Jagdalpur: Security forces have intensified their search and area-domination operations across the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, recovering multiple concealed Maoist dumps containing explosives, firearms, ammunition and other materials used by the banned CPI-Maoist organisation.
In three separate operations reported from Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur districts, security personnel recovered a large quantity of weapons and explosive materials that had allegedly been hidden in forested and difficult-to-access areas.
The recoveries came amid continued efforts by security agencies to locate and neutralise old Maoist weapon and logistics dumps, particularly in areas where insurgent groups had previously used forests and remote terrain to conceal arms, ammunition and other operational material.
Police officials said the latest operations were based on intelligence inputs, including information provided by surrendered Maoists, and were aimed at disrupting the remaining logistical infrastructure of Maoist groups in the region.
Explosive-Laden Maoist Dump Recovered in Sukma
In Sukma district, security forces recovered two tiffin bombs weighing approximately eight kilograms in total, along with a substantial quantity of explosive-related material, during a search operation in the forested and hilly area near the Belpochcha-Gompad road under Konta police station limits.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Mayank Gurjar confirmed the recovery and said the operation was launched on August 30 by a joint team comprising personnel of the District Force, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters.
According to police, intelligence received from surrendered Maoists indicated that a Maoist dump had been concealed in the vicinity of the Belpochcha-Gompad route. Acting on the information, security personnel launched an area-domination and search operation in the forest and difficult terrain.
During the search on Sunday morning, at around 11 am, the team detected a suspected concealed dump. A subsequent search led to the recovery of two tiffin bombs weighing approximately five kilograms and three kilograms, respectively. Police said both devices were found without wires attached.
Detonators, Gelatin and Wiring Material Seized
Apart from the two tiffin bombs, the recovery in Sukma included 10 detonators, 17 gelatin sticks, four bundles of codex wire, one bundle of fuse wire and three bundles of electrical wire.
Security personnel also recovered two steel tiffins, two plastic dustbins, a battery and other materials suspected to have been intended for Maoist use. Police said electrical wire was found stored inside the plastic dustbins. The recovered material was secured and taken into official custody following prescribed procedures. Further investigation and necessary legal action are underway.
SP Gurjar said search operations would continue in forested and remote areas to locate weapons, explosives and other material concealed by Maoist cadres.
Suspected Maoist Aide Held in Bijapur
In a separate operation in Bijapur district, a joint team of Basaguda police and the District Reserve Guard recovered another suspected Maoist dump from a forested area near Pegadapalli village. During the operation, security personnel detained a suspected Maoist aide identified as Bogam Lakhmu, 39, a resident of Chinnagelur under Tarrem police station limits.
According to police, Lakhmu was questioned following his detention during the search operation. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to being associated with the Chinnagelur unit of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (DAKMS), an organisation linked by police to the banned CPI-Maoist. Police further alleged that he had been involved in transporting and concealing Maoist-related materials and explosives in forest areas.
BGL Launcher, Grenade and Ammunition Recovered
A search led to the recovery of Rs 50,050 in cash, one BGL launcher, 18 BGL cells, 12 arrow bombs, one hand grenade, 15 live .303 rounds, 31 BGL cartridges and an empty INSAS magazine. Electrical wire, three-round chargers and an emitter lead were also recovered, police said. The seized materials were sealed in accordance with prescribed procedures, and a seizure panchnama was prepared.
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Umesh Prasad Gupta said anti-Maoist operations were being conducted continuously across the district to curb extremist activities and disrupt the storage and supply networks used for arms and explosive materials.
Police said the accused was booked under relevant provisions of the Explosives Act and other applicable laws. He was subsequently produced before a court and sent to judicial remand.
Investigators are also examining the suspected logistical network associated with the arrested individual and are attempting to identify others who may have been connected with the movement or concealment of Maoist material.
Major Old Maoist Arms Dump Unearthed in Narayanpur
Meanwhile, in Narayanpur district, security forces recovered a major old Maoist arms and ammunition dump from the forests of Adnar during a search operation on Sunday. The concealed material had reportedly been buried and covered with plastic in the dense forest. The recovery included 10 rifles, two barrel grenade launchers, 13 live BGL shells, 16 rounds of ammunition, approximately two kilograms of explosive material and one telescopic sight.
Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Patel confirmed the recovery and said security forces were maintaining heightened vigilance over old Maoist dumps even after significant progress in counter-insurgency operations in the Bastar region.
The operation was conducted by a joint team of Narayanpur Police and the 129th Battalion of the BSF, under the direction of SP Patel and BSF Commandant Mukesh Kumar, with guidance from Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Akshay Sabadra.
During intensive searches in the north-western direction of Adnar village, security personnel located an old concealed dump believed to have been hidden by Maoists earlier.
Rifles, BGL Shells and Explosives Recovered
A detailed search of the dump resulted in the recovery of one .303 rifle, four .315 rifles and five 12-bore rifles. Two barrel grenade launchers and a telescopic sight were also recovered. The cache further contained 13 live BGL shells, 16 rounds of 12-bore ammunition and around two kilograms of explosive material. Police said the recovery formed part of a broader effort to locate old weapon and explosive caches that Maoist groups had hidden in forests and remote areas over the years.
Focus on Locating Old Maoist Dumps
According to police officials, the recovery of old caches has become an important component of security operations in Bastar. Even as security forces have achieved considerable success against Maoist groups, agencies remain concerned about weapons, ammunition and explosives that may have been concealed in forests before the decline of Maoist activity in several areas.
Police officials said such hidden material could pose a security risk if it remains undiscovered. Consequently, security forces are conducting systematic searches of forests, hills and other remote locations based on intelligence inputs and information received from surrendered cadres. The latest recoveries in Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur are part of this continuing effort.
Five Major Maoist Dump Recoveries Since March 31
Police records indicate that several significant Maoist dumps have been recovered from different parts of Bastar since March 31.
On April 29 in Kanker, security forces recovered seven cooker IEDs weighing approximately five kilograms each, two pipe bombs, codex wire and other Maoist-related material during a forest search.
On May 3 in Dantewada, an explosives dump was recovered from the Barasur area, including a pipe bomb weighing around 10 kilograms, an IED and other explosive materials.
On May 12 in Narayanpur, security forces recovered a major dump from the Abujhmad forests containing approximately Rs 1.0164 crore in cash, three AK-47 rifles, three SLRs, other firearms and 132 BGL cells, besides electronic detonators and codex wire.
The following day, May 13, security forces recovered approximately ₹65.52 lakh in cash, 32 weapons, ammunition and explosives from three Maoist hideouts in Bijapur during a two-week-long operation. The latest major recovery was reported from Narayanpur on August 30, where security forces recovered 10 rifles, two barrel grenade launchers, 13 BGL shells, 16 rounds of ammunition, around two kilograms of explosives and a telescopic sight from the old Adnar dump.
Continued Operations to Secure Bastar
The latest seizures underline the continuing focus of security forces on dismantling the Maoist network and eliminating its remaining logistical infrastructure in the Bastar region. Officials said operations are not limited to apprehending active cadres but also involve identifying and recovering weapons, explosives and other material concealed in remote areas.
Security forces are relying on intelligence-based searches, information from surrendered Maoists and coordinated operations involving the District Force, DRG, Bastar Fighters and central armed police units.
Police officials said the search operations would continue in vulnerable and remote forest areas to locate additional concealed dumps and prevent their possible use by Maoist cadres.
The simultaneous focus on weapons recovery, intelligence gathering and disruption of logistical networks is being seen as an important part of the ongoing security strategy to make the Bastar region safer and prevent the remnants of Maoist infrastructure from regrouping.
