Authorities ban traditional weapons of tribals in Naxal areas

Narayanpur district Superintendent of Police Mayank Srivastava issued orders prohibiting carrying of weapons by people especially 'tangia' (axe) in public places after a constable was hacked to death by Naxalites in the 'haat' (market), official sources said.

The sources said that Naxals have been on the run from these forests after a joint operation by CRPF and local police.

The step has irked some of the political parties who have decried it as trampling on rights of the tribals.

However, senior police officials said that the tribals coming to the market could always deposit their weapons at a nearby police post and carry it along after their return to their villages located within the dense jungles.

Naxals have been having a tough time ever since CRPF under the command of the then Chhattisgarh Inspector General (Operation) Pankaj Singh led an operation of clearing the dense forests.

The penetration of the Abujmadh forest was the biggest success for counter Naxal forces which led to eviction of the Maoists from the heartland of their strong holds in the unmapped jungles of Chhattisgarh.

This area, which was not accessed by security forces for long and had no maps or photographs so far which could facilitate launching of operations, has been successfully penetrated by the CRPF.

The number of militants who have been killed or apprehended, however, is minimal, as the Naxals schose to flee the area rather than give a fight.