataka, has taken charge of Kerala operations in place of Kuppuswamy aka Kuppu Devaraj who was killed in an encounter at Nilambur in Malappuram District on November 24, 2016. Krishnamoorthy has been successful in organising meetings in these areas which were attended by People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) cadres. CPI-Maoist cadres are known to make their presence felt initially with lightning appearances and distribution of leaflets in potential areas of growth dare to form RPCs only after they get feelers that the ground is fertile. Maoists have succeeded in forming RPCs in half a dozen tribal colonies, including some in Attappadi. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested seven Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres indentified as Kunjam Joga (30), Muchaki Hadma (20), Madvi Deva (25), Muchaki Payka (27), Kuhrami Sukka (21), Madkam Kosa (45) and Madkam Hunga (41) under Bhejji Police Station in Sukma District on January 3, reports New Indian Express. The arrested were cadres of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangathan (DAKMS), a frontal organisation of the CPI-Maoist, and involved in an attack on a Police team in Gacchanpalli forest in July, 2017. They are also wanted in case related to torching of a car and a motorcycle near Chikhalaguda in December 2017, said Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (south Bastar range), Sundarraj P. Read less...

Indicating a significant presence in the region and a sign of their growing strength in Kerala, groups of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were spotted a total of 91 times along the Kerala side of the inter-State border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu throughout 2017, the Nilgiris District Police said, reports The Hindu on January 5 (today). No recorded instance of intrusion from Kerala side, claim Police. These include both direct sightings by the Police and those by locals living in the villages along the border. Officials said that the Maoists, belonging to four Dalams (armed squad) – the Bhavani Dalam in Palakkad, Nadugani Dalam in Malappuram, Kabani Dalam in Wayanad and Siruvani Dalam in Palakkad – are known to be active in the region. “Of the four, the Siruvani Dalam is believed to be defunct, but we have intelligence that some of their members could be active,” said a Police officer involved with anti-Maoist operation. Though the number of sightings of Maoists has increased over the last few years, the Nilgiris District Superintendent of Police (SP), Murali Rambha, said that there has not been a single incursion of any radical left-wing groups into the Nilgiris. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered belongings from a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) hideout at Madanpur Police Station in Pacharukhiya Jungle of Aurangabad District on January 4, reports Jagran. During the search operation, three Pithu, two blankets, two ground seats, utensils, uniforms, soap and sweaters recovered by SFs. Read less...

The Union Government has sanctioned around 5,500 kilometres of National Highways and State roads for improvement of road connectivity in Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)-hit areas in eight States, Parliament was informed on January 4, reports Sify News. The Government had in 2009 approved a Road Requirement Plan (RRP) for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas of 34 Districts in eight States - Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. "Original RRP envisages development of 5,565 km length of national highways and state roads to two-lane at a cost of Rs 7,300 crore," Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Mansukh L. Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament) in a written reply. "As per proposals received from state PWDs based on site requirement, a length of 5,422 km was sanctioned for Rs 8,585 crore," he informed. Read less...

Jharkhand Police arrested a cadre of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Anuj Dhanvar alias Pankaj, at Silafari village after an exchange of fire in Gumla District on January 5, reports Prabhat Khabhar. Two PFLI cadres Prakash Uraon ‘area commander’ and Sanjay Tiger managed to escape and hiding at Tongri. Read less...

Kerala Police recovered explosives from under the Kuttippuram Bridge across the Bharathapuzha River at Kuttippuram in Malappuram District on December 5, reports Mathrubhumi. The explosives found are remotely operated and are made for the Indian Army in Maharashtra. Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres are suspected to be in possession of Claymore mines, used exclusively by the Indian Army, said Police. Read less...

Telangana Police arrested three cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) indentified as Madivi Pande alias Susheela alias Laxmi (29), Ramesh and Nandhini at Venkatapuram centre of  Eturnagaram in Jaishankar Bhupalpally District on January 5, reports The Hindu. Madivi Pande hails from Urren village, Bairanghad Tehsil (revenue unit) in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. She worked at different levels from 2009 in CPI-Maoist. She worked in the ‘jan militia’ from 2009 to 2010 and in the Marthur Local Organization Squad (LOS) from 2010 to 2011 and with Bairanghad LOS, in 2013 with the Bairanghad Platoon, and in 2014 Gangaloor LOS. Madivi Pande has been working as the protection ‘platoon commander’ of 'central committee (CC) member' Katakam Sudharshan aka Anand aka Duladadha, and participated in several offences in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, said Eturnagaram, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Rahul Hegde. She was involved in set ablaze of road construction vehicles at Tekulagdudem village of Wazeedu Mandal (administrative sub-division) in January 2015 and took part in exchange of fire with the Police at Jella forest area near Kodijuttugutta in May 2015, added Hedge. Read less...

The Police have arrested a ‘platoon commander’ and two ‘militia’ members of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) at Venkatapuram in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally District on January 5, reports The Hans India. The arrested were identified as Madivi Pande alias Susheela alias Laxmi, working as protection ‘platoon commander’ of the ‘central committee (CC) member’ Katakam Sudharshan aka Anand aka Duladadha, and the militia members - Ramesh and Nandini of Bheeram village in the District.  Read less...

Two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including a woman cadre, were gunned down in an encounter in Muduvandi-Kawadgaon forest axis in Bijapur District on January 5, reports News 18. “The operation, involving composite forces of (Central Reserve Police Force) CRPF's elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) 204th battalion and District Reserve Guard (DRG), was launched last night in the interiors of Gangaloor, located around 450 kilometres away from here (State capital, Raipur),” Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG, south Bastar Range) Sundarraj P, said. After the encounter, during search, two Maoists clad in ‘uniform’ were found dead at the spot. Besides, one .303 rifle, one 12 bore gun and one country-made pistol, were also recovered from there, the DIG added. Read less...

A Maoist was gunned down in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) in Bijapur District on January 6, reports Hindustan Times. The exchange of fire took place at around 3pm in the forests of Karka village under Gangaloor Police Station limits in which one Maoist was killed, Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mohit Garg said. The identity of the killed Maoist was yet to be ascertained, he said. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres set ablaze vehicles, earth moving equipment and ransacked a computer room at a bauxite mine at Kukutpat in Latehar District on January 6, reports Business Standard. Around 35 CPI-Maoist cadres arrived at Kukutpat set on fire one dumper, two trucks, a compressor machine, two motorcycles, earth moving equipment and a weighbridge before ransacking a computer room as the company had not paid heed to their demand for ‘levy’ (ransom money), said Police. A total of 14 vehicles - two trucks, two excavators, a JCB machine and nine vehicles were set ablaze by CPI-Maoist. The area where the incident took place comes under the jurisdiction of Samri Police Station of Chhattisgarh, however, some parts falls under Jharkhand’s territory, said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), RK Mallick, adds Hindustan Times. Read less...

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a poclain machine, one truck and a hyva truck at Hindalco bauxite mines in Kudag area under Samri Police Station limits of Balrampur District on January 6, reports Hinduatan Times. CPI-Maoist cadres also blew up a weigh-bridge unit at Kudag and assaulted two guards before fleeing from the spot, said Balrampur District Police. Read less...

Suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres gunned down the village Sarpanch (head of the Panchayat, village level local self Government institution) of Chhindgarh village near Kelang in Bastar District on January 6, reports The Indian Express. According to officials they (Maoists) suspected that the sarpanch was a ‘Police informer’. Read less...

Three Maoists were arrested and a 10 kilograms tiffin bomb was recovered from their possession in Kondgaon District on January 6, reports The Pioneer. The cadres were arrested from the forest between Ranapal and Nawagaon villages under Mardapal Police Station limits when a joint team of Security Forces (SFs) was out on duty to ensure security to the road construction work, according to Kondagaon, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Maheshwar Nag. The construction of road is underway between Ranapal and Bayanar in Mardapal area, he said. The composite squad, involving 41st battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and local Police, was carrying out patrolling to provide security to the construction works, when it spotted three Maoists hiding in the forest between Ranapal and Nawagaon, following which they were arrested, he said. A 10-kg tiffin bomb, one bundle wire, one dry battery, Maoist literatures and a Naxal banner in the name of East Bastar Division of the outlawed CPI-Maoist were recovered from their possession, Nag said. Read less...

