Chhattisgarh Timeline 2012

Date

Incidents

January 1

Two bombs of 40 kilograms each were recovered from Bastar region. Officials at Police headquarters said the bombs were placed on a forested road in Awapalli area of Bijapur District, 500 kilometres from State capital Raipur. The Police suspect that CPI-Maoist cadres placed the bombs to target a convoy of the Police and Paramilitary Forces which was expected to cross the road.

Nine more Districts came into existence in Chhattisgarh, taking the total number to 27, Chief Minister Raman Singh said. The new Districts, were carved out to speed up the pace of development, Singh said while talking to reporters in Raipur. The new Districts are Sukma, Kondagaon, Balod, Bemetara, Baloda Bazar, Gariaband, Mungeli, Surajpur and Balrampur. Sukma District has been carved out of Dantewada District and Kondagaon from Bastar District.

January 4

A Dantewada District court has granted bail to the Essar general manager, who is one of the accused in the alleged payouts of the protection money by the multinational to the CPI-Maoist in Chhattisgarh.

January 5

In a joint operation, four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by the CRPF and the State Police near Madhonar village in Narayanpur District.

Top CPI-Maoist leader Deepak Khalko was arrested by the Raipur Police from the forest areas in Jashpur District. The Police had received information that Khalko was in his Lokhandi house and a special team reached the place.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze the heavy machinery engaged in construction of a road between Maraiagudem and Chintalnar, near Lingalapalli village in Dantewada District.

A suspected CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Pudiyami Mada, reportedly committed suicide at the Sukma Police Station in Sukma District (recently carved out from Dantewada District).

Four Policemen posted were suspended, after suspected Maoist cadre, Pudiyami Mada, reportedly committed suicide at the Sukma Police Station in Sukma District, officials at the Police headquarters in Raipur said.

Chief Minister Raman Singh said that providing all facilities to CPI-Maoist-infested Districts in the State and bringing back Maoists to the mainstream is on the topmost agenda of his Government. He was addressing a public gathering to mark the creation of Sukma District, carved out of Maoist-affected Dantewada.

Calling CPI-Maoist anti-national, Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt urged people on the occasion of Republic Day to help the authorities to crush them. "We have to stamp out anti-national Maoists to protect our glorious democracy," he said. The State Government is giving priority to increase morale of the SFs by increasing their strength, and recruiting local youths from tribal areas, he said. "On one hand the State is touching new highs in development, on the other the Maoists have made the life of forested residents worse," he said. CM Raman Singh hoisted the national flag at Jagdalpur, headquarters of the Bastar region.

One top CPI-Maoist leader, suspected to be the commander of Mahasamund-Bargarh division, was killed during an exchange of fire in Karramal and Paridhapali forest under Baramkela Police Station in Raigarh District. According to State DGP Anil M Navaney, after getting a tip-off that a group of 50 Maoists were holding a meeting with the local villagers in Karramal forest, a joint squad of Police Force and STF was sent to the location. After spotting the SFs, the Maoists opened fire and during the Police retaliation, one of the Maoists was gunned down, while other escaped from the spot, DGP Navaney said. "Among other things, an AK 47 was recovered from the deceased Maoist, who was in Maoist uniform. Besides, a diary, seized from him, has identified him as DVCM, Ajhade. However, we are yet to identify the body. But the recovery of AK 47 from him clearly indicates that he was a high-ranking Maoist leader", Navaney said. Apart from the AK 47 rifle, three magazines, two detonators, a tiffin bomb and other material was recovered from the location, he added.

One personnel of the newly-created CAAF was injured when he was attacked with sharp weapons by a group of CPI-Maoist cadres at his native village of Kondru under Jangla Police Station in Bijapur District. The CAAF has been established recently to absorb the SPOs - tribal youths recruited by the Chhattisgarh Police to fight Naxals - following a directive from the Supreme Court to disband SPOs.

The Police arrested a Maoist 'area commander', identified as Suresh, from the Pankhajur area. Suresh, a native of Bhairamgarh, was an active cadre of the outfit for several years. The Police have recovered self loading rifle from his possession.

CPI-Maoist cadres abducted the station master of Bhansi railway station in Dantewada District and released him unharmed after about an hour, an unnamed senior Police Officer said.

