Maharashtra Timeline 2012

Date

Incidents

January 7

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a 47-year-old civilian, Suresh Erra Alam, in Nandigaon village in Aheri tehsil of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. "Suresh Erra Alam was picked up by Naxals from his house in the night and was taken to a place near the village, where he was stabbed in the chest with a sharp weapon," ASP Sudhir Hire math said.

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres opened fire on a Police team in Gadchiroli District, Police said.

An alleged CPI-Maoist cadre was killed during an encounter with the Police in Bezarpalli area in Sironcha taluka of Gadchiroli District.

The SFs have claimed that the CPI-Maoist cadre shot dead on January 12 in an encounter near Beijurpalli in Gadchiroli District was Mangru Michcha, alias Linga (22), 'sectional commander' of Platoon 14. The slain Maoist allegedly led the military wing in the Aheri-Sironcha division of the CPI-Maoist. Miccha was earlier with Bhamragarh local guerrilla squad and worked for platoon 7. Police said that there were around 20 offences against Miccha.

CPI-Maoist struck a blow to the Zilla Parishad polls in Gadchiroli District by killing the Bhamragarh Panchayat Samiti Chairman and Bhamragarh tehsil Congress Unit Chief Bahadurshah Alam. Three members of Maoists' Quick Action Team came to a tea stall in the town square where Alam was having his morning tea and shot him dead from close range, said the Police. They ran away shouting, "Alam Murdabad, Lal Salaam Zindabad". "He was reportedly warned by the Naxals not to contest. We had also recovered pamphlets that called him as a traitor," said SP Veeresh Prabhu.

A high ranking Naxal leader, Maruti Kurwatkar (31), was arrested from Talodhi in Chandrapur District by a Special Team. Kurwatkar was a member of the CPI-Maoist State Committee and Secretary of Chandrapur Committee of CPI-Maoist.

The Police recovered a small cache of arms and ammunition along with electronic equipments, which on assembling could help make explosive devices, in two separate raids in villages Talodhi-Balapur and Bolegaon. The first raid was carried out at the residence of one Mithun Surpam in Talodhi-Balapur village on the basis of information given by CPI-Maoist cadre Maruti Kurwatkar (31), who was arrested on January 28. The recoveries included a small laptop, a USB pen drive, a computer hard disc, electronic fuses, transistor divot, rechargeable batteries, two magnetic compass, Maoist' literature along with a book detailing how to handle the explosives. In the second raid, the Police recovered two loaded 9mm pistols from the house of one Prakash Sayam at Bolegaon.

The plans of Maoists to form a dalam in forests of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve seem to have failed due to lack of people's support and patches of villages in the jungles around the area, according to Police sources. Strong evidence of Maoist' plans to constitute a dalam for villages in and around TATR to regain their lost foothold in Chandrapur had surfaced after the arrest of state committee member of CPI-Maoist Bhimrao alias Bhanu alias Bhaskar Bhowate by Gondia Police in December 2010.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Ramamurty Kishtya Boing (38), suspected to be involved in an encounter with Police in Gadchiroli District was arrested from his hideout in Sironcha town of the District. Boing was allegedly engaged in the skirmish with Police on January 12 in Bezarpalli area in which one Maoist was killed. Some Maoist literature was also recovered from his possession, the Police said.

State Election Commissioner Neela Satyanarayan said in a press release, "A total of 65 per cent voting was recorded in the State. Naxal-affected Gadchiroli District recorded 67 per cent voting." Polling was being conducted in Maharashtra for 27 Zilla Parishads and 305 Panchayat Samitis.

February 12

Two separate incidents of exchange of fire between the cadres of the CPI-Maoist and Police took place in Gadchiroli District. However, no one was injured. According to Police, Maoists opened fire on a polling party near Repanpalli village when it was returning to its base camp. However, security personnel accompanying the polling staff retaliated following which the Maoists fled away, they said, adding the polling staff reached its base-camp safely.

