Gadchiroli: In a significant development, security forces have apprehended five Maoists including a DVC member during a joint operation of the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), said police on May 20.
The operation was launched after the police received intel related to presence of 50-60 Maoists near Binagunda village under the Bhamragarh subdivision on May 18. A joint team of C-60 commandos, an elite unit of the police and CRPF was subsequently dispatched to locate and engage with the extremists.
The joint team surrounded the Binagunda village on May 19 and found individuals carrying firearms in uniforms and plain cloths. In view of civilians’ presence in the village, the joint team exercised restraint and successfully managed to apprehend five Maoists. The rest of the extremists however succeeded in evading arrest, taking advantage of the dense forests.
Three of the arrested Maoists were identified as Unni Hoyam alias Sumli, Pallavi Kesa alias Bandi and Deve Podiyam alias Sabita. They were holding ranks of divisional committee member, area committee member and platoon commander. Hoyam was said to be carrying a reward of Rs 16 lakhs.
Two of the arrested cadres were found to be minors with police verifying their age. They have been reportedly produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. The arrested Maoists were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 36 lakhs on their heads.
#Gadchiroli | अनेक हिंसक कारवायांमधे सहभागी असलेल्या ५ महिला नक्षलवाद्यांना पोलीस आणि केंद्रीय राखीव दलाच्या जवानांनी #गडचिरोली इथून ताब्यात घेतलं. त्यांच्याकडून ३ एसएलआर रायफल, एक ३०३ रायफल, दोन भरमार बंदुका जप्त करण्यात आल्या आहेत.@InfoGadchiroli @SP_GADCHIROLI pic.twitter.com/3d638MxJf6
— AIR News Mumbai, आकाशवाणी मुंबई (@airnews_mumbai) May 20, 2025
The security team during the operation also seized an automatic self-loading (SLR) rifle along with a .303 rifle from the spot. The team further seized two muzzleloaders, three single shot rifles, walkie-talkies and other daily use materials from the possession of the arrested Maoists.
Security forces have intensified counter-insurgency operations in Gadchiroli district bordering the state of Chhattisgarh with over 100 Maoists apprehended in the last two and half years. This comes amidst a notable number of Maoist commanders laying down weapon before the authorities in the contemporary period, highlighting the augmenting grip of security forces in the Maoist-affected areas of the district, once dominated by the extremists.