Seven cadres of the Bastar Divisional Committee of CPI-Maoist, including four women, surrendered before the IG Bastar range, TJ Longkumer and SP Rahul Bhagat in Kanker District. "The surrendered Maoists carry a cash reward of varying amounts from INR 5, 000 to INR 300, 000 cash. This is the first time that the members of the divisional committee have surrendered before the Police," Longkumer said. Among those surrendered include 'platoon commander' of the East Bastar Divisional Committee, Sunil Kumar Matlam alias Rajesh Kumar and his wife Jenni alias Jayanti Kutari, who is a 'commander' of the Maoist cultural division called Chetna Natya Mandali; Jan Militia 'commander' of Pratappur range Ramdas and his wife Panidobir, Koelibera 'deputy commander' Susheela, Sitapur Local Organising Squad 'commander' Jaylal and his wife Asmani alias Sanay, besides Samo Mandvi, cadre of the 'platoon number 25' being operational in the Raoghat area of Kanker.

The CPI-Maoist are planning to hold their crucial 10th congress in the Maoist-controlled Abujhmad, a 6,000-Square kilometres densely forested region extending from south Bastar in Chhattisgarh to Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, reports received by the State Police said in Raipur.

The CRPF is set to intensify its operations in the CPI-Maoist corridor with the creation of two new bases for the NTRO and helicopters in South Chhattisgarh, close to the Maoist hotbed of Dantewada District. CRPF, which has deployed more than 70,000 troops for anti-Naxal operations in various states, is now planning a large offensive in the dense forests of Abujhmad, a region extending from South Bastar (Dantewada) in Chhattisgarh to Gadchiroli in Maharashtra.

Two Policemen were killed in a landmine blast, allegedly carried out by the CPI-Maoist cadres, in Polampalli area in Sukma District, recently carved out of Dantewada District. The Policemen were returning to Dornapal in a Sumo which became the target of the blast. While Constable Surya Kartam (30) and Police driver Suryaprakash Sonvani were killed, two others Nanda Sinha and Rajaram were injured, when the Maoists fired on Police after the blast, and Police retaliated.

The ITBP recovered 60 kilograms of explosives from Rajnandgaon District. The explosives were recovered when an ITBP patrolling party deployed in the region to counter CPI-Maoist noticed a patch of asphalt in the middle of the Kohka-Manpur road varying in colour. "There were two IEDs hidden three feet below the road -- one weighing 20 kg stacked above another weighing 40 kg," ITBP's public relations officer, Deepak Pandey said. According to Pandey, it is for the first time that explosives have been found in the middle of a busy road and the Maoists may be starting a new dangerous trend.

A joint team of BSF, STF and Kanker District Police busted a bomb-making unit of the CPI-Maoist and seized around 300 kilograms of explosives and equipment used for assembling IEDs. The seized items included Ammonium Nitrate, TNT, a huge stock of detonators, Codex Wire measuring 200 meters, live cartridges, a large number of pipes, tiffins, besides other items used by the Naxals in making bombs.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed two Home Guards of the Chhattisgarh Police at a "jan adalat" (people's court) in a forest pocket in Cherpal area under Bijapur District for defying their diktat.

The Maoists buried alive a sarpanch at Kosnar under Gangalur Police limits in Bijapur District for guiding a team of State Government officials to his village for enumeration of farmers.

About 150 cadres of the CPI-Maoist raided a stone-mine in Bastar region for explosives. However, when they could not find any explosive, they set ablaze eight stone crusher machines at Partha and Darbha areas of the region.

Maoists allegedly set ablaze seven vehicles used for construction of road in Sukma District, the Police said.

The Raipur and Kolkata Police raided the premises of two transporters in Raipur after getting inputs that they were involved in transporting goods for the CPI-Maoist. The SF personnel seized a huge quantity of materials reportedly meant for manufacturing rocket launchers and grenades. The preliminary investigation suggested that the materials seized had the use in making sophisticated weapons like rocket launchers and grenades, he added. The police recovered 75 wooden boxes containing bolts and pipes from the premises of Pal Transport company while small motors used for assembling parts were recovered from on Monday's raid.

Fourteen vehicles including four JCB machines belonging to Patil Construction Company engaged in road construction work in Chhattisgarh's Kanker District were set afire by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres who have also threatened to stop further work, Police said.

Three suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested by the CRPF personnel and the local Police in a joint operation in Keelam region in Narayanpur District. Police recovered tiffin bomb, bow and arrow, wires and a detonator from them.

At least three BSF troopers were killed and four others injured when suspected CPI-Maoist cadres blew up the vehicle they were travelling in Kanker District. The Maoists triggered the landmine explosion near Erikbuta village under Pakhanjur Police Station limits when the mini truck carrying the troopers of the 87th battalion of the BSF was passing.