A Police constable was shot dead by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Bijapur on January 7, reports ABP Live. The deceased constable was posted in Bhairamgarh and was visiting his home in Jangla village when the incident took place. The identity of the constable is yet to be ascertained. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres accused some villagers of providing support to the Police and threatened them to leave their village in Malkangiri District, reports The Pioneer on January 8. Sources said terrorised by the Maoists two tribal families in Kuruba village under the Kalimela Police Station in the District, left the village with their belongings on January 6, and have taken shelter in their relatives’ house. Few days back the Maoists had threatened the family of Mandra Madhi and Banja Padiami accusing that they have been working as ‘Police informers’ and warned them of dire consequences. Though they repeatedly tried to counter their allegations and said that they were not working as ‘informers’, the rebels did not buy their claims. Apprehending threat to their lives, the two families constituting 13 members fled from the village.Meanwhile, Kalimela Area Committee (KAC) of the CPI-Maoist in Malkangiri District on January 8, released a letter, that read Police atrocities against tribal and Maoist families are growing by the day and will not be tolerated any more, reports Pragativadi News. The letter claimed that Maoists who had surrendered in the recent past have done so due to pressure from the Police and people who are inspired by the Maoist ideology will never lay down arms and will continue to fight till last. Cowards surrender, Maoists are not cowards. There rebel is for the right of tribal. Those follow Maoism will never surrender.  Police are spreading false propaganda that Maoists are surrendering on their own. But, the fact is that the security personnel are pressurizing rebels to surrender. Police are also threatening the family members of the Naxals [Left wing Extremists (LWEs)], the letter issued by the ‘committee secretary’ Randev stated. The letter also warned the surrendered rebels of severe punishment as they have turned against the common man. Read less...

Two personnel of District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special wing of the Chhattisgarh Police used exclusively for anti-Naxal [Left wing Extremism (LWE)] operational duties in the Bastar Division, and two women were injured when pressure bombs, laid by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, went off at three separate places at Gangaloor and Bhairamgarh in Bijapur District on January 7, reports The Indian Express. In the first incident, two women sustained splinter injuries when they stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the outskirts of the Pusnar village. In another incident, a DRG constable, Shankar Pulse, was injured in a blast near Burji village, and Raju Kadti, another DRG trooper suffered minor injuries after a pressure bomb exploded in the forest near Biriabhoomi village in Bhairamgarh in the third incident, said Police. Read less...

One Policeman was killed by suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres at a village market in Bijapur District on January 8, reports The Times of India. Assistant constable Raju Lekam died after he was attacked with sharp-edged weapons by suspected rebels at the weekly market under Jangla Police Station limits, a District Police Official said. Lekam was posted with Bhairamgarh Police Station of the District. Read less...

The Centre has released INR 89.6 million to Andhra Pradesh under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, reports Business World on January 8. INR 89.6 million has been released to Andhra Pradesh as reimbursement under the SRE scheme by the Union Ministry for Home Affairs (UMHA) recently, a Ministry official said. As per the SRE guidelines, the amount is given if there is existence of and activities by one or more of the organisations which were banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Eight Districts of Andhra Pradesh are hit by the Naxal [Left wing Extremism (LWE)] violence. They are: Anantapur, East Godawari, Guntur, Kurnool, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram, the official said. The amount is given for procurement of arms, ammunition, vehicles and technical equipment for State Police forces. Read less...

Acting on information of the presence of Maoist leader Ganesh Uike, personnel of the District Reserve Group (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF) were on the search for three days near Bijapur border in Dantewada District, reports Naidunia Jagran on January 10. While returning on January 9 the Maoists were trapped in the spike-hole and an exchange of fire took place between the rebels and Security Forces (SFs) in Hiroli-Dokkapar forest area under Kirandul Police Station limits. After the firing, the injured Maoists were successful in fleeing away. During search, the Force recovered an inverter with two printers, a large cache of Improvised Explosive Devise (IEDs), Tiffin bombs, Pithu, electric wire, computer cable, uniform including Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] literature and two color printers from Perpa-Hiroli jungle. In the encounter, DRG's Sub Inspector (SI) Sangram Singh sustained injury. Naxals have been shot and they are also injured, Naxal operation Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), GN Baghel confirmed the incident. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres have set ablaze seven vehicles engaged in road construction at Jamakana under Sadar Police Station of Kalahandi District on January 9, reports The Pioneer. Around 50 CPI-Maoist cadres attacked camp of the contractor involved in the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road construction from Gunduri to Kadama. The rebels asked the contractor to vacate the place and set ablaze the road construction vehicles. The Police recovered CPI-Maoist posters, which claimed that the vehicles were set on fire to oppose the road construction work. Read less...

Fourteen CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from Sukma and Narayanpur Districts of the Bastar Division in three separate incidents on January 9, reports PTI. Nine CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested in Sukma District and five cadres of CPI-Maoist from Narayanpur District. In the first incident, Chhattisgarh Police rounded up eight CPI-Maoist cadres at Bhejji Police Station limits in Sukma District,  identified as Madvi Manish (27), Jan-Militia ‘deputy commander’, Madvi Hunga (24), ‘head’ of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangathan (DAKMS), a frontal of CPI-Maoist,  Podiyam Ganga (34), ‘deputy head’ of DAKMS and Madvi Hidma (19), Muchaki Kosa (19), Madvi Bheema (20), Madkam Aayta (26) and Madvi Baman (28), who are associated as ‘Jan-Militia’ of CPI-Maoist and DAKMS. All of them were allegedly involved in carrying out IED blasts targeting the SFs and firing on Police teams in Bhejji and Maraiguda areas of Sukma District. In the second incident, Madkami Pandu (26) a ‘Jan-Militia commander’ was arrested by Police team from Kukanar Police Station limits of Sukma District. Pandu was accused of carrying out a blast and opening fire on a Police patrol team in the forests between Baddugudem and Munga in Sukma District in January 2018, said ASP, Jitendra Shukla. In the third incident, five CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Bajaru Noharu, Mangatu Nag, Arjun Yadav, Amaru Patai and Sukhlal Potai were arrested and produced before a court in Narayanpur District, adds The Hindu. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were involved in various offences such as murders, attack on Police teams and their camps and bomb blasts and carried rewards on their heads, said Police. Read less...

Suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres dragged a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) leader out of his house in Hazaribagh District on January 9, and shot him dead, reports Business Standard. The 65-year-old JVM-P leader, Yugal Rana, was killed as he had helped the Police in arresting two Maoists, said ‘notes’ left by the rebels at the spot. Rana, a resident of Gondalpura in Barkagaon Police Station, was the president of JVM's Gondalpura Panchayat (village level local-self government institution) committee. Four armed suspected Maoists forcefully took him out of his house saying his presence was needed in a panchayatcommittee meeting and gunned him down near a jungle some distance away, Superintendent of Police (SP), Anoop Birtharay said. The Maoists also threatened his family members, who were following them, with dire consequences if they inform the Police about the killing, he said. Read less...

Telangana Police arrested two cadres of Naxalites [Left Wing Extremists (LWEs)] of the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction), identified as Bommani Narsimha alias Anand alias Narsi Reddy alias Vishwanad along with courier Samdhani at Apparajpally forest area under Gudur Police Station limits in Mahabubabad District  on January 9, reports Telangana Today. The Police also seized a 12 Bore weapon and 25 rounds from the duo, were waiting to contact a Dalam (armed squad) leader.Narasimha, a native of Ankireddy Gudem village of Chowtuppal Mandal (administrative sub-division) of Yadadri Suryapet District has worked as the member of the Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) and later worked for the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist-Janashakti (CPI-ML-Janashakti). He joined the Veeranna faction in 1997 following the division in the party on caste issues. He worked for the Veeranna’s faction (Communist Party of United States of India- CPUSI). However, he joined the CPI-ML-Janashakti in 2004 following differences with the party ideology and functioning. He worked as the Odisha in charge from 2005 to 2008. He was also arrested by the Police in Jajpur District as he spearheaded the agitation against the Tata Steel factory. Since his release from the jail in 2014, he has been working for the CPI-ML-Janashakti party led by Kura Rajanna, said, Superintendent of Police (SP), N Koti Reddy. Rajanna and Narasimha made efforts to revive the party. They have decided to float a new party called CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction. Five squads have also been formed by them. A case of extortion has been filed against Narasimha at Sircilla Police Station, added SP, Koti Reddy. Read less...

A Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Gadchiroli Police killed a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre in an encounter in Tadapalli forest area in Gadchiroli District on January 10, reports Business Standard. "The incident took place between 4.30 PM to 5 PM when the QRT team was conducting a combing operation in the Tadapalli forest area," the Gadchiroli Police said in a release issued on January 11. It said the Maoists opened fire on troopers who retaliated. The QRT found the body of the Maoist when they conducted a search operation after the rebels fled the spot. Police also recovered a 0.303 rifle and four cartridges from the spot. "The deceased Maoist is yet to be identified," the release added. Read less...

A woman Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) in Bade Kedwal-Tumalpad forests in Sukma District on January 10, reports PTI. Several composite squads of the Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit-Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) had launched the operation in the southern forests of Sukma which is considered as a core area of Maoists' military battalion no.1. When a team, comprising STF and DRG personnel, was cordoning off jungles near Kedwal-Tumalpad, it came under heavy firing from a group of rebels, leading to a gunfight, Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhishek Meena said. "After the encounter ended, security forces searched the area and recovered the body of a woman Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] clad in uniform," Meena said. Troopers also recovered some weapons and explosives from a Maoist dump in the area. The identity of the killed Maoist was yet to be ascertained, he said. Read less...

Intervention by the CPI-Maoist held up the construction of ten multipurpose watch towers in Kutku range of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Palamu District, reports The Pioneer on January 10.  CPI-Maoist cadres do not want watch towers to come up fearing this high rise tower will make them most vulnerable. The work on remaining 40 towers is in normal speed in North division. In the South division, COI-Maoist cadres threw the spanner when a ranger was manhandled and a tractor was set afire in the South division, said A K Mishra Deputy Director North division PTR. Read less...

Meanwhile, the Maoists blew up a bridge by blasting an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Sukma District, reports Naidunia Jagran. According to reports, the Maoists blasted the IED by blasting them near Dharampenta at around 11 pm late on January 10. A part of the bridge has been badly damaged by the blast. SP Abhishek Meena said that after the blast, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel fired at the Maoists who later escaped. On December 11, 2017, the same bridge was damaged by the rebels by blasting it. Read less...

A wanted CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Sagruram Sori (27) was arrested up by Border Security Force (BSF) and District Force jawans after an exchange of fire during a search operation in Bhomrapara forest under Koyelibeda Police Station area in Kanker District on January 11, reports UNI. The SFs also recovered two firearms, explosives, Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] literature and other materials from the possession of the Sori. Read less...

An encounter between the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres and Security Forces (SFs) took place at Chhotedongar under Irpanar Police Station limits in Narayanpur District on January 11, reports UNI. However, there was no report of any casualty. Read less...

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper sustained injuries during exchange of fire with Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Sukma District on January 11, reports New Indian Express. The CRPF team was out on special operations in a village when the encounter took place. The injured trooper was evacuated by chopper and his condition is stable, said CRPF. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested two cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) identified as Mantoo Yadav and his associate Nageshwar Yadav at Govindpur village in Jamui District on January 11, reports The Times of India. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were residents of Govindpur and Fatahpur villages respectively under Chakai Police Station of Jamui District. The Police team raided Mantoo's house while he was asleep and arrested him. Nageshwar was also arrested from Mantoo's house. One 9 mm imported pistol, four live cartridges, one magazine, two mobile phones and two motorcycles were also seized, said Jamui Superintendent of Police (SP), JJ Reddy. Mantoo has five criminal cases lodged with the Chakai Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act, added SP, Reddy. Read less...

Two ‘commanders’ of the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) outfit were killed in an encounter with a joint team of Hazaribagh District Police and troopers of the 22nd battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Konai Khurd village under Padma Police Station in Hazaribagh District in the intervening night of January 11-12, reports Hindustan Times. The raiding team recovered one AK 47 and INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifles besides around 200 live ammunition from the two dead rebels, along with two mobile phones and posters and literature of the banned group. Read less...

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a bus after asking the passengers to alight, in Sukma District on January 12, reports PTI. However, there were no reports of any casualties or injuries of the passengers in the bus. The incident occurred under Chintagufa Police Station limits when the private bus was on its way to Jagargunda from Jagdalpur, a local Police official said. The official said that a group of Maoists, armed with sharp-edged weapons and sticks, stopped the vehicle between Chintagufa and Burkapal villages and after asking passengers to alight, set it ablaze. Read less...

Following information received from SP, Prashant Anand, the Manika Police arrested Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) cadre, identified as Rajesh Shaw alias Rajeshwar Sahu, from Matlong area in Latehar District on January 12, reports Live Hindustan.Com. Rajesh Sahu is a resident of Sukri village under Latehar Block (administrative division) in the District. Abhay Shankar, Officer in Charge (OIC), said that Rajesh was involved in an encounter between JJMP and the Police in the Kumrahi jungle of Barabaiya. JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Sodhi Prakash (35), Pedkam Ramesh (19) and Buddallu Pulla (40) were arrested from two separate places in Sukma District on January 12, reports PTI. Prakash, who was active as the head of Karigundam Janatana Sarkar (KJS) squad of CPI-Maoist and wanted in 17 Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] related incidents including attacks on Police party, triggering Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Police teams, murder and others, took place in Chintagufa, Chintalnar and Polampalli Police Stations areas in Sukma District, was arrested from Chintagufa Police Station limits. Ramesh and Pulla, were involved in set ablaze of vehicles and thrashing labourers engaged in construction of road near Kansaram rivulet of Sukma District on December 21, 2017 and triggered IED blasts in 2017 between Kansaram and Potakpalli villages, were arrested from Kistaram Police Station area, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhishek Meena.  Read less...

The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police arrested seven Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres identified as Ajay Dosri alias Krishna Lingaya alias Venugopal (40), Shankarayya, Babushankar Banguri, Narsayya, Ravi Marpalli, Ramesh Golala and Satyanarayan alias Sataya from various places in Thane District, on January 12, reports Asian Age. ATS officials received a tip-off that one of the key members of CPI-Maoist would arrive in Kalyan and arrested Venugopal from Kalyan railway station. Police teams were dispatched and six CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Dombivli (east), after the interrogation of Venugopal. The Police claimed the CPI-Maoist cadres were indoctrinating youths in slum pockets and collecting finances for the Golden Corridor Committee (GCC), which includes Maharashtra and Gujarat and seized Naxal[Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] literature and documents. CPI-Maoist cadres were led by Venugopal, ‘district committee secretary (DCS)’ in CPI –Maoist, who was underground for 20 years. He was active in trade unions in Mumbai to spread CPI-Maoist ideology and carrying a reward of INR 8 00,000 announced by Telangana Government. He is booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 2008, and remanded in Police custody, said Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP (ATS) Mohan Dahikar, adds Times of India. Read less...

Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme, the Kanker District Police cleared a six kilometres road route traversing a 650-metre inclined, forested and rocky landscape and the road became operational on January 12, reports New Indian Express. The connecting road is set to link inaccessible settlements of the tribals who live in the inhospitable terrain barely 15 kilometres away from the Kanker District headquarters. “Ever since Independence our villages had remained deprived of a route to connect us with the main roads. Every election we raised our demands for road connectivity, but all we got were promises and no action,” said Lachhanu Mandavi, the Patel (elected chief) of Marrapi village. The road connects more than 2,000 tribal families in around half-a-dozen remote and undeveloped villages, including Marrapi, Useli, Kalmuchhi, Marme-Kanali and Nilegondi. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist(CPI-Maoist) cadres set ablaze Kendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) leaves storehouse at Barkani village under Sadar Police Station limits in Bolangir District on January 14, reports Orissa Post. The Police recovered CPI-Maoist poster from a tree near the storehouse. The CPI-Maoist poster accused the kendu leaf Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and Ranger of indulging in corrupt practices. It also added that the construction of Kendu leaf storehouses was incomplete and warned of further violence if steps were not taken to stop corruption, said Sadar Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Jyotirmayee Bhucha. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres in Dantewada District on January 14, reports Outlook India. A joint team of Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was out on a search operation when the joint team arrested them. All three were involved in many murder, robbery and arson cases. One of the arrested Maoists was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head. The identities of the Maoists are yet to be ascertained. Read less...