An exchange of fire between the Maoists and Police took place near Ghotsur village in Etapalli Taluka of the District, but no one was injured. The second phase polling in Aheri, Etapalli, Bhamragad and Sironcha Taluka for 16 Zilla Parishad and 32 Panchayat Samiti seats was held on February 12. Maoists had appealed people in the region to boycott the polls and had dropped posters in this regard at various places.

Around 40 armed CPI-Maoist cadres threatened 20 truck drivers in Piparkhari village in Gondia District with dire consequences if they transport wood from the forest to the depots.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Police in Gadchiroli District. The Police identified them as Somi alias Nirmala Lalu Kulmethe (25) and Jagat alias Sukhram Sonu Madavi (19). According to the Police, Somi became a Maoist cadre in 2000, and worked with Aheri, Bhamragarh, Kohkaneta (Chhattisgarh) dalams over the last decade. Jagat was an active Maoist since 2000, and worked in Chhattisgarh. Both of them were involved in a number of crimes and taught in schools run by Maoists in Chhattisgarh, Police said.

The Police and the CRPF arrested two cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including a woman, at Etapalli in Gadchiroli District. While Prakash alias Devidas alias Adve Mura Gawde (30) hails from Mardahur in Gadchiroli, Rammi alias Janni Narsu Kovase (25) is from Neltola in Pankhajur, Kanker (Chhattisgarh).

In a joint operation, the anti-Naxal branch of Gondia Police, C-60 commandos, the bomb detection and disposal squad and Gadchiroli Police unearthed 45 kilograms of gelatin and four detonators, packed in a plastic drum and buried about four feet underground in Baswi ghat, about 4 kilometres from Chichgarh Police Station in Gondia District.

The CPI-Maoist threat is looming large on the rescheduled polls for the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti in Korchi taluka of the highly sensitive Gadchiroli District. Some candidates have reportedly got threatening letters from Maoists asking them not to contest the polls.

The Police seized several castings, believed to be used by CPI-Maoist cadres for making hand grenades, rockets and other materials used for fabricating rocket launchers, during raids on their weapon fabrication units, being run in the guise of workshops, in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police, who conducted the raids following information furnished by the Andhra Pradesh Police, took into custody four Maoist cadres including two women. The arrestees were identified as Arka Paru Bai alias Laxmi, wife of Chekka Sivaramakrishna (arrested during raids on a Maoist workshop in Bhopal in 2007); Dinesh Wankhede, a Maoist District Committee member of Maharashtra; his wife Kalam Sumanta, and Asim Kumar Bhattacharya. While Arka Parun Bai is a native of Beersaipet of Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh, Dinesh hails from Nagpur and Sumanta from Gadchiroli, Police sources said.

The Gadchiroli Police busted a CPI-Maoist arms and ammunition factory at Neral in Raigad District. Parts of rocket launchers, guns and magazines were also found besides some damaged pieces and samples.

State Home Minister R R Patil said that intelligence activity was being beefed up across the State to monitor suspected Maoist movements. He also expressed the need for a special board that would undertake recruitment of Police personnel and provide employment opportunities in Maoist areas as well as deprived areas in the State.

The CPI-Maoist cadres belonging to Deori Dalam killed a farmer, identified as Jagdish Walwe, in Kawalewada area of Sadak-Arjuni tehsil in Gondia District. SP Chandrakishore Meena said that the deceased had no Maoist links.

Two constables were injured in an exchange of fire with CPI-Maoist cadres in the Jimalgatta forest in Gadchiroli District. "Around 11 a.m., during the 'area domination exercise,' which we normally do by frequenting hideouts in jungle areas…the constables were shot at unexpectedly in the Jimalgatta jungle. Suresh Gawde, 32, and Kankaiya Durgam, 30, were injured. SP Viresh Prabhu confirmed that a firearm, bullets, detonators and wire along with bulk of clothes, shoes, pittus (back packs), water bottles and Naxal literature were found. "It suggests that Naxals might have been camping at the site," Prabhu said.