A senior most CPI-Maoist leader Gundeti Shankar, popularly known as Seshanna and Maheshanna, died of a snake bite in Dantewada District. Shankar was believed to be taking shelter in the forest areas of Chhattisgarh on the borders of Telangana Districts of Andhra Pradesh. He was a member of NTSZC and was also appointed as the secretary of the Adilabad District committee.

The CPI-Maoist cadres opened indiscriminate fire in Bijapur District, killing Lachhuram Kashyap, a prominent Salwa Judum leader of Mirtur. The killing took place in the District when Kashyap was returning to his village from a Police Station.

Two CRPF troopers were injured during a joint operation of Chhattisgarh Police and CRPF in and around in Abujmaadh region in Bastar District for about two weeks, Chhattisgarh DGP Anil M Navaney said.

A CRPF head constable, Om Prakash, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres at a weekly market in Sukma District. Head Constable Om Prakash, of the 150th Battalion deployed in Chintagufa, was surrounded by about half-a-dozen Maoists who snatched his AK-47 assault rifle and slit his throat.

The CPI-Maoist alleged atrocities by SFs on tribals during the last week's anti-Naxal operations in Abujhmad area, a densely forested area extending from south Bastar in Chhattisgarh to Gadchiroli in Maharashtra.

A CRPF trooper was killed and another injured in an encounter with the cadres of the CPI-Maoist in Sukma District.

Suspected CPI-Maoist abducted Palku Ram Mandavi (16), a student of Class 10, along with his classmate Lalu Tarasi, from their school in Orcha in Narayanpur District. The Maoists held Palku hostage accusing him of spying for the Police.

The Maoists released Lalu Tarasi, who was abducted along with his friend Palku Ram Mandavi on March 27 from Orcha in Narayanpur District.

Pakluram Mandavi (16), who was abducted by CPI-Maoist cadres on charges of acting as a Police informer, managed to flee from the Maoist captivity in Narayanpur District and reached safety after a night-long walk through the forest, the Police said.

An anti-Naxal operation, codenamed "Maad", "Kilam" and "Podku," was carried on in the Abujhmad forests, considered to be the CPI-Maoist headquarters, during March 5-20. IG (Operations) in Chhattisgarh, Pankaj Singh said that 33 Maoist cadres were arrested during the operation. The operation began on March 5 and continued till March 20.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, addressing a function in Raipur District said, there is an international conspiracy behind Maoist activities in India, and adds that the motive is to destabilise and weaken the country economically.

Several CPI-Maoist cadres were injured in an encounter with Paramilitary Forces in Bhanupratappur area in Kanker District. However, the Police source said no BSF personnel were injured in the attack.

Aadesh Pal, a STF trooper was killed in an exchange of fire with CPI-Maoist cadres in Gandharpada forest area in Sukma District. Police suspect that at least five Maoists were also killed in the encounter, however, have not recovered a single body of Maoists from the spot.

The CRPF has successfully used UAVs to pick up ground conversation and movement of Maoist cadres in terrains of Chhattisgarh.

The CPI-Maoist cadres abducted a tribal youth from his native Toropi village in Kanker District and shot him dead. The Maoists shot dead the youth on charges of spying for local Police.

A contingent of DF and the STF arrested four Maoists in Sukma District during a combing operation in a forest area.

Two women, T Koteswari (55), and her daughter Subba Rao (30), both construction labourers of Tekulaboru village in Kunavaram mandal in Khammam District of Andhra Pradesh, were reportedly killed in a CPI-Maoist-Police cross-fire near Timilwada under Chintaguppa Police Station limits in Sukma District.

Maoists reportedly blew up a bridge at a forested stretch between Amabeda and Ghanora in Kanker District, just before State Forest Minister Vikram Usendi's convoy was scheduled to go to Amabeda.

As many as 11 occupants of an ambulance, including six children among others, had a providential escape when cadres of the CPI-Maoist opened fire at the vehicle in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The ambulance carrying the children was going from Chintaguppa to Dornapal village for urgent medical treatment.

The Rajnandgaon District Police arrested four persons, including a city-based arms dealer-cum-petty contractor, near Farhad chowk in Manpur for their alleged act of procuring arms and ammunitions for the CPI-Maoist.

