Maoist Insurgency: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2021

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre - Prakash Singh Bhokta (45) and his wife - Premani Devi (30), were beaten to death allegedly by local villagers on January 2, after the Maoist shot dead a villager, identified as Vinod Singh (40), over a land dispute in Palamu District of Jharkhand, reports New Indian Express. “After Vinod Singh was shot dead by Maoist Prakash Singh Bhokta, angry family members and relatives snatched his weapon and beat him to death with batons and other traditional weapons,” said Palamu SP Sanjeev Kumar, adding that when his wife Premani Devi intervened, she was also attacked and killed. Read less...

A suspected cadre of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Guddu Singh, was arrested from Kosamba, around 48 kilometres from Surat city in Surat District of Gujarat on January 2, reports Times of India. Guddu Singh, who was living in Kosamba for the past 10 years, was wanted in Jharkhand for several offences. He was arrested in a joint operation by Jharkhand Police and local forces.Guddu was staying with his family and had changed his identity to avoid being arrested, said Police adding that he is wanted in six cases, including murder, kidnapping and attempt to murder, offences related to the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act, all dating back to 2011 and 2013. Read less...

According to a January 2, 2021 report by Orissapost, even though the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) bastion in Odisha is gradually tumbling down due tointensive operations against the rebels by Odisha Police along with other Security Forces (SFs) for the lastfew years, the use of sophisticated weapons by the rebels is a major concern. The Left-Wing Extremists (LWEs) are failing to regain their foothold in many parts of the Stateowing to several factors including better coordination among the SFsand stiff resistance from the gullible tribals.However, the recovery of some advanced weapons from the Maoist hideouts has emerged amajor cause of concern for the SFs. According to data revealed by Odisha Police, in 2020, the Police recovered 61 ImprovisedExplosive Devices (IEDs) and 60 guns. As many as 26 sophisticated guns including LMG – 1,AK-47– 1, INSAS – 8, SLR – 7, Sten – 3,Carbin – 1, 303 – 3, 9mm – 2 and CM – 34 from the Maoists which is highest till now. Read less...

According to Police, around 100 cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) from Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra have sneaked into Madhya Pradesh over the past few months to expand their base, reports NDTV on January 3. This has prompted the State government to seek deployment of six companies of Paramilitary Forces in the rebel-hit areas of the State. These Security Forces (SFs) are likely to be deployed soon in Balaghat and tribal-dominated Mandla Districts, where the Maoists have entered. Read less...

Police arrested two cadres of Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), a splinter group ofCommunist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) including a woman along with levy and other documents in Latehar District of Jharkhand on January 2, reports United News of India. The duo was identified as Kamlesh Yadav and Priyanka Devi alias Sushma Devi, wifeof TSPC ‘commander’ Rakesh Ganjhu. A sum of INR 24,300 collected as a levy, bank passbook, ATM card, Naxal[Left Wing Extremist, LWE] literature,notebook, branded watch and Nepali Currency have been recovered from their possession. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Somlu Kashyap (40), wanted for attacks on Security Forces (SFs) was arrested from a forest near Kokodipara village under Mirtoor Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 3, reports The Pioneer. Kashyap headed the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangthan (DAKMS), a frontal wing of the Maoists, and was involved in six incidents including the killing of two SFs near Cherli village in 2017 and an Assistant Constable in 2018. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Punem Binda (48), carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, was arrested from Marudbaka village under Usoor Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 3, reports The Pioneer. Binda was head of the ‘Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangthan (DAKMS)’, a front outfit of CPI-Maoist, and was involved in six incidents between 2006 and 2018 including attacks on Police teams, kidnapping of civilians, loot and damage to public property. Read less...

Four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including a ‘senior leader’and three ‘militia members’ surrendered in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh on January 4, reports The Hindu. They have been identified as - Korra Seetha alias Swarna alias Shallu (25), Pangi Musirialias Chittibabu (36),Korra Venkata Rao (37) and Pangi Gopal Rao alias Gopal (55). Among them, Swarna was the senior leader and ‘area committee member’ (ACM) of Maoist’s ‘Pedabayalu Area Committee’. She was involved in nine murder cases, one landmine blast, six exchanges of fire, two ambushes, one arson, one famine raid and one praja court (Kangaroo court).Whereas one of the three militia members’ - Chittibabu was the ‘commander’ of the armed militia of the party in the area. He was involved in over seven offences, including burning of earthmoving equipment and destroying government properties. Read less...

