A significant operation by the security forces on the interstate border between Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra resulted in the neutralisation of 10 Maoists, including three female cadres of the banned Maoist outfit. On Tuesday, April 30, as many as 16 Maoists surrendered before the forces in the Bijapur district.
Those who have surrendered before the authorities include People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) battalion number one member, Arun Kadti who was carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh on his head. Kadti was reportedly involved in the Tekalgudem attack carried out by the outlaws in January this year.
The other Maoist carrying a reward has been identified as Ramesh alias Munna Hemla, who was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh along with Chetna Natya mandali (CNM) commander Sudaru Punem and Payki Karam both carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each.
Those who have laid down their arms were fed up with the hollow ideology of the Maoist and their ill treatment in the group which inspired them to part ways with the extremist and join the mainstream. The surrendered cadres have been provided with immediate financial assistance of Rs 25000 each and will be provided with all the benefits under the State government surrender and rehabilitation policy.
Briefing the media about the development, ASP Naxal Ops, Vaibhab Banker said that the district police along with security forces have been running anti-Naxal operations and with the collective efforts of forces and the police, as many as 16 Maoist have surrendered before the police.
Those who have surrendered were facing discrimination and exploitation in the Maoist outfit, they were fed up with the Maoist hollow political ideology, added ASP.
Surrender tally in April rose to 83
It must be noted that with the surrender of 16 Maoist on Wednesday, the overall surrender tally of the Maoist in the month of April stands at 83.
Earlier in back-to-back similar developments, a total of 67 Maoists also joined the mainstream by shunning the path of violence in Dantewada.
Most of these surrender have taken place under the flagship ‘Lone Varatu’ Scheme, under which a total of 784 Maoists, including of 177 carrying a reward, have so far surrendered before the authorities.
10 Maoists including DVC member killed in Abujhmaad, 40 killed in April
Significantly, a total of 10 Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire between the security forces and the cadres of outlawed CPI Maoist near Tekmeta forest of Narayanpur district in the wee hours of Tuesday, April 30
According to the details, a joint team of security forces comprising personnel from District Reserve Guards (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was dispatched towards the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border in the late hours of April 29. The operation was launched following credible inputs of presence of top Maoist cadres.
The gunfight took place in the Abujhmaad region, a bastion of the outlaws since long, The region is surrounded by dense forests which also provide a safe passage for the ultras towards the Gadchiroli of Mahrashtra.
नारायणपुर जिले के अबूझमाड़ में सुरक्षाबलों को बड़ी कामयाबी मिलने की सूचना है। अब तक दस नक्सलियों के मारे जाने की खबर है।
निश्चित ही सुरक्षाबलों को यह बड़ी सफलता प्राप्त हुई है। उनके हौसले और बहादुरी को सलाम करता हूं।
नक्सलवाद के खिलाफ हमारी सरकार मजबूती से लड़ाई लड़ रही है,…
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) April 30, 2024
Those among killed in the action includes of Divisional Committee Members Joganna and Vinay alias Ashok while the identity of others killed in the encounter is being ascertained. The forces after the marathon operation which lasted for around 9 hours have also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the spot. The recovery includes of sophisticated weapons like AK-47, Insas rifles along with explosives materials, computer and life saving drugs.
90 Maoist neutralised since January
The operation in Tekmeta has occurred a day after security forces in a separate encounter gunned down a male cadre of the Maoist outfit following an exchange of fire in the Satlong area under Kistaram police station limits of Sukma on April 28.
Significantly, as many as 29 Maoists were also killed after a fierce encounter occurred between the security forces and the outlaws near the Binnagunda forest area of Chotebethiya police station limits of Kanker, on April 16 of this month.
It is worth mentioning here that the security forces in Chhattisgarh have tightened the grip on the outlaws in the past few months, leading to neutralisation of more than 90 Maoist in the last four months alone.
