Chhattisgarh Police warns of Naxal attack in Bijapur

The alert says that the outlawed CPI(Maoist) could target security forces at a restive patch on Jagdalpur-Bijapur National Highway No.16

An alert has been issued by Chhattisgarh Police's intelligence wing about possible Naxal attacks in Bijapur district as the cadres are upset over their reducing manpower and losing safe dens in Bastar region.

The alert, issued by Special Intelligence Branch of state police to Bijapur Superintendent of Police KL Dhruv on November 3, says that the outlawed CPI(Maoist) could target security forces at a restive patch on Jagdalpur-Bijapur National Highway No.16 in the district.

As per inputs, frequent movement of large group of ultras was being witnessed in the interior forests and villages on both sides of the National Highway.

"Amid inputs of possible insurgent strike on the 45 kms stretch from Bhairamgarh to Bijapur on Jagdalpur-Bijapur route, security personnel have been put on high alert in the region, located around 400 kms from state capital," a senior police official involved in anti-Naxal operations told PTI.

"Combing operations have been intensified and every suspicious activity is under the scanner," he said.

"Road construction is underway on this route between Matwada and Bhairamgarh where regular patrolling is being conducted by district police and Central Reserve Police Force to ensure security to resources engaged in the work. Besides, convoy of police forces and VIPs also frequently pass through this region. Maoists may ambush security personnel between Matwada and Bhairamgarh," the alert noted.

The advisory also emphasised on the analysis of inputs accessed recently from the restive Jangla, Bhairamgarh and Nesalnar police station limits to thwart the evil design of the banned outfit's cadres, who are upset over the surrender and arrests of a significant number of rebels in the past five months, the police official said.

As many as 330 Naxals, including hardcore guerrilla commanders and lower rung cadres, have surrendered and around 350 have been arrested so far this year in the state, as per statistics provided by the police department.