Maharashtra (Maoist Insurgency): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2017

A surrendered Naxalite [Left Wing Extremist (LWE) was allegedly killed by Communist party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Dhanora Tehsil (revenue unit) of Gadchiroli District, on January 5, reports India Today. The victim Sukhram Lalchu Wadde (35) was a member of Naxal militia, who had surrendered before the Police in July 2016, a senior Police official said. The Naxals attacked Sukhram at Kehakavi village and murdered him using an axe, he said. "The CPI-Maoist cadres were angry as Sukhram had turned himself in before the police," the official added. Further the officials said last week (December 29, 2016) three villagers were killed allegedly by Naxalites in Aheri and Korchi tehsils in Gadchiroli on the suspicion of they being ‘informers’. The victims were identified as Laccha Bande Madavi (36) resident of Rumalkasa, Patali Doge Atram (36), resident of Gurja, and Talwarsha Kunjram, resident of Korchi. Read less...

The ‘deputy commander’ of Kasansur Dalam (squad) Jyoti Gawade was killed by Gadchiroli District Police's C-60 Commandos at Boteyjhari and Badhgaon forest in Gadchiroli District on January 5, reportsThe Times of India. Jyoti is alleged to have led the arson attack at Surjagarh on December 23, 2016. 76 trucks, 3 JCBs and 1 motorcycle were burnt by the Naxals [Left Wing Extremists (LWEs)]. Shivaji Bodkhe, Inspector General (IG) of State Anti-Naxal Operations (ANO), said that Jyoti was trying to break through the Police cordon when she received bullet injuries in retaliatory fire. "Police have also seized Jyoti's .303 rifles," he added. On January 4, the Police had cornered Naxals at Nihalkai forest near Gyarapati from where two .12 bore rifles were seized. After intensifying the search operations, the Police spotted Jyoti's Dalam following which a battled ensued. Jyoti alias Sagobai Narsingh, was earlier ‘commander’ of Surjagarh Local Guerrilla Squad (LGS) which was later amalgamated with Kasansur Dalam.  Read less...

Two civilians, Ramesh Atala (27) and Manohar Atala (55) were killed by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Gadchiroli District on January 12, reports The Hindu. The Gadchiroli Police statement said that the Maoists shot the victims claiming they were ‘Police informers’. It added that the victims were farmers and provided food to Maoists and travelled with them to nearby villages. The Police claimed that CPI-Maoist fear their influence is reducing in the District as developmental work by the administration has earned the confidence of tribals. A section of the Police has claimed that the latest killing was carried out by Chatgaon Local Organization Squad (LOS) which is headed by ‘commander’ Yogesh, adds Times of India. Read less...

The C-60 Commandos and Special Police Forces (SPFs) operating in Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)]-affected Gadchiroli District will be getting state-of-the-art gadgets worth INR one billion to assist them in night combat operations, reports Mid Day on January 23. As the Government of India steps up operations in the naxal belt, Maharashtra is getting 40 anti-mine vehicles worth INR 12.5 million each, and 146 imported night-vision cameras and 76 thermal imagers, among others by February, 2017. “With only 15 outdated night vision cameras, which are seldom of any use, we were reduced to conducting night operations merely banking on ground experience, making the force vulnerable,” said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Special Operation), Bipin Bihari, who acknowledged that the number of exchanges have gone up in recent times. He said while earlier there would be four to five nighttime gunbattles a month, the frequency has gone up. While there were no casualties for the Security Forces, one Maoist was killed last week. Read less...

The tribal rights activists met District Collector (DC), ASR Naik, and demanded probe into exploitation of two women by C60 Commandos in Gadchiroli District on January 23, reports The Times of India. The delegation comprising Sainu Gota, Ramdas Jarate and others also claimed in their representation to the Collector that Police had been harassing tribals protesting mining projects across the District. The C60 Commandos comprise of 60 Police personnel to contain the Naxal Left Wing Extremism (LWE) menace and was constituted in the year 1992. They are imparted trainings in various types of guerrilla warfare. Read less...