Page 3 - Naxalites

Security forces recover over 2.5 tonnes of explosives looted by Maoists

Security forces on Monday recovered over 2.5 tonnes of explosive materials looted by Maoists in Odisha's Sundergarh district, a senior police officer said. The security personnel of the state's Special Operation Group (SOG), CRPF, Jharkhand's elite Jaguar force and Sundergarh's District Voluntary Force (DVF) during a joint operation in Odisha-Jharkhand border, recovered more than 2.5 tonnes of explosives which was looted by Maoists from K Balang area of Sundergarh district on May 27, the officer told PTI over phone. "While some of the explosives were buried under the earth, others could be located from underneath rocks," the officer engaged in the operation said, adding that the search operation was continuing since May 28, a day after the Maoists looted the explosives when they were being transported to a stone quarry for blasting purpose. Though the officer refused to disclose the exact location of the explosive recovery in the jungle, he said the place was part of the Saranda ..

16 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh, Kerlapenda becomes Maoist-free

Sixteen Naxalites, including six carrying a collective cash reward of Rs 25 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday, police said. Of them, nine cadres belonged to Kerlapenda village panchayat under Chintalanar police station limits. With this surrender, the village has become Naxalite-free, making it eligible for development projects of Rs 1 crore as per a new scheme of the state government, an official said. All 16 cadres, including a woman, turned themselves in before senior police and CRPF officials, here citing disappointment with the "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and atrocities by ultras on local tribals, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said. The cadres were also impressed by the Chhattisgarh government's 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) scheme, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages, and the state's new surrender and rehabilitation policy, he said. Among those who surrendered, Rita alias Dodi Sukki (36), a wom

Security forces engage in encounter with Naxalites in J'khand's Jhariakela

Explosives and other daily-use items were recovered and seized by the security forces during the search operation

Basavaraju, other slain Naxalites, carried bounty of Rs 3.33 cr: Police

The 27 Naxalites, including 12 women, killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district were dreaded cadres carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 3.33 crore in the state, an official has said. In one of the biggest strikes on Naxalites, security forces gunned down Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), and 26 other cadres during an encounter in the forested Abhujmad along Bijapur-Narayanpur inter-district border on Wednesday. Two jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of the state police also lost their lives during the operation. Of the killed cadres, one was identified on Wednesday as Basavaraju (70), who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore in Chhattisgarh. The identities of the remaining were established on Thursday, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P told PTI. The operation involving personnel of DRG from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon districts

For the first time, 17 Naxal-hit villages in Chhattisgarh get electricity

Seventeen villages nestled among nearly inaccessible mountains and dense forests in Naxal-hit Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh have got electricity from the supply grid for the first time, officials said on Friday. About 540 families will benefit from the electrification, which has been done at Rs 3 crore under the Mukhyamantri Majratola Vidyutikaran Yojana, they said. Due to the difficult terrain, reaching these areas was extremely challenging amid the Naxalite threat. Providing the electricity supply through the grid was no less than a mission in these villages, said an official statement. The villages had access to solar power to light up bulbs, but faced maintenance issues. In many villages, solar panels got stolen, forcing children to study under kerosene lamps, said officials. Celebrations broke out in the villages Katuljhora, Kattapar, Bodra, Bukmarka, Sambalpur, Gattegahan, Pugda, Amakodo, Petemeta, Tatekasa, Kundalkal, Raimanhora, Nainguda, Metatodke,

DRG jawan injured in IED blast during anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh

A District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan was injured on Saturday when a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district where a massive operation against Maoists was underway for the last six days. The operation involving about 10,000 security personnel in a hilly region Karreguta, Durgamgutta and Pujarikanker along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border was launched on Monday, a senior official said. A DRG jawan sustained a minor injury when a pressure IED exploded this morning, he said. "The injured jawan was administered treatment at a camp of security forces and his condition was stated to be out of danger. He would be in a position for active duty very soon," the official said. Another jawan belonging to the Special Task Force (STF) had sustained a minor sprain on ankle due to impact of an IED blast on April 24 morning during the operation, he said, adding that his condition was normal and he has recovered. Talking to ...