Two sympathisers of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Madakam Kesa and Karatam Srinu,were arrested from R. Kothagudem village at Cherla Mandal(administrative sub-division) in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana on January 4, reports United News of India. The duo was arrested when they were taking uniform clothes and medicines to theMaoists.They were working as Maoist’s ‘village committee members’ for the past two years and were engaged in supplying essential commodities, organising meetings and keeping awatch on Police movement. Read less...

A joint team of Security Forces (SFs) comprising District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action(CoBRA) neutralised a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) camp in the forests of Itwar-Lendravillage in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 5, reports The Pioneer. The SFs recovered a cache of arms and ammunition including a rifle, a wireless set, a detonator, a tiffin bomb, Maoist uniform, a bag, crackers, items of daily use materials and banned literature from the camp. Read less...

An exchange of fire took place between the Security Forces (SFs) and Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres at a forested area of Hirmagunda village under Gangaloor Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 5, reports Outlook. A joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) and the District Force was out on an anti-Naxal[Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation in the area when a group of armed rebels opened fire, prompting the SFs to retaliate. While no casualties were reported in the gun-battle, the SFs recovered a single-barrel muzzle loading (SBML) gun, a couple of bows and arrows and a cache of materials of daily use from the spot. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed a civilian, identified as Vinod Madavi (25), on suspicion of being a ‘Police informer’at Kothi Tola village in Bhamragad tehsil(revenue unit) in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra on January 5, reports The Pioneer. The cadres barged into Vinod’s house and forcibly took him away to a forested area and hacked him to death. Read less...

14 Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres surrendered before Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials at Kirandul Police Station in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 7, reports The Times of India. They were disappointed with the ‘hollow Maoist ideology’ and were encouraged by the ‘Lon Varratu’ (return to your home) campaign of the District Police. Among the surrendered cadres, Baman Midiami (35), ‘head’ of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (DAKMS) – a Maoist front, and ‘militia commander’ Raju Midiami (30) were carrying rewards of INR 100,000 each on their heads, while others were active lower-rung cadres. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) neutralized a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) camp following an exchange of fire near Lengerimunda village at Chakapad area in Kandhamal District of Odisha on January 7, reports The New Indian Express. An anti-Maoist operation was launched by a joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Volunteer Force (DVF) near the said village. While combing operation was underway, the rebels resorted to heavy firing and hurled grenades.The SFs retaliated following which the Maoists escaped taking advantage of the dense forest cover. While no casualty was reported from either side in the incident, the SFs recovered a detonator, two hand grenades, country-made guns, two magazines, haversacks, black uniforms, medicines, clothes and utensils from the camp. Read less...

Chaibasa Police has arrested two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres from Sasangsal under Goeilkera Police Station area in WestSinghbhum District of Jharkhand on January 9, reports UNI.Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Nathu Singh Meena, said that boththe arrested were involved in executing blast at the building of theforest department located in Barkela. Further they were also wanted inplanting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)and other incidents.The arrested have been identified as Sinu Angaria and JagusinghAngaria. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered a landmine allegedly planted by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) to target the SFs in Handikhal forest under Chitrakonda block in Malkangiri District of Odisha, reports Sambad on January 10.Acting on a tip-off, Border Security Forces (BSF)troopers had initiated a search operation in the area, later, a landmine weighing five kilograms kept inside a drum was spotted by the SFs. This apart, Maoist uniforms, articles, and walkie-talkie set were also seized from the spot. Later on, a Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) defused the landmine. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) recovered gunpowder, nails, glass, wire and other explosive-making materials from a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) hideout in Bharnoli forest at ArjuniMorgaon tehsil(revenue unit) in Gondia District of Maharashtra on January 10, reports Outlook. The operation was carried out by a joint team of local Police, C-60 commandos and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) personnel. “We have recovered a container of 10 kilograms capacity, iron nails, glass, wire, black gunpowder etc. A case has been registered with Keshori police station and further probe is on,” Additional Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni said. Read less...

