Chhattisgarh: Maoists wreak havoc in Sukma, torch vehicles including passenger bus in Asirguda

Hours before the nationwide shutdown call given, the Maoists wreak havoc at a number of places in Maoist-affected Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra on Wednesday, December 20. According to the reports, the extremists set ablaze as many as three vehicles stationed at National Highway (NH) 30 in Jagargunda region of insurgency-hit Sukma on late Wednesday night.

A passenger bus en-route to Telangana along with two others vehicles were set ablaze by armed cadres of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Aasirguda region under the Konta police station limits of Sukma, reported sources. It’s been learnt that the driver of the bus was also thrashed during the terror unleashed by the Maoist.

The extremists also targeted vehicles belonging to a local Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subhash Chaturvedi and also obstructed transportation on NH 63 near Belchar, where they obstructed the route by cutting trees and pasting pamphlets and posters.

It’s been learnt that a pickup van was also torched by the ultras near Kamarguda of Maoist-affected Jagargunda of Sukma. While similar incidents of vehicles torching have also been reported from Maoist infested Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra as well. However, no confirmation has been made by the police in this regard.

It is to be noted that the Maoist have given a call of a nationwide shutdown on 22nd of this month against the security forces continuous counter-insurgency operation being launched in Jharkhand for past two years. The ultras in the southern part of the Chhattisgarh are also observing a resilience week between 16th to 22nd of this month.

Maoist arrested in Kanker

In other news a hardcore Maoist who has been associated with one of the offshoot of the outlawed Maoist outfit for over a decade was nabbed by the security forces in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday.

The said accused has been arrested from the Maoist affected Koylibeda police station of Antagarh. It’s been learnt that the accused was active in the Jantana government (A parallel government run by the extremist in the region dominated by them) of the extremist for more than 10 years and was also carrying a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on his head.

Counter-insurgency drive against the Maoist

It is worth mentioning here that the security forces have launched a major offensive against the extremists after the newly elected Chief Minister instructed the security officials to act against the growing incidents of Maoist violence in the State.

The development occurred after the Maoist in recent days have been continuously carrying out acts of violence since the newly government assumed office on 13th of this month.

Earlier an encounter broke out between the security forces and the Maoist in Kotapalli area of Sukma on Wednesday following which a Maoist camp being operational in the region was also destroyed by the forces. It’s been learnt that as many as five to six cadres of the banned outfit reportedly sustained bullet injuries in the attack.