Three Naxalites killed in encounter near Chhattisgarh-Telangana border

Three Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border on Thursday, police said. The gunfight took place at a forest in Karegutta hills in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district along the inter-state border in the morning when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal operation, a senior police official said. So far, bodies of three Naxalites have been recovered from the encounter site, and several other Maoists are also suspected to have been killed in the fierce gun battle, he said. The operation, one of biggest counter-insurgency actions launched in Bastar region, involved around 10,000 security personnel belonging to different units, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), all units of the state police, as well as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA), he said. The Telangana police were also assisting in the ...

8 Naxals killed in encounter with security forces in Jharkhand's Bokaro

Eight Naxals were killed in an encounter with CoBRA commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police in Bokaro district of Jharkhand on Monday morning, officials said. The exchange of fire started around 5.30 am in Lugu Hills of Lalpania area of the district, they said. The troops of 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) conducted the operation in which eight Naxals were killed and an AK series rifle, three INSAS rifles, a self-loading rifle (SLR), eight country-made guns and a pistol were seized, the officials said. No injuries have been reported among the security personnel, they said. The CoBRA is the special jungle warfare unit of the CRPF.

22 Naxalites surrender before security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma

At least 22 Naxalites, 12 of them carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 40.5 lakh, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Friday, police said. The cadres, including nine women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the police and Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), citing disappointment with "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and atrocities on local tribals, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said. The official said they were also impressed by the state government's 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) scheme, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages, and the new surrender and rehabilitation policy. The surrendered Naxalites were active in the Maad (Chhattisgarh) and Nuapada (Odisha) divisions of Maoists, he said. Chavan said the surrendered cadres included Muchaki Joga (33), deputy commander in PLGA (people's liberation guerrilla army) company no. 1 under Maad division of Maoists, and his wife Muchaki Jogi (28

2 Naxals carrying ₹13 Lakh bounty killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh

Two hardcore Naxalites, carrying a collective bounty of Rs 13 lakh, have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, police said on Wednesday. The gunfight took place on Tuesday evening in a forest of Kilam-Bargum villages along the border of Kondagaon and Narayanpur districts when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said. Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, both units of the state police, from Kondagaon were involved in the operation, he said. So far, bodies of two Naxalites along with one AK-47 rifle and other weapons and explosives have been recovered from the spot, he said, adding the search operation was underway in the area. The killed Naxalites have been identified as Haldar, a dreaded Maoist commander and member of the east Bastar division of Maoists, and Rame, an area committee member, the official ...

Battle against Naxals in final phase, says Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday said the battle against the red rebels is in its last phase in the state. Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar paid floral tributes to the mortal remains of jawan, Sunil Dhan, who lost his life in an IED blast in West Singhbhum district on the previous day. A wreath-laying ceremony was held in honour of the slain jawan at Jharkhand Jaguar headquarters in Ranchi. Speaking to reporters, Soren said, "The battle against Naxals is in its last phase. During the anti-naxal operation, we lost several of our jawans. Due to them, we are moving towards a successful operation." He asserted that the jawan's sacrifice will not go in vain and the operation against Naxals will reach its final destination. Gangwar said, "It was an unfortunate incident. The state government is continuously working to minimise such incidents. The government will take care of the martyred's family." The Jharkhand Jaguar constable Sunil Dhan and CRPF jawan Vishnu Sa

Naxal issue now confined to 6 districts, down from 12, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the Naxal issue is now confined to just six districts in the country, from the earlier 12. Shah said the Modi government is building a 'Sashakt, Surakshit and Samriddh Bharat' with a ruthless approach to Naxalism and relentless efforts for all-pervasive development. He said Bharat is determined to uproot Naxalism for good by March 31, 2026. "Taking a giant stride towards building a Naxal-free Bharat, today our nation achieved a new milestone by significantly reducing the number of districts most affected by left-wing extremism to just 6 from 12," Shah posted on microblogging site X. As per the Union home ministry data, Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts are those where Naxal activities and violence still continue. The LWE-affected districts have been further sub-categorised as 'most-affected districts', a terminology brought in in 2015, and 'districts of concern', which was coined by the home ministry in 2021. There were 12

