Security forces in two separate operations have managed to arrest four active cadres of proscribed CPI-Maoist in the Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on March 12; as per the reports, a Maoist with a reward along with three others have been arrested from Tondamarka and Pilmed of Sukma respectively.
In the first incident, a joint team of District Force and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of CRPF and the Special Task Force (STF) launched a combing operation from the Tondmarka camp to Elmagonda on March 12. It’s been reported that when the team reached the forest of Tondmarka village forest area, they saw three suspicious men; the joint squad then arrested all of them after initial interrogation.
All of the arrested men have confessed to being active cadres of the outlawed CPI-Maoists; they have been identified as Platoon Commander Jan Militia unit Barsi Deva (35), Sodhi Bheema (24) and Podiyam Deva (35), all residents of Sakler under Kistaram police station limits of Maoist-hit Sukma.
All of them were part of the deadly Kasaalpada attack on the security forces in 2014, where as many as 14 personnel lost their lives; it’s been learnt that a bounty of Rs 1 lakh has already been placed on Barse’s head.
In another operation, a joint CRPF and District police on March 12, have arrested another cadre of the outlawed CPI-Maoist near Pidmel Camp under Chintagufa police station limits.
The development occurred when the joint team was out on a regular area domination exercise from Pidmel camp, where they arrested an active cadre of the banned outfit; the accused has been identified as Podiyam Mukka alias Mukesh, a resident of Chintagufa police station of Sukma.
Mukesh was involved in planting an IED in Chintagufa region in 2022, for which a case was pending against him; it’s been learnt that he was produced before the district court on March 13, from where he has been sent to jail.
7 Maoists surrenders in Balrampur
In another Maoist-related development in the State, seven cadres, including three women Maoists of the outlawed CPI-Maoist, surrendered before the forces in Balrampur on March 11.
All of the surrendered Maoists were part of the banned outfit till December 2022, two of the women cadres among them have been identified as Aasha alias Fulwanti (21), and Saraswati alias Amrita (20), both residents of Pundang village under Samri police station of Balrampur while the third female Maoist has been identified as Kanti Korwa (18) a resident of Latehar in Jharkhand.
The surrendered male members have been identified as Nandu Korwa (28), Gudwa Korwa (30), Lakshman Nageshiya (35) and Sunny Birjia (18), all residents of Samri police station of Balrampur.
Briefing media on the development, SP Balrampur, Mohit Garg said, “All surrendered persons have already been provided an immediate help of Rs 3000 each, soon they will also be provided an aid of Rs 10000 each as per the State’s surrender and rehabilitation policy.”
One female Maoist who has surrendered with a five-month-old baby informed us that his husband, who is still in the Maoist organisation, is too willing to surrender. We have admitted the child to the district hospital and looked after him as he was not so well, added SP Garg.
It’s been reported that all of the surrendered Maoists are well trained in arms, and we’ve been part of the local attack unit for many years; sharing his ordeal, one of the Maoist said that we had been trying for the surrender for a long but were fearful for the consequences and it was only when the security forces set up a new camp in the Pudang village of Samri in September last year that we decided to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream for a safe future.
As many as 19 new security camps have already been set up in the State since last year alone; the development occurred after the Union Government gave the nod to pace up the offensive against the left-wing terror in the mineral-rich State.