Stressing the need for political parties to mobilise masses into joining them, Union Urban Development Minister Jairam Ramesh urged villagers of Gadchiroli District to bar Naxals from entering their villages "since peace is necessary for development."

Twelve CRPF troopers belonging to the CRPF's 192nd Battalion were killed and 28 injured when suspected CPI-Maoist cadres triggered a landmine blast at Pushtola village under Dhanora Police Station in Gadchiroli District.

Ramesh Parteti, an aide of CPI-Maoist sympathizer Dilip Nagpure of Pangaon village in Salekasa tehsil, was arrested by the Police in Gondia District. Parteti hails from Marartola village in the District.

The State Government vowed to give a "befitting reply" to the CPI-Maoist and said the SFs will be equipped with best landmine detection technology. "The best available anti-landmine technology in the world will be brought in," State Home Minister R R Patil told the media.

Roshan Tekam, an aide of CPI-Maoist sympathizer Dilip Nagpure of Pangaon village in Salekasa tehsil, was arrested by the Police in Gondia District. Tekam hails from Murdoli village in the District.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres killed two persons identified as deputy sarpanch Bapu Yenka (60) and Arjana Talandi (55), in Joganguda village under Aheri tehsil in Gadchiroli District, on suspicion of being Police informers. Maoists had reportedly warned them to refrain being close to the Police.

The Gadchiroli Police said that the Naxal dalam 'commanders' manage to raise around INR 50 million to INR 70 million every year by means of extortion and other such activities.

The death toll in the landmine blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres at Pushtola village under Dhanora Police Station in Gadchiroli District on March 27 went up to 13 after a CRPF trooper died in a private hospital in Nagpur. SP Viresh Prabhu said that the Police have so far arrested five persons in connection with the blast case. They hail from Pushtola and Bhapda villages in Gadchiroli District.

The Maharashtra Police arrested a villager from Pakenjur near Kanker in Chhattisgarh, suspected to be the supplier of the battery that was used in the landmine that killed 13 CRPF personnel in Gadchiroli District on March 26.

Six suspected CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested in connection with the landmine blast near Gadchiroli District which had claimed the lives of 13 CRPF personnel on March 27. Those arrested were identified as Motiram Naitam, Suresh Atla, Shalik Naitam, Parimal Mistry and Kamal Biswas. One of the six was a minor.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze four tractors and three trolleys in Keshori tehsil of Gondia District. Around 50 Maoists intercepted four tractors and three trolleys in the forest patch between Rajoli and Keshori and set them afire.

A CPI-Maoist action squad killed Raju alias Kewalrao Atkamwar (42), a prominent NCP leader, and injured Prashant Kukkalwar, also an NCP worker, barely 300 metres from the Police Station of Etapalli town in Gadchiroli District.

A pro-Maoist poster was found pasted on the rear side of the board of Samasta Solapur Bazaar Rickshaw Stand in Pune District. The poster of CPI-Maoist Maharashtra State Committee demanded the release of its Maoist cadres unconditionally.

The CPI-Maoist cadres shot dead a SRPF trooper in Gadchiroli District. Ramkobal Ramdavar Pandey (50) of the SRPF group IV, Nagpur, was on escort duty and accompanying an ailing colleague to a local health centre at Fulbodi Gatta village in Dhanora tehsil when a group of Maoists opened fired at him, killing him on the spot.

The CPI-Maoist cadres shot dead a former dalam 'commander' of the outfit at Arewada village in Bhamragarh tehsil in Gadchiroli District. Pawan Bhalavi (50) was going to his field when the Maoists shot him dead.

SG Kawadgade, the tehsildar of Bhamragarh tehsil was abducted and was released after one day by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Gadchiroli District.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed sarpanch Chamru Kulle Joi (40) of NCP, in Gardewada village under Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli District. Sources claimed that the Maoists abducted Joi and shot him dead.