Naxal surrenders double in first qtr of 2025, CRPF intelligence gets active

Surrenders by Naxalites in the first quarter of 2025 have more than doubled from the comparative period last year, with the CRPF activating its intelligence wing to persuade these cadres to lay down arms in the toughest battle zone of Chhattisgarh. A directive issued by the paramilitary force to its snooping operations unit has assigned the task of "identifying" members of the 'Jan militia' and Revolutionary People's Committees (RPC) as well as their supporters, with the goal of "re-shaping" the CPI (Maoist) perceptions towards mainstream ideals. It also asked the intelligence wing personnel to "engage with the denizen, encouraging them to play a role in persuading CPI (Maoist) cadres to surrender and renegade their ideology and integrate into mainstream society" in view of the Union government's declaration of eradicating Left Wing Extremism (LWE) from the country by March, 2026. An official data of Naxal surrenders in Chhattisgarh has been accessed by PTI which shows that while 12

'Will end naxalism in given time': Chhattisgarh dy CM after Sukma encounter

Following the encounter, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao reiterated the government's commitment to eradicating armed Naxalism

17 Naxalites killed, 4 jawans injured in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Sukma

The latest gunfight broke out around 8 am in the forest under the Kerlapal police station area, where a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation

Jawan injured, hospitalised in Chhattisgarh IED blast, search ops underway

Earlier last week, two security personnel were evacuated after an improvised explosive device (IED) blast set off by Naxals in the Abujhmad area of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district

Over 325 Naxalites killed in one-and-a-half months: Chhattisgarh CM

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday said over 325 Naxalites have been killed and more than 2,000 of them have either been arrested or surrendered in one-and-half months in the state. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister was here for an investors' meet. "An image has been created that the entire Chhattisgarh is infested with Naxalism, which is not true. A small region of Chhattisgarh, which is Bastar, has the Naxal problem and rest of the state is free from the menace, Sai claimed. "Our one-year-old government and our security forces are fighting against Naxal menace bravely and we feel that in just one-and-half months over 325 Naxalites have been eliminated and over 2,000 Naxalites have either been arrested or have surrendered, Sai told reporters here. "We are confident that Naxal menace will be eradicated very soon," he added. The Chief Minister said the state has formulated a favourable rehabilitation package for those who surrender. Further, a scheme has also be

Chhattisgarh's anti-Naxal plan: Land, aid to victims, surrendered Naxalites

Land to civilian victims of Maoist violence and increased compensation for the kin of those killed while assisting in anti-Naxalite operations are part of the new comprehensive surrender and victim rehabilitation policy recently cleared by the Chhattisgarh cabinet, an official said on Saturday. The 'Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025' aims at providing higher compensation, free education, healthcare facilities and job opportunities to victims of Naxal violence. Also, surrendered Naxalites will receive rehabilitation and legal support to start a new life, the official said. The primary objective of the new policy is to support those affected by Naxal violence and reintegrate surrendered Naxalites into society. The government believes that a balance between strict action and rehabilitation is essential to eliminate Naxalism, the official added. Compensation given in the case of death of 'gopniya sainik' (police informers) specially assisting ...

31 Naxalites, 2 cops killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

Twelve Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Sunday, police said. Two security personnel were also killed and as many others injured in the face-off, they said. With this incident, 62 Naxalites have been gunned down by security forces in separate encounters in the state so far this year. The latest gunfight took place at a forest in Indravati National Park area in the morning when a joint team of personnel from different security forces was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said. Bodies of 12 Naxalites have been recovered so far following the encounter, he said. A huge cache of weapons and explosives has also been seized from the site, the official said. Two security personnel, one belonging to the state police's District Reserve Guard and the other from the Special Task Force, were also killed in the gunfight and two others suffered injuries, he said. The two injur

Naxalite camp destroyed, eight killed, arms recovered in Bijapur encounter

Earlier in the day, a gunfight broke out around 8:30 am in the forest area under Gangaloor police station, where eight Naxalites were killed during an encounter with security forces