After more than a decade and a half, the security forces in Chhattisgarh have established two forward operating bases (FOB) near Jagargunda in the insurgency-hit Sukma in Chhattisgarh.
As per the reports, FOBs were established in Kunder and Bedre, which connects Jagargunda to Basaguda via Silger; this significant development has paved the way for transportation between Bijapur and Dantewada via Jagargunda, which had been closed for transportation since 2006.
Terming this as a remarkable milestone in the fight against Left Wing Extremism, a CRPF press release read that the new camps would facilitate the security forces to conduct focused operations against the Maoist in the territories they consider their bastion.
The establishment of FOB is extremely significant as it is situated on the Jagargunda-Silger-Basaguda Axis; it will also restore connectivity on the commercial route once famous for trade from Jagargunda, the tamarind market of India till the emergence of the Maoist menace in 2006, read the statement further.
It further read that Jagargunda used to be the trading hub for tamarind and other forest products. It witnessed steady movements of traders from neighbouring states, including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
It should be noted that the tamarind market was severely affected after the emergence of Left Wing Extremists in the region in 2006 when the Maoist halted the transportation between Silger and Jagargunda by digging the road at various locations.
It was considered a prohibited zone for the forces owing to a heavy concentration of the armed cadres of the proscribed CPI Maoist in the region; the Maoist also used to move freely through the area, and they were using the road to bring their supplies from western Bastar to the South.
Though when the Central Government gave the nod to establish forward operating bases in the Maoist-affected regions, the 165th battalion of CRPF swung into action to complete the mammoth task; the CRPF first established its FOB in Kunder after which another base was opened up in Bedre within a month only.
The establishment of the bases will be of immense help for the authorities to carry out uninterrupted development works as adequate security arrangements can be provided to the authorities at their disposal. It will further restore the trades used to be carried out in the region, together it can create a positive impact on the lives of the citizens in the area, said an official familiar with the development.
It should be noted that under the supervision of the Central Government, the security forces are conducting wide-scale operations against the communist terrorists in the Maoist-affected regions of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, forcing the latter to retreat from their thresholds; this has paved the way to the forces to establish more forward operating bases in the areas once considered as the Maoists bastions.
Notably, more than two dozens FOB has been already set up in the Maoist-affected region of the country in the last two years alone, resulting in the collapse of the Maoist organisational structure in the surrounding villages; it further also damaged the intel network and ration supplies of the Ultras as the presence of the forces in the vicinity has made it difficult to the Maoists to instil fear in the villagers.
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