In a big success for the security forces in the war against Left Wing Extremism, as many as nine active Maoist cadres from Maoist-affected regions of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have been apprehended by the security forces in two different operations in the last 24 hours, suggests reports.
In the first incident, it’s been learnt that acting on a specific intel, the Latehar police have arrested as many as six active cadres of the Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Samiti (TSPC), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) from the tri-junction of Donki-Hesaru-Barwahi at around 10.30 pm on May 28.
As per the reports, the Latehar SP Anjani Anjan had got some secret intel about the presence of the Maoist cadres in the Donki trijunction region under the Herhanj police station limits of the district, following which a police team was immediately rushed to the location, after arriving on the spot the police team cordoned off the area and later arrested as many as six ultras with arms and ammunition.
Upon enquiring, it’s been revealed that all of the nabbed Maoist cadres are active members of the proscribed TSPC outfit. It’s been reported that the police team has also recovered a country-made pistol, a three-not three-bolt rifle, along with six rounds of live cartridges from the possession of the accused. It’s been learnt that the Maoist ultras were assembled there to carry out a major incident in the region.
Earlier in a similar operation, the Khunti police had arrested two active cadres of the banned Maoist outfit People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), another splinter group of CPI Maoist, on May 25. The arrested cadres were identified as Lalit Kharwar and Shiv Narayan Singh; the police team had also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the accused.
Three Maoist held in Chhattisgarh
In another significant development on the Maoist front, as many as three cadres of the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) were arrested by the security forces in the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on May 29. The arrested cadres have been identified as Jan Militia member Madkam Deva, DAKMS member Madkam Jodna and RPC member Soyam Joga.
All of the arrested accused are members of the small action team (SAT) of CPI Maoist who were doing the recce of the police party in Sunnmugada under Konta police station limits of Sukma district when a joint team of district police and DRG (District Reserve Guard) nabbed them, suggest sources.
During the initial investigation, it’s been revealed that the Maoist apprehended by the joint team were part of a number of cases pertaining to loot, arson and planting IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). It’s been reported that the police team has also recovered pipe bombs and sharpened weapons from the possession of the accused.
Briefing the media on the development, ASP Sukma Gaurav Mandala said that the arrested Maoist had barged into the area to do a recce of the police on the orders of Maoist commander Deva of the Konta Area Committee of the proscribed Maoist outfit. Upon arresting them, it was revealed that all of them were involved in different Maoist incidents in the region. They are being sent to judicial custody after completion of the legal procedure.
It is to be noted that the security forces have been continuously running combing operations in the Maoist-affected regions of the State, and earlier, in a search operation, a joint team of district police and the Border security forces (BSF) had also arrested a female Maoist commander after a brief exchange of fire between the forces and the ultras in Upranjhur village of Kanker district on, May 27 night.
The encounter took place on May 27 night when the joint team was out on a combing operation and passing through the Urpanjhur forest area where the Maoist opened up indiscrimatory fire upon the forces.
In the retaliatory attempt by the forces, a female Maoist commander identified as Fagni Podiyami was shot in the leg and was later apprehended by the joint team, while two personnel of the security forces also sustained minor injuries in the gunfight. It was reported that the joint team also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the spot.
The injured female Maoist commander was later rushed to the nearby healthcare facilities after being provided with initial treatment on the spot. She was active in the Rajnandgaon Kanker Border division of the Maoist outfit, and the State Government already announced a reward of Rs one lakh.
