JAGDALPUR: Security forces have intensified search, de-mining and area-domination operations across the forested areas of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, resulting in the recovery of several Maoist dumps containing firearms, ammunition, explosives, communication equipment and other operational material.
A series of recoveries has been reported from Bijapur district during September, including a substantial underground weapons cache in the Lanka Pahadi forest area under Bedre police station limits. The seizure included an SLR/LMG rifle, an INSAS rifle, a .315-bore gun, two Barrel Grenade Launchers (BGLs), ammunition, magazines and a Chinese hand grenade.
In a separate operation in neighbouring Sukma district, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recovered another concealed Maoist dump from the forests near Chhota Kanchala village under Chintalnar police station limits. The Sukma cache contained a single-barrel gun, wireless communication equipment, a handheld thermal imager, electronic devices, mobile phones, optical equipment, Maoist literature and other material.
The recoveries have come as security agencies continue searching remote forest areas for weapons and other material believed to have been concealed earlier by Maoist cadres.
Chinese hand grenade among arms and ammunition recovered from Maoist dumps in Bijapur
The latest major recovery in Bijapur was made during an intensive search and de-mining operation in the Lanka Pahadi forest area under Bedre police station limits. Security personnel were conducting searches in the forest when they detected a suspicious location. A subsequent inspection led to the discovery of an underground dump containing firearms, grenade-launching equipment, ammunition and other material.
According to police, the recovered weapons included one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR/LMG), one INSAS rifle and one .315-bore gun. Two BGLs were also recovered.
The ammunition cache included 17 BGL shells, one Chinese hand grenade, 49 live SLR rounds, 15 rounds of .315-bore ammunition and 15 BGL cartridges. Four SLR magazines and one .315-bore magazine were also seized.
Other materials and equipment were recovered from the location. The entire cache was secured and taken into custody following due procedure, while further investigation is underway.
“Continuous search and de-mining operations are being carried out in Bijapur. As part of this effort, weapons and ammunition have been recovered. Weapons and other materials were also seized during operations on various dates in September,” said Siddharth Singh Chauhan, DSP (Operations). Police said investigators are working to identify individuals linked to the seized material and establish when and how the weapons and ammunition were concealed at the site.
Several maoist dumps recovered in Bijapur
The Lanka Pahadi recovery is part of a series of seizures reported from Bijapur during September.
On September 20, personnel recovered an AK-47, .315-bore weapons, a single-shot pistol, ammunition and magazines from the Adwara forest under Bhairamgarh police station limits. Earlier, on September 16, a .315-bore rifle, 49 live rounds, 25 .303 rounds, 49 12-bore rounds, gelatin, walkie-talkies and other equipment were recovered from Bade Aalwada forest.
A major operation was conducted on September 5 in the Pidiya-Kuppaguda area by CRPF’s 199th Battalion. Acting on intelligence inputs, personnel searched forests around Edri, Harra, Nayapara and Sarpanch Para and recovered 14 suspected Maoist dumps containing firearms, explosives, detonators, improvised explosive devices, communication equipment and other material.
Another recovery was reported on September 3 near the Neelamdgu riverbank. Security personnel found weapons concealed inside a hollow tree, including a country-made 12-bore gun, a damaged BGL rifle, eight BGL cells and 10 live rounds.
Bijapur SP Umesh Prasad Gupta said search and de-mining operations were continuing in vulnerable forest areas to prevent Maoists from concealing weapons and operational material.
Maoist dump recovered in Sukma
Meanwhile, security forces recovered another concealed Maoist dump from the forests of Chhota Kanchala village under Chintalnar police station limits in Sukma district.
The recovery was made by the CRPF’s 150th Battalion following intelligence inputs regarding an underground dump in the forest. The Unit Intelligence Cell received the information on September 20, following which a joint operation was launched by F Company of the 150th Battalion and the Quick Action Team.
F Company was led by Assistant Commandant Sudhir Singh, while the Quick Action Team was led by Deputy Commandant Bharav Prasad. The overall operation was supervised by Commandant Rakesh Chandra Shukla.
Security personnel moved through difficult hilly terrain and dense forest to reach the suspected location. Given the possibility of an improvised explosive device, the area was cordoned off and searched with assistance from a K-9 dog squad and a bomb disposal team.
The dog squad indicated a suspicious location, following which two iron drums buried underground were detected and recovered.
Weapons, wireless sets and optical equipment seized
The drums contained a wide range of material, including a single-barrel gun, a handheld thermal imager, VHF dual wireless sets, a VHF wireless set, wireless battery chargers, circuits, antennas and other electronic equipment.
Two mobile phones, a variable-dump zoom rifle scope, a siren sound-generating machine and an inclinometer were also recovered.
Security personnel additionally seized a bundle of Maoist literature and a red flag associated with the Maoist organisation. Other items included a pitthu bag, gas cylinder, medicines and headphones.
Of particular interest to investigators were markings found on some of the wireless communication equipment. The recovered sets reportedly carried unit markings such as “PL-04” and “Pamde Division”.
Officials are examining the markings and communication equipment to determine their use and establish possible links with the Maoist network.
Wireless sets being examined
CRPF officials said the origin of the wireless equipment is also being investigated. “The wireless sets recovered from the Maoist dump are being examined. We are trying to ascertain where the Maoists had looted or procured these wireless sets. Further information will be shared after completion of the investigation,” said Anand Singh Rajpurohit, DIG, CRPF.
The investigation is expected to focus on the source of the equipment, its possible use by Maoist units and the network through which it may have been obtained.
Security operations continue across Bastar
The recoveries in Bijapur and Sukma come amid intensified security operations across Bastar, a region comprising seven districts, including Bijapur and Sukma.
According to police, after Chhattisgarh was declared free from armed Maoist presence on March 31, security forces have continued search and area-domination operations to locate weapons, explosives, communication equipment and other material that may have been concealed in forest areas during the period of Maoist activity.
The extensive forest terrain, remote settlements and difficult access routes make sustained surveillance and de-mining operations an important component of security operations in the region. Security personnel are conducting coordinated searches of suspected locations and using intelligence inputs to identify possible underground caches and concealed material.
The recoveries made during September indicate that searches are continuing across multiple forest zones rather than being restricted to a single operational area.
Investigation and surveillance intensified
Following the latest recovery at Lanka Pahadi in Bijapur and the discovery of the underground dump near Chhota Kanchala in Sukma, security agencies have intensified surveillance and search operations in surrounding forest areas.
Investigators are examining the recovered weapons, ammunition, electronic equipment and communication devices to establish their origin and possible links with Maoist formations. The unit markings found on wireless sets recovered in Sukma are also being examined as part of the investigation. Officials have not yet disclosed the final findings regarding the source or history of the equipment.
Security agencies are also continuing efforts to identify individuals who may have been involved in concealing or maintaining the dumps.
Police appeal to citizens
Bijapur Police have appealed to residents, forest dwellers and people travelling through remote areas to immediately inform the police if they notice any suspicious object, weapon, ammunition, explosive or unidentified material.
People have been advised not to touch, move or approach suspicious objects, particularly in isolated forest areas, as concealed material could pose a serious safety risk.
Officials said the continued recovery of hidden dumps is helping security agencies secure weapons and explosives that had allegedly been concealed earlier. Further investigations into the seized material and its possible links remain underway. The operations in Bijapur and Sukma are continuing, with security forces maintaining searches, surveillance and de-mining activities across vulnerable forest areas of the Bastar region.