Several Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were reportedly injured in Police-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] encounter in Tetamadugu Jungle near Tetamgarh in Sukma District on January 14, reports Glibs.in. In the encounter, the Police neutralised the Naxalites' camps. Police claimed that half a dozen Naxalites of the military battalion of the Maoists have been injured in the firing, and some other managed to escape. Police has seized the Maoist belongings kept in the camp. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed a Communist Party of India- Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre and destroyed a camp during a combing operation in Jhilmili forest under Bakarkatta Police Station area in Rajnandgoan District on January 15, reports The Hindu. Superintendent of Police (SP), Prashant Agrawal, said the operation was conducted by a joint team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Special Task Force (STF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG). SP, Agrawal said that the team attacked the Maoist camp housing 50 Maoists within Bakarkatta Police Station limits in the northern part of Rajnandgaon District. In the exchange of fire, one Maoist cadre was killed. The SFs recovered three weapons and a huge cache of Naxal [Left Wing extremism (LWE)]-related material from the camp. “One pistol and two 12 bore guns were recovered. The Maoist belonged to the ‘Vistaar Platoon’ of the CPI-Maoist. Search operations are on in the area,” SP, Agrawal said. The camp was located in Jhilmili forest, about 160 kilometres from Rajnandgaon, bordering Balaghat area of Madhya Pradesh.  Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres set ablaze road construction equipment, opposing the road work at Luler village under the Maithili Police Station in Malkangiri District on January 16, reports The Pioneer. Sources said the armed rebels raided the camp of a construction firm and asked the staffs and labourers to leave the spot. Then they set a tractor, road roller and other equipments ablaze. The Maoists left a poster behind claiming the incident to be their handiwork. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist(CPI-Maoist) cadre identified as Chhathu Sada was arrested at Saghran village under Dandari Police Station area in Begusarai District on January 16, reports UNI. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadre was involved in killing Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) trooper by firing on him at Kusamhot village under Chadpura Police Station area in the District in 2016. Read less...

Meanwhile, Odisha Government will receive INR 2.3 billion in four years for development of infrastructure and services in Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)]-affected Districts under the National Policy and Action Plan (NPAP) launched by the Union Government, reports New Indian Express on January 16. Two Districts of Odisha - Malkangiri and Koraput will be covered under the scheme. Each District will receive INR 280.57 million for the next three financial years taking the total to INR 1730.42 million. The State Government will, however, receive INR 570.14 million for utilisation in 2017-18. The Government will set up a State-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary (CS) to monitor implementation of the programme. The District-Level Committee (DLC) to be headed by the Collector will also have Superintendent of Police (SP) and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) as members. Two Districts in Odisha included under the NPAP will receive INR 20 million each, to strengthen the vulnerable Police Stations every year. 17 Naxal affected Districts of Odisha will receive INR 10 million each for strengthening of Police Stations, said official sources. Read less...

Meanwhile, Police arrested CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Anuj Yadav alias Ramanuj Yadav, who is absconding after setting ablaze a road roller and mobile tower from Mirganj village, under Shakurabad Police Station in Jehanabad District on January 16, reports Jagran. He demanded ‘levy’ (ransom money) in the construction of bridge in Murrah village, said Police. Read less...

Personnel of the 26th battalion of Central Reserve police Forces (CRPF) and local Police seized a huge cache of arms during a special operation against Naxalites [Left Wing Extremists (LWEs)] at Chargi Forest area in Peterwar Block (administrative unit) in Bokaro District on January 16, reports The Pioneer. Acting on a tip off, a CRPF team headed by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sanjay Kumar launched an operation in Chargi forest in Peterwar block. During the operation the team detected an artificial tunnel near Chargi forest which the rebels used for strong arms and ammunition. Bokaro Superintendent of Police (SP), Kartik S. said two country-made pistols, 45 cartridges, 318 piece of electronic detonators, three magazines, one rifle of 315 bore, huge cartridges of Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) and others explosives were recovered from the artificial tunnel. The arms were stored by the members of Santosh Mahto in the forest to carry out an attack by the Maoists on the Security Forces (SFs). Though some members of Santosh Mahto of the banned outfit were present in the forest they preferred to disperse from the spot after leaving behind their weapons, the area is close to the border of Gomia Block, also Maoists hit Block of the District. Read less...

Police arrested Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre Sakhalu Hemla (35) at Karekorma's Karrapara forest in Rajpara in Bijapur District, reports Nai Dunia on January 16. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadre was involved in case of killing a woman in the village Katekormama village and accused of Dantewada jailbreak. He carries a reward of INR 5000 on him declared by Superintendent of Police (SP), Bijapur. Read less...

The Dakshina Kannada Police and the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), on January 16, began combing operations in the Western Ghats following reports on the movement of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Mittabagilu village near Shiradiin Dakshina Kannada District, reports The Hindu. Sources said on January 14 night three persons, believed to be members belonging to Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] group, armed with modern weapons, visited the houses deep in forest in Uppin Angadi Police Station limits and collected essential commodities including rice and other articles, adds UNI. According to Leela, whose house they had visited, the Naxals assured that they would not harm her and asked not to inform the Police. The members identified themselves as Leela, Suresh and Purushottam. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested two persons in connection with the murder of former State Minister and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008, reports Business Standard on January 16. Both suspects, identified as Prafull Kumar Mahto (27), and Jai Ganesh (37), residents of State capital Ranchi, were arrested on January 15, and have since been remanded in agency custody for five days by an NIA Special Court in Ranchi. Munda was gunned down by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres on July 9, 2008, while attending a programme at a school on the outskirts of Ranchi. Maoist ‘commander’ Kundan Pahan's name figured in the killing. Pahan had surrendered to Police in May 14, 2017. The probe was handed over to the NIA in September 2017. Read less...

An ‘area commander’ of Jharkhand Jan-Mukti Parishad (JJMP), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was killed in an encounter at Jerpahari under Sadar Police Station limits in Latehar District late on January 17, reports The Indian Express. According to the Police, a joint team of the District Police and Jharkhand Jaguar (JJ) had launched a search operation in Jer hills under Sadar Police Station area on Tuesday (January 16), following information about the movement of a squad of JJMP, being led by Guddu Yadav. The joint team came across the group and an exchange of fire took place the next day.“A search operation was mounted this morning (January 17), which led to the recovery of a body. It was identified as that of Guddu Yadav, a resident of Kui village under Manika Police Station area. He had four cases in Chandwa and Manika area,” said a Police officer.Police sources said that an AK-47, four American-made rifles, one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle, among others were recovered. Read less...

Elsewhere, on January 17, Begusarai Police arrested four Maoists, who were evading arrest in several cases related to attack on SFs in Begusarai District, reports The Telegraph. Read less...

Police arrested an active cadre of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Kale Dhanwar alias Lal Babu from Biramitrapur Police Station limits in Sundargarh District on January 17, reports Jagran.com. The District Police team raided the ward number-2 area of Biramitrapur and arrested Kale Dhanwar. During interrogation Dhanwar admitted his connection with the PLFI, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Pinak Misra. Read less...

The Disrict Police foiled an attempt by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres to blow up a vehicle carrying Security Forces (SFs) after the seizure of two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from Imamganj region in Gaya District on January 17, reports The Telegraph.The two IEDs, each weighing 10 kilograms, were planted under the road leading to Bodhia hills under Salaiya Police Station. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer, Surendra Das said the Maoists had planted the explosives near Tilakdih village to target the SF personnel. CRPF's Assistant Commandant Sujeet Kumar said the seized explosives were of high quality and enough to cause extensive damage to the Police patrol vehicle. "Both the IEDs were defused by the personnel of the bomb disposal squad in the presence of senior officials of the central paramilitary force," Assistant Commandant Sujeetadded. Read less...

Two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres identified as Madvi Baman (30) and Harish Podiam (23), arrested after an exchange of fire between Security Forces (SFs) and CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District on January 17, reports Business Standard. The encounter took place during an anti-Maoist operation launched at Galgam, Bhusapur and Tekmela villages of Usoor by a joint team of the Special Task Force (STF), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and District Police. Two CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from the forests near Bhusapur village under Usoor Police Station and recovered directional bomb, detonator, bow and arrow and other materials, said Police official. Read less...

