Security forces in Chhattisgarh arrested a Maoist couple from the outskirts of the Porompodiya forest area in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on March 2 after a short gunfight between the forces and the ultras.
According to the information received, Chhattisgarh police had some input about the presence of 20-25 Maoist planning to attack the Manikapaal camp under Garidas police station limits in Sukma.
Acting on the tip-off, a joint team of District Reserve Guards (DRG) and the CRPF were sent on a combing operation in the wee hours of March; it’s been reported that when the joint team reached the Porompadiya forest area, the ultras opened up indiscriminately fire upon them to which the forces retaliated heavily.
It’s been learnt that after a short gunfight that lasted for 20-25 minutes, the Maoist fled the spot, following which the forces conducted an extensive search in the vicinity of the spot; it was during the search that the couple was arrested who was hiding behind a rock nearby.
During the initial investigation, the couple confessed that they were part of the outlawed CPI Maoist; a semi-automatic SLR rifle, a shotgun, Maoist banners and other explosives were also seized from them.
The arrested male member has been identified as Muchaki Hidma, deputy military commander of battalion no 24 of the proscribed CPI Maoists; Muchaki, a resident of Dumunnpara Pusgunna, had joined the outfit in 2015 as a CNM member, he was promoted to the ranks of deputy commander in 2018 and was currently working as PPCM member.
Muchaki was involved in several attacks on the security forces, including the 2015 IEd blast in Cholnar in which seven security personnel were martyred; he was also involved in the 2018 Kirundal attack in Dantewada, a reward of Rs 8 lakhs has already been placed on his head by the State Government, confirmed an official of the security forces.
The arrested women cadre has been identified as Kunjam Kosi; she joined the Maoist outfit in 2013 as a Bal Sangham member and is currently working as a member of battalion no 31 of the Kanger Ghati area committee of the banned CPI Maoists; she has been named in numerous Maoist related incidents of small scale and has been carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakhs on her head.
The couple also provided some crucial information about the group they were part of, following which search operations are being planned, reported sources.
Maoists, along with sympathisers arrested in Telangana
In other news, a joint team of Telangana police and CRPF have managed to arrest two active cadres of the CPI Maoist along with their companion in the Paidigudem forest area adjoining the Chhattisgarh border on March 3.
According to the information received, a joint team of CRPF and Dummugudem police was out on a combing operation in the Paidigudem area. The team noticed a few suspicious men; after the initial enquiry, they all were arrested by the team.
The arrested Maoists have been identified as Sodi Bandhu and Sodi Kame, both residents of Kamaram under Kistatram police station limits of Sukma; it’s been learnt that both of them are part of the Pamed Dalam of the banned CPI-M and have infiltrated the area to plant Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Their acquaintance has been identified as Sodi Chanti.
The joint team has also recovered codex wire (20 and 50 m) gelatin sticks, four detonators and solar batteries from the accused’s possession.
