Bastar: Security forces in Chhattisgarh have dealt a major blow to the Communist Party of India (Maoist) by recovering multiple hidden arms dumps containing sophisticated weapons, explosives, electronic equipment, gold, cash and other logistical supplies during separate anti-Naxal operations in the Bastar region. The recoveries, made in Dantewada and Kanker districts, were based on intelligence provided by surrendered Maoists and are being viewed as a significant setback to the insurgent group’s operational network in south Bastar.
The most significant recovery was made in Dantewada district, where police and security forces unearthed several underground Maoist caches concealed in the dense forests and hilly terrain of Todma village under the Barsur police station limits. In a separate operation, a joint team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) recovered another Maoist dump near the Kanker-Narayanpur border under Koylibeda police station.
Police officials said the twin recoveries underscore the growing cooperation of surrendered Maoists with security agencies and highlight the weakening of Maoist infrastructure in Bastar.
Intelligence from Surrendered Maoists Leads to Major Breakthrough
The Dantewada operation was launched after recently surrendered Maoist cadres provided precise information about the locations of underground weapon dumps hidden inside the forests. Acting on the intelligence, joint teams of police and security personnel carried out an extensive search operation in the forested and mountainous terrain surrounding Todma village.
🟦*प्रेस विज्ञप्ति*
🟦*कार्यालय पुलिस अधीक्षक*
🟦*जिला दक्षिण बस्तर दंतेवाड़ा*
🟦*दिनांक 12.07.2026*🔵*दंतेवाड़ा पुलिस और सुरक्षा बलों को मिली बड़ी कामयाबी*
🔵 *आत्मसमर्पित माओवादियों की निशानदेही पर थाना बारसूर क्षेत्र के तोड़मा गांव के जंगल पहाड़ से हथियारों, विस्फोटकों,… pic.twitter.com/umDUDpjMQi
— Dantewada Police (@dantewadapolice) July 12, 2026
Officials said the Maoists had buried the weapons, explosives and logistical supplies at multiple locations beneath the ground to avoid detection and to ensure uninterrupted access during future attacks on security forces. The hidden caches were intended to sustain Maoist activities in the region and facilitate ambushes against police and central armed police forces.
The anti-Naxal operation was conducted under the guidance of Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Badri Narayan Meena, CRPF Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Rakesh Choudhary and Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai. The operation was supervised by Additional Superintendent of Police Ram Kumar Barman and Additional Superintendent of Police (Naxal Operations) Jitendra Kumar Khoonte.
Gold, Cash and Weapons Worth Rs 18 Lakh Recovered
Among the valuables recovered during the operation were 116 grams of gold bullion valued at approximately Rs 16 lakh and Rs 2 lakh in cash, taking the total estimated value of the seizure to nearly Rs 18 lakh.
Police believe the cash and gold formed part of the Maoists’ financial reserves, intended to fund operational activities, procure supplies and maintain their underground network.
Security personnel also recovered a substantial cache of firearms and ammunition, including one INSAS assault rifle with 16 magazines, four AK-47 magazines, along with 68 live cartridges, and 23 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) magazines accompanied by 34 rounds.
#WATCH | Dantewada, Chhattisgarh: Security forces recover arms, explosives, cash and gold worth around Rs 18 lakh during an anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.
Acting on inputs, a search operation in the forests of Todma village under Barsur police station… pic.twitter.com/PfQInl1Odg
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2026
The haul further included five 12-bore guns with seven cartridges, three Barrel Grenade Launchers (BGLs) and one BGL shell, two carbine magazines, eight .303 rifle cartridges, 45 .303 chargers, and six 8 mm cartridges.
In addition, the search teams recovered 10 damaged country-made muzzle-loading firearms, one revolver, and one air gun, indicating that the Maoists had stockpiled both standard military-grade weapons and locally manufactured firearms for prolonged operations.
Large Quantity of Explosives Seized
The operation also resulted in the recovery of a significant quantity of explosives and materials commonly used in the fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one of the Maoists’ most frequently used weapons against security forces.
Among the explosive materials seized were six tiffin bombs, four pipe bombs, 122 arrow bombs, one para bomb, two improvised hand grenades and two improvised mortars.
The teams also recovered a steel container filled with gelatin, 20 detonators, a bundle of codex wire and 14 pressure cookers, which investigators believe were intended for assembling powerful IEDs.
Apart from arms and explosives, police seized Maoist uniforms, medicines, propaganda literature, pamphlets and other daily-use materials from the underground dumps. Officials believe the recovery has disrupted a major supply chain and potentially prevented planned attacks on security personnel operating in the region.
Recovery Reflects Growing Cooperation by Former Maoists
Senior police officials described the operation as a strong indication that surrendered Maoists are actively assisting security agencies in dismantling the insurgent infrastructure they once served. According to police, the intelligence provided by former cadres demonstrates their complete rejection of Maoist ideology and commitment to peaceful rehabilitation.
Officials noted that the information shared by surrendered Maoists has enabled security forces to identify and destroy hidden logistical networks built over several years, making it increasingly difficult for active Maoist groups to sustain operations in Bastar.
Police also stated that the seizure of high-grade explosives and firearms has effectively neutralised a significant Maoist conspiracy aimed at targeting security patrols and disrupting development activities in the region.
Another Maoist Dump Recovered Near Kanker-Narayanpur Border
In another significant development, a joint team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) recovered a separate Maoist dump near the Kanker-Narayanpur border under Koylibeda police station during a routine anti-Naxal patrol.
According to Kanker Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha, security personnel became suspicious after noticing signs of concealed material beneath the ground in the forested and hilly area between Alparas and Gumchur villages. The team immediately secured the area and launched a detailed search.
#WATCH | Kanker, Chhattisgarh: Security forces recover weapons and Naxal-related materials from a Naxal dump during an anti-Naxal operation in the forest and hilly terrain between Alparas and Gumchur villages near the Kanker-Narayanpur district border under Koylibeda Police… pic.twitter.com/pLWNI7maPW
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2026
The operation led to the recovery of two .303 rifles, 32 live cartridges, one laptop, one tablet, three wireless batteries, one radio communication set, two Naxalite uniforms, five pouches, two chargers, one normal battery, and Maoist literature.
Officials said the recovered electronic devices and communication equipment are expected to provide valuable intelligence regarding the functioning and movement of Maoist cadres operating in the region.
The operation was led by BSF Assistant Commandant Ankush Kumar, Station Head at Koylibeda, along with BSF Inspector Nirmal Jangde, Inspector Anuj Kumar, Sub-Inspectors Naveen Prakash and Saurabh Yadav, and DRG team commander Assistant Sub-Inspector Narendra Netam.
Continued Pressure Weakening Maoist Network
Police officials said that several Maoist weapon dumps have been recovered across Bastar over the past several months, largely due to actionable intelligence supplied by surrendered cadres and sustained area domination operations carried out by state police and central security forces.
The continued recovery of hidden caches has significantly disrupted the logistical backbone of Maoist organisations by depriving them of weapons, explosives, communications equipment and financial resources.
Officials also reiterated their appeal to the remaining Maoist cadres to abandon violence, surrender before the authorities and take advantage of the government’s rehabilitation policies. They urged local residents and community leaders to continue cooperating with security agencies in restoring lasting peace, strengthening law and order, and accelerating development across the Bastar region.
Security agencies believe that increasing public cooperation, coupled with the growing number of Maoist surrenders and successful intelligence-based operations, is steadily reducing the operational capabilities of Left-Wing Extremist groups and strengthening long-term peace and stability in southern Chhattisgarh.