CPI-Maoistcadres attacked a newly-established Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Bastar District on January 18, reports The Hindu. However, there was no report of any casualties or injuries in the attack at the Malewahi camp on the borders of Bastar and Dantewada Districts. Read less...

In a separate incident, three IEDs were recovered by the 32nd battalion SSB from a sugarcane field near Sonoalsubbavillage inSuppiBlock (administrative unit) under Majorganj Police Station in Sitamarhi District on 18, reports UNI. Read less...

One District Reserve Guard (DRG) soldier sustained injury an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast near Tumripara under Fulbagadi Police Station limits in Sukma District on January 18, reports ANI. Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhishek Meena said, "There was an IED blast near Tumripara under Fulbagadi Police Station in which a DRG soldier sustained injuries."Following the blast the DRG team launched a search operation of the area and arrested 11 Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres from Kistaram Maraiguda area of the District. All the arrested Maoists were also involved in setting 27 vehicles on fire, firing upon the soldiers in Kasalpada and Dharampenta bridge blast. Read less...

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre from Shakurabad Police Station area in Jehanabad District on January 18, reports UNI. Police said the Maoist rebel identified as Sheodani Thakur aliasSheodahin Thakur (30) was arrested by the 32nd battalion of SashastraSeemaBal(SSB)BelaMuzaffarpur Bihar and a team of Shakurabad Police Station from his hideout at Ratani village following a specific intelligence input.Sources said that no firearm was recovered from his possession. Thakur was a resident of village Nihalpur, ParasBighaPolice Station inJehanabad District and was an active member of Magadh range of CPI-Maoist. Read less...

Police unearthed two illegal mini-gun factories and seized three automatic pistols and five magazines during an overnight operation in Munger District on January 18, reports The Telegraph. Two persons identified as ManojYadav and Mohammad Israr, were arrested in this connection.Munger Superintendent of Police (SP), AshishBharti said acting on a tip off a Police team conducted a raid at the house of Mohammad Rabbani at Bakarganj village and seized two automatic country-made pistols. Rabbani was wanted in connection with an arms deal case lodged with Batganj Police Station in West Bengal. SP, Bharti said Mohammad Israr and Manoj Yadav were arrested when they had gone to purchase weapons from Rabbani. The Police later arrested Rabbani from his hideout and produced him in the court, which remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. Read less...

Maoist presence has been detected at Kodenchery in Kozhikode District, reports Mathrubhumi. According to sources, a team of four armed CPI-Maoists visited the house of an individual identified as Abraham on January 18. After asking for tea, the Maoists asked the family staying at the house to cook food for them. Read less...

Separately, two armed cadres of CPI-Maoist identified as Nelli Ram Kashyap and Munna Istia surrendered before the Police in Dantewada District on January 19, reports Glibs.in. Two Billfold Holster guns, tiffin bomb and ammunition were recovered from the surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres. The duo was fed up with the hollow ideology and partisan attitude of the CPI-Maoist. Nelli Ram Kashyap joined CPI-Maoist on the request of CPI-Maoist leaders, Ajay and Deepak, four years ago and worked as ‘Jan Militia’ cadre in Haandawada area. While, Munna Istia joined CPI-Maoist in 2013, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Gorakhnath Baghel. Read less...

Two CPI-Maoists have surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada District on January 19, reports New Indian Express.  The surrendered Maoists have been identified as Nelliram Kashyap, hailing from Orchha area of Narayanpur District, and Munna Ista of Barsoor area of Dantewada. Kashyap surrendered along with one muzzle loading gun, one tiffin bomb, explosive powder, Maoists pamphlets and crackers. Ista surrendered along with one muzzle loading gun. Read less...

An Assistant Constable, identified as Jagat Ram Karma, was injured after Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres triggered Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near a weekly market in Chhote Tumnar village under Geedam Police Station of Dantewada District on January 20, reports The Indian Express. Karma, posted at Nelasnar Police Station of Bijapur District, was rushed to a hospital in Bijapur and he is currently out of danger. The Police have launched combing operations to against the CPI-Maoist cadres, said Police official. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres assaulted eight villagers from Gagiaguda village under the Mathili Police Station limits in Malkangiri District, reports The Pioneer, on January 22. The villagers, identified as Paradesi Durua, Sitaram Durua, Padia Kabasi, Musiki Durua, Misi Kabashi, Lasimdhar Durua, Adam Padiami and Pandu Madi, were abducted on January 17 by the Maoist rebels on the charge of being ‘Police Informers’ and assaulted them in a ‘Praja court’ (People’s/ Kangaroo Court organized by the Maoists) at a Maoist camp in a forest. The abducted villagers were released on January 20, and warned the villagers not to provide information about the Maoists to Police. Read less...

Meanwhile, Security Forces (SFs) recovered two pressure bombs and petrol bomb from a bridge in Kanker District on January 20, reports Deshbhandu. The SFs conducted a search operation on the banks of Katari River in Bethia Police Station area. Read less...

Telangana Police arrested three Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) couriers identified as Madivi Sammaiah, Nanda and Mirgam Arjun from two different places of Bhadradri Kothagudem District on January 21, reports The Hindu. The Police arrested Sammaiah and Nanda from at Devanagaram in Charla Mandal (administrative sub-division) and Mirgam Arjun near Bhadrachalam town during regular vehicle-check and seized several gelatin sticks, detonators and bundles of electrical wire. Police registered cases against the trio at Charla and Bhadrachalam Police Stations, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Amber Kishore Jha. Read less...

Jharkhand Police arrested Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) sympathizer, identified as Manoj Yadav, from Dumri Police Station area in Giridih District on January 22, reports UNI. Police recovered INR 600,000 in ‘levy’ (ransom money) and CPI-Maoist pamphlets from Manoj Yadav, who is a resident of Nagar Keswari of Sariya and sent to jail, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Arvind Sinha. Read less...

Seven-seven kilograms of two Tifin bombs suspected to have been planted by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres to harm the Police and Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP)'s search parties were recovered in the forest of Jhansi Khaira of Dhur area in ??Rajnandgaon District on January 22, reports News 18.  Acting on the information, the joint Police party of the District Police force and the ITBP had launched a search operation in the forest. During the search, the joint party saw the bomb and the electric wires kept hidden among the bushes. Police and ITBP team destroyed the bomb there in the forest. Read less...

A joint squad of Telangana Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) arrested four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) couriers identified as Muski Bheema (36), Y Iithu (19), Muski Unga (20), and M Bichem (28), from Lenin Colony village in Charla Mandal (administrative sud-division) in Bhadradri Kothagudem District on January 23, reports The Hindu. The Security Forces (SFs) arrested Maoist couriers while they were proceeding towards Chhattisgarh to deliver a consignment of medicines to CPI-Maoist cadres based in Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh. SFs have seized two boxes containing various medicines, 28 saline bottles, more than 200 syringes and surgical spirit worth INR 10,000. All arrested Maoist couriers are from Kondapalli village in Bijapur District, said Police. Read less...

According to The Times of India report on January 20, senior Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Gadchiroli District seem to be taking their setbacks seriously, as they are now conducting analysis after every incident. It was said that the reds are also threatening villagers of adjoining hamlets of dire consequences if they are found leaking information to Security Forces (SFs). A District source claimed that senior cadres of Maoists had come to the forest of Palle in Aheri sub-division to conduct a ground-zero reality check, a couple of days ago. They were there to collect insight into the firing incident, in which one of their formations was cornered around a fortnight ago. Though there was no casualty on their side, the camp had to withdraw following mounting pressure of the C-60 [the Maharashtra Police counter-insurgency commando unit] personnel, leaving behind substantial material of daily use and also literature, which had information about their outfits and cadres involved in various activities. The rebels had also ensured that a few villagers from adjacent hamlets, like Rahpalli, Kurumpalli and also Palle, were assembled at the forest where the firing on them had taken place. The Maoist cadres, through their supporters and militias, had ensured that none of the hamlets were left unrepresented. The villagers were thoroughly quizzed by senior cadres, who tried to collect every fine details of the incident, including movement of the SFs, position of the rebels' camp that was stormed, the directions from which the SF personnel had entered the forest and such details. The Maoists also tried to pressurize the villagers to share with them possible names of ‘Police informers’ or Special Police officers (SPO) who work as volunteers for an honorarium in each village. Superintendent of Police (SP), Gadchiroli, Abhinav Deshmukh, said the Maoists are known to conduct such analysis and record them for future reference. "They mostly try to find out the police volunteers to choke our information system and also gauge our movements," he said. Read less...