Maoists set ablaze a forest vehicle and assaulted the forest labourers in Talwada village on Bhamragarh-Allapalli road in Aheri tehsil in Gadchiroli District. The Maoists also left a pamphlet at the site urging the forest employees and the labourers to discontinue their work of clearing and cutting the jungle or face dreadful consequences.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed Rainu Juru Kowse (40), deputy sarpanch of Wangeturi gram panchayat in Todgatta village under Gatta Police outpost in Gadchiroli District. The Maoists dragged Kowse out of his house and killed him in the village square.

Raju Gedam, a C-60 commando was injured in an encounter with Maoists inside Nalgonda forests along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, under Bhamragad tehsil, in Gadchiroli District. On receiving a tip-off about a Maoist camp, C-60 commandos launched a combing operation in the area.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed two of their former cadres who had surrendered in 2006, in Dhanora tehsil in Gadchiroli District. The victims have been identified as Devrao Usendi (37) and Ramsai Narote (45).

The Maoists have abducted at least 12 villagers. However, SP S Veeresh Prabhu denied any abduction.

Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said that the repeated abductions and killings by the CPI-Maoist is part of the TCOC launched by the outfit in March.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a private carrier on the Allapalli-Etapalli road near Tondel village in Aheri taluka of Gadchiroli District. The vehicle was carrying teakwood and was engaged in the forest department's work. The Maoists have been 'asking' the forest department to stop felling trees.

A zilla parishad member and five panchayat samiti members in the Maoist affected Bhamragarh tehsil of Gadchiroli District submitted their resignations, citing threats from the CPI-Maoist. The panchayat members who resigned are Gangaram Bhandekar, Vijay Kudyani, Subrato Haldar, Khushal Madavi and Bharat Zhade. The Congress' zilla parishad member from Nelgunda Arewada sector of the Bhamragarh area Madni Bogami also resigned from her post.

R.R. Patil said the State Government in collaboration with the Central Security Forces will launch a joint operation against Maoist insurgents in the Maoist-infested District. "The central and state security forces will start the joint action against the Naxals and the outlaws will be given a befitting reply. We will also seek cooperation of the neighbouring states in the task," he said without assigning any deadline to the proposed plan.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed two persons, identified as Madhukar Kapgate (40) and Vinayak Lombare (45), in Kurkheda tehsil (administrative unit) in Gadchiroli District. Sources in Gadchiroli claimed that Kapgate, native of Kurkheda, was an insurance agent, while Lombare from Jambhulghat village worked for him. Maoist pamphlets alleging them of being police informers were recovered from the spot.

Two Gadchiroli zilla parishad (ZP) (district level local self-Government institution) members from Etapalli tehsil - Karu Rapanji and Geeta Hichami - submitted their resignations in wake of ultimatum by the Maoists to every elected representative of civic bodies and office bearers of the political parties. Sources said that Hichami was also taken away into the forest by the Maoists but later released.

Maoists abducted Ghanashyam Koreti, the head of the Istari village in Deori tehsil in Gondia District, from his residence.

Subhash Walke, a self-styled 'deputy commander' of Potegaon dalam (squad) of the CPI-Maoist, suspected to be involved in the Pushtola blast, was arrested in Gadchiroli District by Security Forces during an operation.

The body of Ghanshyam Koreti, sarpanch of Istari village in Deori tehsil of Gondia District, who was abducted from his residence on May 7 by the Maoists, was found near the tank of village Dhamni Tola.

The Mumbai city Police formed a special intelligence unit to tackle the Maoist menace in the city. Till now, the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and the anti-Maoist operation wing of the State Police were dealing with the menace. However, this new unit will report to the Police commissioner and provide information to other agencies. The unit will be part of the special branch which is supposed to collect intelligence for the city Police.