Two cadres of People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Sirka Topno (31) and Prabhu Sahay Purty (32), were arrested by Security Forces (SFs) at Lowahatu forest areas underTaibo Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on January 10, reports The Avenue Mail. SFs recovered a country-made gun, a bike, a battery charger, wireless set, 10 mobiles and Maoist literature and other items from their possession. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 11 filed a supplementary chargesheet before a Special Court in Ranchi District of Jharkhand against four accused persons in aCommunist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) extortion case (RC-21/2018/NIA/DLI), says NIA. The accused are - Manoj Kumar alias Manoj Kumar Yadav (arrested), Krishna Da alias Krishna Hansda (absconding), Sunil Manjhi alias Sunil Murmu (arrested) and Manoj Kumar Choudhary (arrested), all residents of GiridihDistrict inJharkhand.On January 22, 2018, after collection of levy amount, accused Manoj Kumar, while he was en-route to deliver the extorted funds to the cadres of CPI-Maoist, was arrested by State Police and levy amount of INR 600,000 along with other incriminating documents were recovered from his possession.The NIA took over the investigation of the case on July 21, 2018. In a statement, the NIA said, “Investigation has established that arrested accused Manoj Kumar Yadav, was working as an associate/Over Ground Worker (OGW) of the CPI-Maoist, and was the conduit between the contractors and the banned organization.Investigation also revealed that arrested accused Sunil Manjhi, Regional Committee Member of CPI-Maoist, and absconding accused Krishna Da, Regional Committee Member and Secretary, North Chotanagpur Zone of CPI-Maoist were involved in raising funds by collecting levy through extortion for commission of terrorist activities by way of attacking Security Forces, damaging public and private property, disrupting public peace and killing innocent people.It was further established during investigation that Manoj Kumar Choudhary was also CPI-Maoist cadre who used to collect the levy amounts and hand over the same to the other senior members of the proscribed organisation.” Read less...

Three cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Alam Bamo (24), ‘deputy commander’ of the action team, Modiam Sundar (27), a member of the action team squad, and Madkam Motu (28), a member of the supply team,surrendered before Security Forces (SFs) in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 12, reports Hindustan Times.The cadres were active in ‘Basaguda-Jagargunda area committee’ of Maoists, and were allegedly involved in several attacks on SFsas well as on civilians in the District. They turned themselves, citing disappointment with the ‘hollow’ Maoist ideology and atrocities committed by senior cadres of the CPI-Maoist. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘commander’, identified as Hidma Muchaki, carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on his head was killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in a forest between Chikpal and Marjum villages in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 13, reports The Pioneer. The gunfight broke out when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) was on an anti-Naxal[Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation in the area.After the exchange of fire, the body of the slain Maoist was recovered along with a 9 mm pistol from the spot. Muchakiwas an active member of the ‘Katekalyan Area Committee’ of Maoists and was involved in several incidents. Read less...

The cadres of People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist),put up a poster warning ‘Police informers’ and businessmen of dire consequences if they pass on information about the group to Police or refuse to oblige the demands of PLFI at Gudri Bazar in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand on January 13, reports The Pioneer. The poster urged the local masses to unite against ‘oppressive forces’ and threatened industrialists to face the PLFI’s wrath if they continue to exploit the poor class. Through the poster, the PLFI also asked Police ‘not to conduct fake encounters and refrain from targeting innocent villagers.’ Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed a former Sarpanch (head of the Panchayat, village level local self-Government institution), identified as Mainu Ram Salam (47) after accusing him of being a ‘Police informer’ in Pardoni village under Manpur Police Station limits in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh on January 14, reports The Times of India. About 25 armed Maoists barged into his house in the said village, dragged him out and brutally assaulted him to death. Police later recovered his body dumped on the outskirts of the village along with Maoist pamphlets which accused the deceased of being a ‘Police informer’. Read less...

Police recovered as many as 100 booby traps (iron spikes fixed to a wooden plank), planted by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, during combing operations in the forests of Telangana-Chhattisgarh borders on January 15, reports Telangana Today. The booby traps were planted in around 78 pits dug at a distance of one kilometer in the north-west direction of Pusuguppa village under Cherla Police Station limits in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Saybo alias Ranu, carrying a cash reward of INR 800,000 on his head was killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in a forested area between Kutru and Ketulnar under Kutur Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 16, reports The Pioneer. A joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Police launched a combing operation in the said area. On seeing the SFs, Maoists opened fire resulting in a gun-battle in which the Maoist was killed. Ranu was a‘commander’ of the Maoists’ Farsegarh Action Squad and ‘Deputy Commander’ of Farsegarh LOS (Local Operating Squad). Pistol rounds, arrow bombs and daily use items were recovered from the spot. Read less...