Nearly a dozen persons were injured when around 60-70 CPI-Maoist cadres wreaked their vengeance on the Dorla tribe population of Maraiguda village in Sukma District, bordering Andhra Pradesh, by allegedly molesting women, assaulting elders, and setting ablaze houses for not handing over to them Haka Mara, a local sarpanch and Salwa Judum leader.

Three persons, including two BJP local leaders, were killed when CPI-Maoist cadres triggered a powerful landmine blast on the convoy of BJP MLA Mahesh Gagda in Bijapur District.

The cadres of CPI-Maoist abducted the collector of Sukma District in Chhattisgarh before killing two of his bodyguards. The collector, Alex Paul Menon, was meeting a group of villagers for a Government outreach programme. It is suspected that the rebels have taken the collector deep inside the forests of Kerlapal (Dantewada District), some of which are suspected to be heavily mined by the CPI-Maoist.

The South Bastar Divisional Committee of the CPI-Maoist released an audio tape, demanding the release of their eight top Maoists: Markam Gopanna alias Satyam Reddy, Nirmal Akka alias Vijay Laxmi, Devpal Chandrashekhar Reddy, Shantipriya Reddy, Meena Choudhari, Korsa Sunny, Markam Sunny and Asit Kumar Sen within 72 hours to secure the release of Alex Menon, District Magistrate of Sukma District.

An all-party meeting held in Raipur to discuss proposals to secure the release of abducted Sukma District Magistrate, Alex P. Menon, concluded with the Chhattisgarh Government calling off SF operations in Bastar and agreeing to negotiate with the CPI-Maoist.

Maoists named three mediators - Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, former National SC/ST Commission chairperson B D Sharma and President of All India Adivasi Mahasabha Manish Kunjam - for negotiations.

Abducted Sukma District collector Alex Paul Menon is "safe" but being an asthma patient, he needs medicines, the CPI-Maoist cadres said and proposed the name of human rights activist and academic Professor Hargopal as another mediator for talks with the Chhattisgarh Government.

A three-member CPI-Maoist group led by 'South Bastar Regional Committee secretary' Ramana, alias Ravulu Srinivas, reportedly held talks with their two interlocutors in Tadmetla forest, in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada District to decide the fate of Sukma District collector Alex Paul Menon, in Naxal captivity.

Cadres of the Palle Madi dalam of the Maoists shot dead a villager in Rajnandgaon District.

The Chhattisgarh Government and interlocutors for the CPI-Maoist came to an agreement to constitute a high-power official committee to examine the cases of all prisoners (with a focus on tribals) in the State and to expedite the release the abducted Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed three villagers whom they had abducted a week back from Tadkoli village in Bijapur District. The Maoists accused them of being Salwa Judum members.

Around 12 armed Maoists set ablaze four vehicles under Khandgaon Police Station in Rajnandgaon District. The Maoists set ablaze one JCB Machine, one Faber Machine, one water tanker and one tractor working under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana by the RK Construction. The Maoists left pamphlets to oppose the Government and appealed the people to observe May Day [May 1].

Two Policemen were killed and four others injured when a group of CPI -Maoist cadres opened indiscriminate firing on a Police team patrolling the weekly market in Bacheli area in Dantewada District.

12-day hostage crisis ended after CPI-Maoist released Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon. The Maoists handed him over to their interlocutors G. Haragopal and B.D. Sarma deep inside Bastar forests.

As per the agreement, the Government set up a high-power standing committee to 'regularly review all cases of undertrials. These include Maoist-related cases too.

A bail petition was moved in a Raipur court for the release of Maoist leaders Santipriya Reddy, wife of Gudsa Usendi, a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and Malati Chowdary. These two were among the eight whose release was demanded by the Maoists in exchange for the abducted Collector.

Two CPI-Maoist mediators virtually contested Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's denial of any swap deal with Maoists to secure Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon's release from Maoist custody, saying that "there was an understanding to release 3 Maoists" in exchange of Menon's freedom.

A Chhattisgarh court rejected the bail application of two women cadres of the CPI-Maoist who the Maoists wanted to be released in exchange for Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon. Rejecting the bail pleas of Meena Choudhary and Malti alias Shantipriya Reddy, Additional Sessions Judge B P Varma said since their crime appears to be serious in nature, they could not be granted bail. Their lawyer, however, said that they would now move the high court.

Six CISF troopers and a civilian driver were killed near the NMDC iron ore mine at Kirandul town in Dantewada District when Maoists attacked their vehicle. The Maoists decamped with five INSAS rifles and a Kalashnikov.