In yet another success for the security forces grappling with the Maoist challenge in the latter’s stronghold of Bastar, as many as 15 Maoists, including 6 women cadres, were nabbed from Dantewada district on Tuesday, May 28.
According to the reports, the arrested cadres were all associated with frontal organisations of the outlawed CPI Maoists, who have been nabbed following a search operation by a joint team of security forces in the Girsapara area of Dantewada district.
The operation was launched following credible inputs received by the Dantewada police, after which a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, both units of the state police specialising in counter insurgency operations, was dispatched to the location leading to the arrest of the Maoists.
Those arrested were members of the Revolutionary People’s Committee (RPC), Jantana Sarkar, Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, Jan militia, Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangh, and Chetna Natya Mandali, all organisations associated with the outlawed CPI Maoist. All the arrested Maoists, barring one, are residents of Bhairamgarh police station within the limits of Narayanpur district.
The joint team during the operation has also reportedly recovered Improvised Explosive Device (IED), materials used in explosive making, uniforms, extremist literature, and other materials of daily use from the possession of the nabbed members of the outlawed outfit.
Hailing the bravery of the security forces, Chhattisagrh’s Chief Minister (CM) Vishnu Deo Sai said that “the security forces have displayed indomitable courage and arrested 15 Naxalites (Maoists) from the remote hills of Girsapara in Dantewada.”
“This is another step towards a Naxal-free Bastar. Our government is fighting strongly towards the goal of eliminating naxalism, and it will continue until it is eradicated,” added CM Sai in a post on social media platform X.
सुरक्षाबलों ने अदम्य साहस का परिचय देते हुए दंतेवाड़ा के गिरसापारा की दूरस्थ पहाड़ियों से 15 नक्सलियों को गिरफ्तार किया है। नक्सलमुक्त बस्तर की दिशा में यह एक और कदम है।
नक्सलवाद के खात्मे के लक्ष्य को लेकर हमारी सरकार मजबूती से लड़ाई लड़ रही है, जो उसके खात्मे तक जारी रहेगी।
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) May 28, 2024
It must be noted that the development has taken place on the heels of the state government’s announcement that it is mulling over a new surrender and rehabilitation policy for the Maoists. Recently, the Deputy CM of the state, Vijay Sharma, has remarked that the state government is willing to learn from the Maoists themselves about the surrender and rehabilitation policy, as there is no point roaming around in the forests with a gun, be it the Maoists or the security forces.
"कोशिश करने वालों की कभी हार नहीं होती"
पुनर्वास नीति अच्छी होगी जिससे बस्तर का विकास होगा#bastar #chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/87E4qwMrRY— Vijay sharma (@vijaysharmacg) May 23, 2024
“We would like to know from the Naxalite themselves, what they want in the surrender policy, there is no point roaming around in the forest with a gun. Move into mainstream, adopt democracy, said Sharma, while asserting that the government has released a mail ID, a Google form, and a handwritten form for suggestions on the surrender policy.
It is noteworthy that of late, the security forces have tightened their hold on the Maoist outfit in Chhattisgarh, leading to the neutralisation of as many as 116 Maoists and arresting around 400 of them in separate operations across the state in this year alone. Moreover, around 400 Maoist cadres have also turned themselves and surrendered before the forces in the state in the last five months alone.
