Representational image depicting stronghold of Maoists in circles marked in yellow
Raipur: A day after the security forces dealt a major blow to the banned CPI (Maoist) in south Bastar area, a hardcore Maoist couple carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 10 lakh surrendered before the police in Kawardha district.
Ramesh alias Messa and his wife Roshani alias Hidme, both residents of Puvarti, a village known for being home to notorious Maoist leader Madavi Hidma surrendered before the authorities in Kawardha on Friday, January 18. The surrendered couple were inspired by the rehabilitation policy of the state, informed the police.
Both Ramesh and Roshani were associated with the Bodla Area Committee of the Maoists and were tasked with spreading the footprint of the organisation in the area. Roshani was a member of platoon no 03, while Ramesh was reportedly active as a deputy commander in the same unit.
The development arrived on the heels of security forces nabbing another hardcore Maoist in Chotebethiya of Kanker on Friday. The arrested cadre was identified as Motiram alias Rakesh Udendi.
Usendi was nabbed during a joint operation launched by the personnel of Border Security Force and District Reserve Guard, a unit of the state police. He was active as platoon commander and carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh.
Earlier four hardcore Maoists had also surrendered before the police in Narayanpur on January 15. Those surrendered were identified as Gandhi Tati alias Arab alias Kamlesh, Hemlal Korram alias mainu, Ranjit Lekami alias Arjun and his wife Kajal alias Kosi, all carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh each.
Those who joined the mainstream later revealed that they were disappointed with the hollow ideology of the extremists and exploitation of local tribals. Significantly more than 800 Maoist cadres surrendered before the police in the violence-hit state in the last one year alone.
Around two thousand personnel from separate units of CRPF, its elite jungle warfare unit CoBRA and specialised counter-insurgency units of Chhattisgarh police launched a major operation in the south Bastar area, a core insurgency zone on January 16.
A gunfight broke out between the joint team of security forces and the Maoists on Thursday morning at around 9 am. Intermittent firing at the site lasted till late evening, resulting in significant damage to the Maoist side.
Bodies of 12 Maoists including 5 women cadres were later recovered from the spot. A large cache of arms and ammunition were also seized. The operation was launched on receiving intel about presence of large number of Maoists belonging to PLGA battalion no 1.
An extensive search operation in the area further led to unearthing of an underground tunnel which was being used by the Maoists for storing explosive materials, equipment used in producing country-made weapons and bombs.
The place was being used to manufacture country-made guns while glass bottles and other materials were reportedly being used for the purpose of bomb making.
Leave a Comment