An encounter between the Security Forces (SFs) and Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres took place in the forests of Atapalli of Basaguda Police Station in Bijapur District late on January 23, reports News 18. After the long encounter, the Maoists fled leaving behind their weapons and escaped. Police recovered a pipe bomb, bottle bomb, mobile and items of daily use from the encounter spot. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres set ablaze a mixture machine and cement bags of a construction firm at Kaliaposh village of Tulsikani Gram Panchayat (village level local-self government institution) under Bisra area in Sundargarh District on January 23, reports New Indian Express. CPI-Maoist cadres were demanding ‘ransom’ (extortion money) of INR 300,000 from the construction firm which is building a check dam estimated at INR 3.5 million. They had warned of the firm of dire consequences against resuming work till their demands were met. A few days back, CPI-Maoist leader Anmolda had  sent a letter to the contractor demanding the ransom Read less...

Meanwhile, a joint team of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the District Police arrested nine CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women cadres, from the forests near Becha and Kadenar villages under Chhotedongar Police Station limits in Narayanpur District during an anti-Maoist operation on January 23, reports PTI. The arrestees, identified as Sitaram Watti, Munna alias Ravishankar, Shankar, Fagu alias Jaisingh, Sonadhar, Sukman Korram, Lchhuram Neta, Jaldai Watti and Budhmati alias Phulbati, are lower-rung cadres who are wanted for crimes like attempt to murder, attacking Police party and loot, Narayanpur Superintendent of Police (SP), Jitendra Shukla, said. Read less...

One cadre of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Binod Yadav, was arrested during a raid in the Bandua Teenmuhan area in Latehar District on January 23, reports Live Hindustan. Acting on information, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Santosh Kumar Mishra, arrested Binod, who was involved in a JJMP encounter with the Police in Barwaiya's Kumularhi. Read less...

Separately, four CPI-Maoist ‘janmilitia’ members, identified as Pohduram Korram (45), Sonu Netam (35), Sonsai Netam (45) and Kenvsi Kashyap (32), were arrested by a composite squad of the Special Task Force (STF) and ITBP during a combing operation at Rajadongri forests under Mardapal Police Station in Kondagaon District on January 23, reports PTI. The Police combing operation was to ensure security to the road construction work in the area. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were active as ‘janmilitia’ members and involved in loot, arson and attempt to murder, said Kondagaon Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Maheshwar Nag. Read less...

According to The Times of India report on January 24, a redrawn counter-insurgency strategy, backed by real-time intelligence through use of modern technology like drones and involving coordinated day and night operations by Security Force (SF) personnel, to target Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres deep inside the jungles has brought down the number of districts afflicted by Naxal [Left-Wing Extremist, LWE] violence to 58. Latest data compiled by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) shows that the number of Districts under the grip of Maoist violence has dropped significantly since 2015, with over 90 per cent of attacks being reported from only four States — Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. While 75 Districts across nine States reported violent attacks by Naxals in 2015, the number came down to 67 in 2016, and dropped to 58 in 2017, touted as the best year for the SFs engaged in anti-Maoist operations.CRPF, Director General (DG), Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar said, "The past year, we have hit the Naxals in their den. Our coordination with state police, intelligence agencies and armed forces has been exceptional. The focus has been on leaders, over ground operatives and sympathisers. The Naxals are not able to move arms, funds and their senior leaders from one place to another." He also said the influence of Naxals is now restricted to only three pockets — Bastar-Sukma (having an area of around 1200 square kilometres), AOB (Andhra-Odisha Border — 2,000 square kilometres) and Abujmaad forest area (4,500 square kilometres). "There is a security vacuum and administration has not been able to completely access these areas," CRPF, DG, Bhatnagar said. In terms of operations, with over 150 cadres of CPI-Maoist killed, 2017 was one of the most successful years for the SFs. The anti-Naxal strategy was revamped after Union Home Minister (UHM), Rajnath Singh met Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected States in May 2017 following the killing of 25 CRPF personnel in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. UHM, Singh has said that Naxal violence has come down by 60 per cent.In an internal policy document of Naxals — 'Action Plan 2017-2022' — recovered by intelligence agencies revealed that the Maoists themselves admited that 140 of their comrades, including 30 women, were killed by SFs in 2017. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed five Police personnel and severely injuring eight others in an attack in Abujhmaad area in Narayanpur District on January 24, reports The Times of India. Special DGP (anti-Naxal operations) D M Awasthi said two sub-inspectors and three constables were killed when a joint team of Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on anti-Naxalite [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] operations in the forests of Irpanar in Abujhmaad region of Narayanpur District. On Wednesday (January 24), over 60 jawans (troopers) were out on an operation when they were attacked by the Maoist ‘6 Company’ around 11 am. The slain jawans were identified as sub-inspectors Vinod Kaushik and Moolchand singh Kanwar and Constables Devnath Pujari, Raisingh Markam. The identity of one constable is yet to be ascertained. Read less...

In view of the Republic Day, separate composite squads of Border Security Force (BSF), Special Task Force (STF) and local Police had launched the combing operation on January 24 towards Gattakal, Mindi, Kamteda, Kaknar, Irganar, Alparas and Panidobir villages of Koyalibeda Read less...

In view of the Republic Day, separate composite squads of Border Security Force (BSF), Special Task Force (STF) and local Police had launched the combing operation on January 24 towards Gattakal, Mindi, Kamteda, Kaknar, Irganar, Alparas and Panidobir villages of Koyalibeda. SFs managed to arrest three CPI-Maoist cadres, all natives of Kurushnar area of Narayanpur District, when they were trying to escape into forest.  Separately, CPI-Maoist memorial was dismantled by SFs in Gundul village of Koyalibeda, added Police. Read less...

Meanwhile, a STF constable was killed and a Policeman was injured when a pressure bomb planted by the Maoists went off in Bijapur District on January 24, reports PTI. The incident occurred in the forest near Hidmapara village under Basaguda Police Station limits when a joint team of the STF and District Force (DF) was returning after conducting an anti-Maoist operation, a senior Police official said. As per preliminary information, the explosion occurred after the STF constable, identified as Lakhan Gadbale, unknowingly stepped on the pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED) connection near Hidmapara. "Gadbale succumbed to injuries while being airlifted to Jagdalpur for treatment," the official said. DF, constable Ashish Tiwari who was walking nearby Gadbale sustained minor injuries in the blast and was being airlifted to Raipur for better treatment, he said. Read less...

Separately, CPI-Maoist posters were recovered from Pottangi, Narayanapatna and Bandhugaon areas in Koraput District on January 24, reports merinews. The posters urged the people to observe January 26 as ‘Black Day’ as a mark of protest against the Kunduli gang-rape incident and demanded to save the tribals from the clutches of moneylenders, liquor traders and contractors. Read less...

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has come out with an analysis saying that Left Wing Extremists (LWEs) violence is taking place only in Kerala and not in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, reports New Indian Express on January 24. Though the three States- Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (KKT) form the tri-junction where Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres have been establishing their strong presence, no LWE violence was reported in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu while 23 incidents were reported in Kerala between 2014 and 2017. The report on LWE violence in KKT was submitted by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in a written reply to a question raised by Kodikunnil Suresh in Parliament. As per the MHA, while no violence was reported in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu since 2014, violence data for Kerala was 2014 - eight, 2015 – ten, 2016 – five, 2017 - 0 (upto 15-12-2017).The MHA’s assessment of the LWE violence in Kerala cannot be taken lightly by the Kerala Government as the state has been witnessing heightened activities of the CPI-Maoist in the past two years. “We don’t want to comment on LWE violence data of the Union Government. But we have been taking necessary steps which included strengthening the combing operations to flush out Maoists holed up in forest regions in Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kannur,” said Kannur Range Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mahipal Yadav.   Another senior Police officer said: “we have launched a detailed probe after armed suspected Maoists visited a house at Kodenchery in Kozhikode District last week (January 18) and took away all the rice from the house.” Read less...