A woman identified as Sanjho Devi, was killed while another woman identified as Phoolmani Devi,was injured in a landmine explosion triggered by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Gotang forest in Latehar District of Jharkhand on January 16, reports The New Indian Express. The Maoists also fired indiscriminately after triggering the explosion.According to Police, the landmine was exploded when a group of women had gone into the forest to fetch fire-wood.When Security Forces (SFs) reached the spot after being informed about the incident, a gun-battle took place with the Maoists, following which the rebels escaped into the dense forests. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres shot dead a civilian, identified as Parmeshwar Sahu, on suspicion of being a ‘Police informer’ in a weekly market of Piri village in Chatra District of Jharkhand on January 17, reports The Telegraph. Around five to six armed Maoists entered the market along NH-100 in Piri and shot Parmeshwar from point blank range and escaped in the neighboring forest area chanting slogans that warned ‘Police informers’ of dire consequences. Read less...

Eight Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres including a woman, surrendered before Security Forces (SFs) in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 18, reports The Pioneer. The Maoists laid down their arms under the ‘Lon Varratu’ (Return to your home/village) campaign of the District Police. Of the eight, Suresh Oyami (20) was active as a member of Platoon No 13 under ‘Bhairamgarh Area Committee’ of the Maoists and carried a reward of INR 200,000 on his head. Three others – Jogi Madvi (19), Pradip alias Pandru Kovasi (20) and Sule Kawasi (35), carried rewards of INR 100,000 each. The other four (identity not reported) were part of CPI-Maoist’s lower hierarchy. “All of them were involved in attacks on police teams, planting explosives and damaging government property, including railway tracks, and killings of civilians in Dantewada and Bijapur Districts,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Pallava said. Read less...

Police arrested two women Maoists, identified as Korsa Mase alias Shanti (24) and Sunita Karam (20) in separate incidents in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 18, reports Outlook.While Shanti was arrested from her native place Padeda under Gangaloor Police Station limits, Sunita was arrested from Cherla road under Pamed Police Station limits in the District. Shanti, a member of company no.1 of the ‘Mad division’ of Maoists and carrying a reward of INR 800,000 on her head, was allegedly involved in several Maoist incidents, including attacks on Police and damaging public property. Sunita was the ‘head’ of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangathan (DAKMS) – a frontal wing of Maoists and carried a reward of INR 100,000 on her head. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre was killed in an exchange of fire between Security Forces (SFs) and Maoists in a forested area under Tarrem Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 19, reports NDTV. While the Maoist was shot dead by the SFs, a District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel was injured after he invertedly stepped on an Improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the rebels during the operation. “Multiple gunfights took place between SFs and Maoists in the forests under the said Police Station around 450 kilometers away from capital Raipur. The team included personnel from DRG, Special Task Force (STF), Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and District Force,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sundarraj P said adding that “following one of the encounters, the body of a Maoist was found from the spot while DRG assistant constable Jogeshwar Paikra suffered injuries in an IED blast.” The SFs also recovered a 12 bore gun, uniforms, IED, Maoist literature, etc. from the site. The identity of the slain Maoist is yet to be ascertained. Read less...

A powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing 30 kilograms planted by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres was recovered in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 20, reports Outlook. During a de-mining exercise, a team from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recovered the explosive which was packed in a big plastic container, planted beneath the dirt track, on the under-construction Aranpur-Nilawaya Road under Aranpur Police Station limits in the District. The IED was safely defused later by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS). Read less...

Police arrested two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, identified as Sodi Kosa Mooda and Podium Moodaalu, along with explosive materials from Mulugu District of Telangana on January 22, reports Telangana Today. The duo worked as members of Dandakaranya Aadivaasi Kissan Mazdoor Sangham (DKAKMS) of CPI-Maoist in the District. After receiving reliable information about the movement of the Maoists, a team of Security Forces (SFs) launched a combing operation. “While conducting combing operation, they have found some members armed with fire arms and deadly weapons like knifes, bows and arrows who were planting explosives with the intension to kill the Police party. On seeing the SFs, they tried to escape. However, two of them were caught along with some explosive material,” said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gaush Alam. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 21 arrested a person, identified as Vijith Vijayan (27), from Kalpetta in Wayanad District of Kerala in connection with the ‘Pantheerankavu Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) case’ (RC-04/2019/NIA/KOC) dated December 18, 2019, reports ANI. In the said case, two youths, Allen Shuhaib and Thwaha Fasal were arrested by Kerala Police on November 1, 2019 for allegedly holding a secretive Maoist meeting outside a petty shop in Pantheerankavu, Kozhikode in Kerala. NIA took over the investigation in December 2019 and later filed a charge sheet in the case. Read less...

