Maoist arms and explosives recovered in Sukma
Jagdalpur: Security forces have intensified anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, recovering concealed dumps containing explosives, ammunition and other materials in two separate operations carried out in August. The latest seizure was made near Ittalanka village under Chintalnar police station limits, while an earlier operation on August 3 led to the recovery of a Maoist arms dump from the forests of Bodhrajpadar under Bhejji police station.
In the latest operation, Sukma Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recovered a large quantity of explosive material allegedly concealed by Maoists in a forest area around 300 metres from Ittalanka village.
Acting on intelligence inputs received on Tuesday about explosives reportedly hidden in the forest, a joint search operation was planned under the coordination of Sukma Superintendent of Police Mayank Gurjar, CRPF 150th Battalion Commanding Officer Rakesh Chandra Shukla and Additional Superintendent of Police (Naxal Operations) Rohit Shah.
A joint team comprising personnel from the CRPF’s F Company, QAT and Chintalnar Police Station was deployed to the area. Given the possibility of an improvised explosive device (IED), a Bomb Detection and Disposal (BDD) team was also included in the operation.
During the search, security personnel located a suspicious bag wrapped in cloth. Following prescribed safety protocols, the bag was examined with the assistance of the BDD team, leading to the recovery of the concealed explosive material and other items.
According to police, the recovered material included 25 gelatin sticks, 16 BGL heads, 25 detonator cases, 12 metres of Cardex wire, two electric detonators, six BGL plungers, five metres of wire, a charging cable, a battery connector, BGL raw material, a belt, three rolls of Velcro and a plastic drum, among other items.
Police said the recovery is significant from an operational perspective as the seizure has potentially prevented the use of the explosives in attacks against security personnel or damage to public infrastructure.
In a separate operation on August 3, security forces recovered a concealed Maoist arms dump from the forests of Bodhrajpadar under Bhejji police station limits in Sukma district.
The operation was conducted jointly by personnel of the CRPF’s 50th Battalion and Bhejji Police based on specific intelligence inputs. The search team recovered a .315-bore bolt-action rifle, 49 live cartridges and an aluminium container from the concealed dump.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of SP Mayank Gurjar and ASP (Operations) Rohit Shah as part of the ongoing anti-Naxal campaign in the district.
The successive recoveries highlight the continued efforts of security forces to dismantle Maoist infrastructure and prevent the use of concealed weapons and explosives. Security agencies have maintained that sustained intelligence-based operations, area domination and searches are being undertaken across vulnerable forest zones of Sukma.
Authorities have also appealed to local residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities or information related to Maoist movements. Officials said that cooperation from local communities, coupled with continued security operations, remains essential for strengthening peace, development and public confidence in the region.
Security forces have indicated that search operations will continue in Sukma to locate and neutralise concealed arms and explosive caches and disrupt insurgent networks operating in the district.
