Police seek to gain control in Bastar as Naxal unit weakens

Maoist commander of DVC unit was killed in an encounter last month

With a key Maoist unit in Bastar region of 

The Darbha Division Committee (DVC) of Maoists, which has spread its wings in some parts of Bastar, Dantewada and Sukma districts of the state, is of late facing growing discontent among its leaders.

In a big blow to the unit, its prominent military commander Sonadhar was killed in an encounter with Odisha police last month.

"We are keeping a close eye on every development within the outfit and have stepped up our operations in the area to weaken their (Maoist) control in the region,"a senior police official told PTI.

Darbha, a small village in Bastar district on National Highway-30, and the Darbha DVC both came into focus when on May 25, 2013 the rebels executed its biggest attack on political class killing at least 31 people, including PCC chief Nandkumar Patel and other senior party leaders in an ambush on Congress' Parivartan rally convoy in Jhiram valleyof Darbha.

The Darbha DVC is said to be one of the strongest among six divisions under Dandakarnya Special Zonal Committee of Maoists controlling Naxal activities in South Chhattisgarh and bordering area of neighbouring states - Telangana, Odisha and Maharashtra.

Three area committees of Maoists - Kanger Ghati in Bastar district, Katekalyan (Sukma) and Malangir (Dantewada) - collectively form the self-styled Darbha DVC which has fanned its wings in Darbha, located 350 kms from the state capital.

All the three area committees had executed the Jhiram valley ambush and Sonadhar, the secretary of Kanger Ghati area committee, had played an instrumental role in the attack, the police official said.

The ultras also executed another major attack near Darbha in March last year, killing15 security personnel and a civilian near Tahakwada village where again Sonadhar played a major role.

Darbha area is close to Odisha border. It is easier for Maoists to carry out an attack in Bastar and then move to Odisha safely, he said.