Two imposters of People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as – Balram Munda and Babulal Urao, were arrested by Police for putting up PLFI banners in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand on January 21, reports The New Indian Express. On the night of January 12, the duo had put up banners of the PLFI in three separate places under Lohardaga Police Station limits to threaten businessmen and contractors of the area and to collect money from them. Read less...

Two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, identified as Kawasi Masa (30) and Muchaki Budhra (30) were arrested following an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in a forest between Dhanikortha and Kormagondi villages in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on January 22, reports Outlook. When a patrolling team comprising District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was cordoning off the forest it came under fire by the Maoists. After a brief exchange of fire, two cadres were arrested while others managed to escape taking advantage of the dense forest. A 5-kg tiffin bomb, five detonators, a Maoist uniform and other materials were recovered from the possession of the two arrested cadres. Read less...

On January 24, a Deputy Sarpanch (head of the Panchayat, village level local self-Government institution), identified as Bajaram Korram, was killed by Maoists in Kermapal village in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh, reports Hindustan Times. Around a dozen Maoists reached the village, strangled him to death and fled into the forests. Read less...

Police personnel recently removed more than 100 booby traps (iron spikes fixed to a wooden plank), planted by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres from 78 locations in the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border areas, reports The New Indian Express on January 25. For the past few months, Maoists are trying to extend their activities to Bhadrachalam and Manuguru divisions. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘militia members’, along with explosive materials from Kurnapalli forest area in Cherla Mandal (administrative sub-division) in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana on January 24, reports Telangana Today. Circle Inspector (CI) B. Ashok stated that a search team comprising Cherla Police, Special Party personnel and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s 141 Battalion spotted three persons moving suspiciously in the forests. The SFs chased them and took two persons into custody while the third one ran away. The arrested persons were identified as – Kovasi Bhimaiah of Dokupadu in Chhattisgarh and Sodi Deepak of Burugupadu, in Charla Mandal. Both were serving as couriers for CPI-Maoist for the past three years besides being the ‘militia members’ of Cherla Area Committee. Read less...

Suspected Maoists killed a contractor, identified as Dharmendra Garg, near Koter village in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 25, reports Hindustan Times. Read less...

24 cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) surrendered before Security Forces (SFs) in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 26, reports Hindustan Times. Among them, 12 were women cadres, including three, carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on their heads. The cadres were fed-up with the ‘hollow Maoist ideology’ and surrendered themselves under the ‘Lon Varratu’ (local Gondi dialect meaning - ‘Return Home’) scheme, of the District Police. “Total 24 Maoist cadres have surrendered on the Republic Day and most of them were lower-ranked cadres of the CPI-Maoist. Some important cadres include, Aaytu Muchaki (31), head of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (DAKMS), Baman Denga Sodhi (40) and Kamli Madkam (32), who were carrying a reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads,” said the Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhishek Pallava. Read less...

Two villagers identified as – Ramsay Gadve (30) and Inder Sai Mandavi (75), were abducted and later killed by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres on suspicion of being ‘Police informers’ at the Kohka Police Station limits in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh on January 26, reports The News Indian Express. Ramsay was picked up by the Maoists later found dead in the Merapani area in the District. The second victim, Mandavi was beaten to death. Earlier, the Maoists had thrown pamphlets to exert their ideology in the area and said that many of the villagers are their informers. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Nazir Munda (28) was arrested by Police at Chandni Chowk on Kharsawan-Kuchai road in Seraikela Kharsawan District of Jharkhand on January 27, reports The Telegraph. Nazir was arrested while on his way to put up posters for the CPI-Maoist in Adityapur and Gamharia localities in the District. “The content in the posters that Nazir was carrying were written against the farm law and those posters were supposed to be fixed along the Tata-Kandra Road in Adityapur and Gamharia,” said Police officials adding that the Police also recovered over a dozen posters from his possession. Read less...

A constable of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), identified as Somdu Ram Poyam alias Mallesh, was hacked to death with sharp weapons by the cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Kotrapal village under Jangla Police Station limits in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on January 28, reports The Pioneer. The Maoists also set his body on fire after assaulting and hacking him to death. Poyam was a surrendered Maoist, who had joined the DRG after giving up arms in 2014. He had gone to meet his relatives in the village where the Maoists killed him brutally in front of his family. Read less...