Two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres identified as Ravindra Yadav and Musharu Yadav were awarded life sentence by a Court in Munger District on January 24, reports PTI. They were convicted for the Kareli village massacre, which took place on July 02, 2011. The court acquitted three other accused identified as Dhirendra Yadav, Rakesh Yadav and Rajram Yadav due to lack of evidence. Kareli village was attacked by a group of around 80 armed CPI-Maoist cadres, who shot dead six villagers and abducted nearly a dozen others. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leaders from Bihar and Jharkhand have started concentrating in the region to strengthen their base and are hiring new faces and creating special committees in new areas to revive their network in the region after security forces inflicted a series of attacks on them in eastern Bihar Districts, says Central reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s intelligence wing, reports The Telegraph on January 26. The sources in the CRPF's intelligence wing said the Maoists have extended zonal and sub-zonal committees in eastern Bihar and areas in neighbouring Jharkhand. The source also said that under the aegis of Eastern Regional Bureau (ERB), several rebel wings, like Bihar-Jharkhand area committee, Eastern Bihar Committee and Eastern Jharkhand special area committee have started functioning. Bhagalpur divisional committee was formed recently and Prabesh alias Sahadev Soren, a native of Giridih District of Jharkhand, has been made in-charge of the ERB. Read less...

Meanwhile, Srikakulam-Koraput Division Committee (SKDC) of CPI-Maoist have called for 48 hour bandh (general shut down strike) on January 25 and 26 in Odisha and demanded Koraput Superintendent of Police (SP), District Collector and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) S. Saini be immediately transferred after the Kunduli suicide incident, reports odishatv.in on January 24.  Aruna, ‘secretary’ of SKDC released the audio tape in Koraput District, which urged the people to boycott the Republic Day celebrations across in Odisha and especially in Koraput District on January 26. Read less...

The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on January 25, rejected the bail pleas of Prashant Rahi alias Narayan Sanglikar, and Vijay Tirki, both close associates of Delhi University (DU) Assistant Professor G.N. Saibaba, charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for alleged Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) links, who challenged their conviction by Gadchiroli sessions court on March 7 last year, reports The Times of India. A division bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Murlidhar Giratkar relied on the prosecution theory that "there was sufficient evidence to prove their involvement in Maoist activities". Read less...

A joint team of West Singhbhum District Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) destroyed a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) camp in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres at Porahat forest under Karaikela Police Station in West Singhbhum District on January 26, reports Hindustan Times. The exchange of fire between both the sides ensued for nearly half an hour, but no casualty was reported from either side. The Security Forces (SFs), however, destroyed the CPI-Maoist camp after the rebels escaped from the spot. The combing operation was launched to hunt the CPI-Maoist leader Jeevan Kandulna, who was reportedly active in Dogebera and adjacent villages in Porahat forest. After 100 rounds of firing, the CPI-Maoist cadres along with their leader escaped from the site. Two CPI-Maoist cadres were reportedly injured and the SFs are trying to trace them. The Police recovered a rifle (looted from the Police earlier), a country-made pistol, several bullets, detonators, wire, CPI-Maoist literature, medicines, food and other daily use articles from the camp. The Police also seized a can bomb of low intensity and defused it, said West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police (SP), Anish Gupta. Read less...

An encounter took place between Security Forces (SFs) and Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres near Porhat forest in West Singhbhum District on January 26, reports The Times of India. Chakradharpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Sakaldeo Ram said that a CPI-Maoist squad led by its 'area commander' Jeevan Kandulana fired on Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel around 9.40am. The SF personnel retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for over half an hour, forcing the rebels to retreat, the officer said. During search of the encounter site, a .303 rifle, which was looted from the Police, was recovered along with 100 rounds of ammunition, six powerful bombs, over 20 detonators, cordex wire and explosive-attached arrows. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed a former Maoist cadre and injured another, suspecting them of being ‘Police informers’ in Bhadradri Kothagudem District early on January 27, reports Telangana Today. Maoists shot dead P Jogaiah, who died on the spot in the attack in Veerapuram village, while they opened fire on M Ramesh at Suryanagar in Bhadrachalam town in the same District. However, Ramesh escaped with bullet injuries on his hand. Both Jogaiah and Ramesh were former Maoists. Police said they were attacked as Maoists suspected them to be acting as ‘informers’ for Police. Read less...

CPI-Maoist memorial was dismantled by SFs in Gundul village of Koyalibeda, added Police. Read less...

Similarly, the ultras managed to prevent people from celebrating Republic Day in various regions of Koraput District and observed bandh (general shut down). While the Republic Day was not observed in a project primary school of Sorisapadar panchayat, the upgraded Government High School in the District was also found locked. The students of Matiaguda primary school in the panchayat too stayed away from the celebration. The schools in Dekaguda and Bandaguda villages remained closed, the roads wore a deserted look. People of Bhitarakota, Khasuguda, Dumuriguda, Malimaula and Kotia supported the bandh call given by the Maoists, a report said. Read less...

The cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) observed a ‘Black Day’ on Republic Day in Chitrakonda block in Malkangiri District on January 26, reports Orissa Post. The Maoists, as per their earlier declarations, hoisted black flags on various schools  and headquarters of Papulur, Kurmanur, Jodamba, Janti, Panasput, Andrapali, Gajalmamudi, Valegada and Dhuliput Panchayats (village level local-self government institutions). They put up posters and banners asking people to join their ‘fresh struggle for democracy’. The posters were pasted on behalf of Kalimela Regional Committee (KRC) of CPI-Maoist, a report said. Read less...

Three Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres identified as Manku Varda (25), Khunta Varda (23) and Tangru Padda (22) were arrested following an exchange of fire between Security Forces (SFs) and CPI-Maoist cadres from Alparas village under Koyalibeda Police Station in Kanker District on January 26, reports India Today. SFs recovered one muzzle loading gun, one Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] uniform, two detonators; two small boxes of gun powder, couple of crackers and other Maoist-related materials were recovered from the arrested CPI-Maoist cadres, said Police official. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leader identified as Digambar Poddar alias Prahlad, surrendered before Superintendent of Police (SP), Jagmohan Meena in Malkangiri District on January 27, reports Outlook India. SP, Meena said Digambar had joined the Maoists in 2013. "He surrendered before the Police after seeing immoral activities of some Maoist leaders. He said he saw one senior cadre raping women in the cut-off area at gun point. The leader had been assaulting and killing people at will," the SP said. Digambar left the party opposing these activities, the SP said adding that he will given a lump sum, financial assistance to purchase homestead land, funds to pursue studies and for vocational training. Digambar carried a reward of INR 100,000 on his head for his involvement in several crimes including murder. Read less...

Lohardaga Police recovered parts of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) bomb during a joint operation of the District Police Force and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Kerar area under Peshrar block in Lohardaga District, reports The Pioneer on January 30. Superintendent of Police (SP), Rajkumar Lakra said, “On January 27 the Police got information that a team of Naxal [Left Wing extremism (LWE)] organization is wandering near the areas of Peshrar, Chainpur and Kerar. After that a team was set up including Police Inspectors Vivek Kumar, RV Philip, Girish Prasad of 158 battalion CRPF Lohardaga, Gyan Ranjan Kumar Thana-in-charge Bagru thana and Jaiprakash Police-in-charge Peshrar picket.” SP, Lakra added the Police recovered electric line tester, automobile clock, battery, bolt, wires transistor, Naxal literature computerized printed and stainless steel box. The materials are to be used to build IED device. Read less...

Maoists set ablaze four trucks, two JCBs and a tractor of a construction camp at Bhupatiraopet in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District on January 27, reports Telangana Today. They also abducted two workers from one of the trucks but later released them. The Maoists left behind a letter saying their action was in protest against the illegal sand mining in the area. About 40 to 50 Maoists of the Odisha Special Zonal Committee, who had reportedly crossed over from Chhattisgarh, carried out the attacks after forming three teams. Following the attacks, Police sounded an alert in the area and launched combing operations. Read less...

Two cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), including one woman, were gunned down in an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli villages under Chintalnar Police Station limits in Sukma District January 27, reports NDTV. "A joint team of CoBRA (commando battalion for resolute action) 201st battalion - a CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) specialised unit, and local Police had launched the counter-insurgency operation in the jungles of Chintalnar, around 500 kilometres away from here (State Capital, Raipur)," Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhishek Meena said. The SFs were cordoning off the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli, when they came under fire from a group of armed Maoists leading to an exchange of fire, SP, Meena said. After the encounter, the SFs searched the area and recovered the body of two Maoists including one woman, along with two weapons, he said. The SFs also recovered some detonators and other material from the encounter site. The identities of the slain Maoists are yet to be ascertained Read less...

A joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and District Police arrested Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre identified as Lato alias Shanti Soren from her house at Mahengaro village under Khaira Police Station area in Jamui District on January 28, reports UNI. She was associated with ‘zonal commander ‘of CPI-Maoist, Sindhu Koda for the last three years. She had come to her residence on the occasion of a local festival. Police recovered Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] literature, a rucksack and other incriminating objects from her. Read less...

A team of highly trained 60 women commandos has been deployed by the CRPF to assist in the ongoing anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] operations being carried out in forest areas of the Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh, reports Zee News on Janury 28. Armed with automatic weapons, these women commandos will guard one of most dangerous patches in south Sukma where a road is being built from Dornapal to Jagardonga, reports said. The road where the women commandos have been deployed is about 56 kilometres and is under construction. Read less...

Four suspected Maoists attacked a Police constable in Nakulnar town of Dantewada District, reports The Hindu on January 28. Constable, Divykant Markam, working as a personal security guard of Chhattisgarh Congress leader Avdhesh Gautam, was attacked when he had gone to the local market along with other security guards of Gautam. The Maoists also snatched his AK-47 rifle and fled from the spot. The Congress leader was not present in Nakulnar when the incident took place. Read less...

One Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing at least eight kilograms was detected and defused by the 85 Battalion CRPF on Mahadev Ghati Bhopalpatnam road in Bijapur District on January 28, reports The Times of India. Read less...

The Centre is to allocate special yearly funds to 35 different Districts across seven States in India, including six Districts in Bihar that are worst affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), reports The Times of India on January 29. The funds would be allocated under Special Central Assistance (SCA) for three consecutive financial years starting from 2017-2018. Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, Muzaffarpur, Banka and Nawada Districts in Bihar would get funds under the scheme. Jharkhand has maximum number of 16 highly LWE-affected Districts while Chhattisgarh has eight, Odisha two and Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana one each to be covered under the scheme. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) would allocate INR 285.7 million to each of the 35 Districts annually for carrying out public-oriented development works on projects and proposals after getting them approved from UMHA. A letter was received on January 25, regarding formation of the approval committee headed by Special Secretary Rank Officer of MHA, who monitors Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) activities across India, said State Home Department official. The committee would approve District-level projects following which funds would be allocated for carrying out construction works. A District Level Committee (DLC) headed by District Magistrate(DM), Superintendent of Police (SP) and District Forest Officer(DFO) will come with proposals to be further looked into by a State Level Committee (SLC) headed by Chief Secretary. Finally, it will be submitted before UMHA’s committee for approval. Bihar will have to come up fast with development projects and proposals as under this scheme, if any District fails to pick up the annual fund, it will lapse and won't be adjusted in the next financial year. If officials of the six Bihar Districts show proper interest and act fast, the scenario in these Maoist-hit Districts will change, added State Home Department official. Read less...

The Chintur Sub-Division Police arrested Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) 1st Battalion courier, identified as Sanjith Mandal (37) at Pitchukalapadu T-Junction on Cherla–Bhadrachalam road near Yatapaka in the East Godavari agency area in East Godavari District on January 28, reports UNI. The CPI-Maoist courier was arrested while he was transporting kit material to Maoists on his motorcycle. The Police recovered six meters of Oilve green cloth, 50 meters of Rexene cloth, four wall posters with CPI-Maoist literature besides INR 68,000 was seized him, said Chintoor Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Dilip Kiran. Sanjith was attracted to Maoism since 2006 and helping CPI-Maoist by supplying needful items. Sanjith also purchased a bike with collected money and transporting essentials to CPI-Maoist on his bike. He purchased green cloth and rexene cloth at Vijayawada, adds The Hans India. Read less...

Five persons including two former Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, natives of Jharkhand were arrested by Bisra Police under Bisra Tehsil (revenue unit) in Sundergarh District on January 29, for allegedly running an extortion racket in the name of Maoists, reports Odisha TV. Two out of five arrested were earlier associated with CPI-Maoist, but later they had left the outfit. A pistol has been seized from their possession. All the accused had vandalised a construction camp and set ablaze a mixer machine at Kaliapos under Bisra Police limits after a failed extortion bid on January 23. Read less...

A joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)`s CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) of the CRPF Battalion and District Police arrested Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre identified as Sonali Soren from her residence at Sukul Bathan village under  Chakai Police Station area in Jamui District on January 30, reports UNI. She visited her residence in connection with a tribal festival. Sonali Soren was an active member of the CPI-Maoist women squad and she was absconding. The Police recovered Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] literature from her residence. Read less...

Chhattisgarh Police arrested four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres including a woman leader in separate incidents from Kondagaon and Bijapur Districts on January 30, reports UNI. In the first incident, Security Forces (SFs) arrested Balmati Korram (21), an active member of Amdai Local Operation Squad (LOS), who was associated in several cases of Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] violence and ambush on Police parties, during a search operation in Chitpani forest under Mardapal Police Station limit in Kondagaon District. She was carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on her head, announced by State Government, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhishek Pallav. In the second incident, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and District Force personnel arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres from Jangla forest from Bijapur District. All the three arrested cadres, whose identities are yet to be ascertained, were carrying a reward ranging from INR 3,000 to INR 10,000. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) Sabari Area Local Organising Squad (LOS) ‘commander’ Ubba Mohan alias Sunil surrendered to the Police in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District on January 30, reports The Hindu. According to Police, Mohan, an active armed cadre of the outfit and was involved in several incidents of Maoist violence along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, gave himself up before Bhadrachalam Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sunil Dutt in the temple town. He quit the armed struggle due to deteriorating health condition. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against three Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres for allegedly threatening a Police Officer at Vellamunda in Kerala in 2014 for conducting anti-Maoist operations on January 30, reports Business Standard. The accused CPI-Maoist cadres are identified as Kanya (34), a native of Mavinakere village in Chikkamagaluru District in Karnataka, and two absconders--Mahesh and Geetha of Raichur and Dakshina Kannada Districts of Karnataka. The accused have been charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections related to criminal conspiracy, sedition, provisions of the Arms Act and anti-terror law. Read less...

A three-member action team of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) killed Irpa Usendi, cousin to Divisional Committee Member (DVCM) and ‘commander’ of Perimili Local Guerilla Squad (LGS) Sainath, at a busy weekly market in Etapalli taluka (revenue unit) in Gadchiroli District on January 31, reports The Times of India. Usendi, who was one of the accused in the case of arson at the site of Surjagarh mining project of Llyods Mining and Energy Limited when 80 vehicles were set ablaze by the Maoists on December 30, 2016. The rebels had strewn pamphlets over the body in which they had labelled him as 'Police informer'. Usendi, along with another person identified as Raja Rajasthani, worked as labour contractors at the mining site. He was initially quizzed by the Police for his role in the arson but was not arrested. In February in 2017 Usendi was arrested carrying cash INR 400,000 in a vehicle during a joint checking of Police and Revenue Department prior to the elections. After Usendi failed to explain the source of the cash, he was booked for being a conduit between the mining company representatives and the Maoists. He was later released on bail. Usendi had been under scanner of the Security Forces (SFs) as a covert Maoist sympathizer as he had a habit of flaunting his connections to the top rebel leader. Read less...

Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured during an exchange of fire with Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Madhuban Police Station area in Giridih District on January 31, reports The Telegraph. A joint team of State Police and the CRPF were conducting search operations in Parasnath Hills on the outskirts of Mohanpur village, 40 kilometres from Giridih District Headquarters and 200 kilometres from State capital, Ranchi. Around 5.30am, Security Forces (SFs) spotted some CPI-Maoist cadres who opened fire as the team approached them, compelling SFs to retaliate. The encounter lasted for around 15 minutes, but the CPI-Maoist cadres managed to flee. Our preliminary inquiries suggest that Sunil Manjhi's squad was involved in it. Sunil is a Special Area Committee Member (SACM) of the CPI-Maoist. There are 20-25 members in his squad and they have reportedly taken shelter in Madhuban forest, said CRPF Deputy Commandant cum Public Relations Officer, Prakash Chandra Badal. One of the injured personnel was identified as CRPF constable, Veer Singh, while the identities of the other two Police officers are yet to be ascertained. Read less...