In another success for security forces in Chhattisgarh, two armed cadres of the Maoist outfit have been killed following an exchange of fire with the forces in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, May 29, suggest reports.
According to the inputs received, the operation was launched after security forces received credible input linked to the presence of members of the Madded area committee of the outlawed CPI Maoist under Madded police station limits of Bijapur.
Upon reaching the spot, the security team, comprising personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) came across heavy firing by the Maoists near Bandepara forest area to which the team retaliated heavily, resulting in neutralisation of two Maoists.
One of the deceased cadre killed in the action has been identified as Manila Padam, she was carrying a reward of Rs8 lakh, the other Maoist killed in the action has been identified as Manglu Podiyam who was carrying a bounty of Rs1 lakh on his head.
The gunfight started around 11 in the morning on May 29 which lasted for hours, the forces after the exchange of fire have recovered arms, ammunition, Maoist literature along with the bodies of two Maoists from the spot.
Chhattisgarh | Encounter underway between Security Forces and naxals in the forest area under Madded PS limits, says SP Bijapur Jitendra Yadav
Details awaited.
— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2024
With this encounter, the tally of total Maoist gunned down in separate encounters this year in the state has reached to 118.
10 Maoist surrender in Dantewada
It must be noted that hours before the encounter at Bijapur as many as 10 Maoist cadres of the outlawed outfit have turned themselves and surrendered before the authorities in neighbouring Dantewada district.
Those who have surrendered are all residents of Maoist affected Orchha block of Narayanpur who have surrendered before police under the flagship “Lone Varatu Campign” (An appeal of homecoming in local Gondi dialect) being jointly undertaken by the police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Dantewada.
The campaign has turned out to be a success story for the security forces, under which a total of 815 Maoists, including 180 carrying a reward, have so far surrendered before the authorities in the Maoist affected district.
Most of the surrender cadres who bid a farewell to path of violence on Wednesday were associated with different frontal organisations of the outlawed CPI Maoists’ Rekhawaya RPC (Revolutionary People’s Committee). The surrendered cadres also include of two woman members of the banned outfit.
All of those who have parted ways with the Maoist outfit will be rehabilitated under the state government surrender and rehabilitation policy, which include providing immediate assistance of Rs25,000 to each of them.
Welcoming the development, Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Vijay Sharma while taking to the X said that “the process of surrender of those who have strayed towards Naxalism (Maoism) is continuing due to the policies of our government. Today 10 Maoists have surrendered.”
All of them are members of the banned Maoist outfit, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and its frontal organisations. They are welcomed in the mainstream of society, added Deputy CM Sharma.
Notably, the surrender on Wednesday follows arrest of a total of 15 Maoist cadres by a joint team of security forces in Dantewada itself.
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. Most of the arrested Maoists were residents of Bhairamgarh police station within the limits of Narayanpur district.
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 is worth mentioning that the security forces have been launching continuous operations against the outlaws in the hinterlands of Bastar and adjoining regions lately, which has led to exceptional success for them.
Other than the recent offensive of the forces, which has led to the neutralisation of 118 and arrest of around 400 Maoists in the last five months alone, the state government has also been appealing to the Maoists to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.
The development has occurred after the Vishnu Deo Sai led government, after assuming office, has time and again asserted that the state government, along with the centre, is committed to eradicating the Maoist menace from the state of Chhattisgarh in the next few years.