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel on January 28 said that the Naxals (Left Wing Extremists, LWEs) are on backfoot in the State, reports Outlook. The CM was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting of the ‘unified command’ – which comprises State and Central officials to review the security situation and development works in Naxal-affected areas of the State. He said that the three-pronged strategy of "trust, development and security" in the State has helped in pushing Naxals on defensive. Read less...

Maoist abducted three villagers, identified as - Rauta Majhi, Gobinda Majhi and Debendra Majhi, on suspicion of being ‘Police informers’ from Gumu village under Belghar Police Station limits in Kandhamal District of Odisha on January 29, reports Hindustan Times. The Maoists brutally assaulted Gobinda Majhi, however, they released him along with Rauta Majhi on the following day, while the whereabouts of Debendra Majhi remain untraced. Read less...

Sixteen Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, two of them carrying cash rewards on their heads, surrendered to the Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 30, reports The Pioneer. The lower rung cadres who were active in Bacheli and Kirandul areas and surrendered in Kirandul town citing they were impressed by the rehabilitation of their former colleagues, Dantewada, Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhishek Pallava said. With this, 288 Naxalites [Left Wing Extremists, LWEs] have so far given up violence in the district under the 'Lon Varratu' (Return to your home) campaign, launched in June last year, Pallava said. Of the 16, Madkam Hurra (28), a Maoist ‘militia commander’, and Hunga Barsa (35), head of the local unit of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangathan (DAKMS), carried rewards of INR 100,000 each on their heads, Pallava added. 14 among the surrendered belonged to Madakamiras village. All the 16 were given immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 and will get facilities further as per the government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, the officer said. Read less...

A Police constable was killed and a civilian injured in a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) attack in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on January 30, reports The Pioneer. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar, Sundarraj P said, the attack occurred when the constable identified as Suklu Dugga was in Partappur village weekly market’s Murga Bazar at Sariyapara locality. In the attack, a villager, Murga Ram Tandi, also received a bullet injury in his hand. Read less...

An ambulance driver, identified as Jairam Usendi (35), was killed by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres on suspicion of being a ‘Police informer’ in Tekanar village in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh on January 30, reports The Pioneer. The incident took place when Usendi went to a local market in the village along with his brother. A group of armed Maoists surrounded them and attacked Usendi with sticks and sharp-edged weapons. Usendi died on the spot, while his brother managed to escape into a nearby forest. The rebels accused Usendi of acting as a ‘Police informer’ before killing him. Read less...

Suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed two persons accusing them of being ‘police informers’ under Belaghara Police Station limits in Kandhamal District of Odisha on January 30, reports The Hindu. Bodies of two villagers identified as Bhabani Shankar Patra, son of the Bhandarangi Sarpanch (head of the Panchayat, village level local self-Government institution), and Hemanta Patra of Gochaguda village in Tumudibandha block (administrative sub-division) in Kandhamal were found at different places. Reportedly, the Maoists belonging to ‘Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagabali (BGN) Division’ in a handwritten note left behind, stated that the two were among those who had tipped off Security Forces (SFs) about the presence of extremists in Belghar area of Kandhamal. In September 2020, five Maoists were killed in an encounter at Sikri village in the District. In the handwritten note, the Maoists warned other ‘informers’ to surrender before their ‘Jan Adalat’ (People’s/ Kangaroo Court organized by the Maoists) within 15 days or else, they will be sentenced to death. And the State Government, Director General of Police (DGP), Abhay, and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Intelligence, RK Sharma would be held responsible for the loss of lives, the handwritten note further read. Read less...

A suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in Nunkhari forest under Mathili Police Station limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha on January 31, reports Outlook. The exchange of fire took place when personnel of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) of the Odisha Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) were carrying out a joint anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremist, LWE] operation in the said forest. The Maoists opened fire at the SF personnel and in ensued gun-battle the Maoist was killed. A country-made gun, a pistol and huge quantities of ammunition, explosives and other articles were recovered from the area. The slain Maoist’s identity is yet to be ascertained. Read less...

At least 15 cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) set ablaze vehicles including a truck and two tractors of a road construction company at a place connecting Devarbaili to Malkuan village in Balaghat District of Madhya Pradesh on January 31, reports Hindustan Times. The vehicles were engaged in the construction of a road in Lanji area in the District under Road Connectivity Plan in Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWE) - a central government scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). Read less...