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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.

January 11

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

January 12

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

January 17

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.

January 28

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.

February 1

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.

February 7

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.

February 14

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.

February 18

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.

February 20

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).

February 21

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.

February 28

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.

March 1

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.

March 10

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.

March 12

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.

March 15

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.

March 16

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.

March 24

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."

March 27

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.

March 28

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.

April 2

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.

April 3

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.

April 9

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.

April 11

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.

April 12

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.

April 13

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.

April 15

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.

April 19

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.

April 20

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.

April 3rd week

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

April 22

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.

April 23

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.

April 24

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.

April 25

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.

April 29

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.

May 1

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.

May 4

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.

May 7

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

May 9

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.

May 10

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.

May 11

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Chaitu Naitam, in Gadchiroli District. Naitam had earlier worked in Kurkheda, Korchi and Khobramendha dalam.

May 13

Gondia Police unearthed 20 kilograms of explosives stacked in two stainless steel vessels between Dhamni tola and Istari villages under Chichgarh Police Station in Gondia District.

May 14

Three persons, including two politicians, were allegedly abducted by CPI-Maoist cadres from two different villages in Aheri tehsil of Gadchiroli District. The abducted politicians are ex-zilla parishad member Ramanayya Yadawar and ex-sarpanch Pullayya Veladi from Jimalgatta village. The other person is Bapu Durgam from Malagudam village. Official spokesperson of Police in Gadchiroli, however, denied of having such reports.

Around 150 Maoists set ablaze the forest depot near Jimalgatta village. They set 1,075 pieces of chopped wood on fire.

May 16

Observing 'Bharat bandh', the Maoists set ablaze a mobile tower (BSNL) at Jamakado and vandalised a gram panchayat office at Toyagondi in Gondia District. They blocked roads near Malewada road and put up banners and posters at various places in Gadchiroli District.

May 18

In a thick forest near Jimulgatta in Aheri tehsil, around 160 kilometres from Gadchiroli town, the CPI-Maoist organized a massive jan adalat (kangaroo court). The jan adalat's location was within 10 kilometres of Jimulgatta sub-police station. It was learnt that Aheri-Jimulgatta area committee 'commander' Shankar Anna, South Gadchiroli division committee Bhaskar Hichami alias Prabhakar, and 'platoon commander' and divisional committee member Laxman led the proceedings, comprising 250-300 Maoists.

May 21

The STF troopers arrested a hardcore 'area commander' of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Ram Dahin Sao, from Virar area in Mumbai. He was carrying a reward of INR 25,000 on his head. According to sources, Ram Dahin used to operate in Tekari and Konch (both in Gaya District) and Uphara in Aurangabad District.

The Maoists released two of the three public representatives, whom they had abducted on May 19 in Gadchiroli District. The village sarpanch Jawaharlal Ledhiya from Murumgaon and Murari Halami from Pannemara were set free on Murumgaon-Sawargaon road in the District, villagers said. However, the whereabouts of the third hostage Meatarsing Usendi, former Deputy Chairman of Dhanora panchayat samiti who too was abducted by the Maoists were still not known.

May 23

The SFs killed a Maoist and arrested two women Maoists during an encounter near Pourvel village in Gadchiroli District. The slain Maoist, Rahul Dhurve alias Dinesh, was part of the Maoist's Potegaon LGS. The two arrested women Maoists have been identified as Vanita Dhurve alias Shushila, and Lacchi Gawde alias Nimmi. According to Police information, Vanita was a member of the Chatgaon LGS and Lacchi belonged to Company no. 4. One .315 rifle and 41 live rounds were recovered from Rahul while the women cadres had 12-bore rifles with them. Around 32 rounds of ammunition were also recovered from the women cadres.

May 26

A group of armed CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a JCB machine and a tipper at Yermanar village in Aheri tehsil of Gadchiroli District late in the night. These vehicles were deployed on construction work of Government ashram school.

June 5

The Maoists stormed the residence of a bootlegger and damaged his vehicle at Perimili under Aheri taluka in Gadchiroli District.

The Gadchiroli Police made more than 100 preventive arrests of CPI-Maoist sympathisers in the wake of the Jan Fituri Saptah (the week for elimination of enemies within) bandh, which is called by the CPI-Maoist in the Dandakaranya area from June 5 to 12 in protest against the Police deployment and a training centre coming up in Chhattisgarh.

To deal with the situation, Police plans to deploy five battalions of the CRPF, CoBRA units and C-60 commandos, besides our District Police.

June 5-6

Two different teams of SFs carrying out anti-Naxalite operations in Mayalghat jungles in Korchi tehsil and Padaboriya jungle in Dhanora tehsil were ambushed in Gadchiroli in intervening night of June 5 and 6. SFs sustained no casualty, but in one instance SFs have claimed of injuring a few Naxalites in encounter.

June 7

The bandh (shutdown strike) called by the CPI-Maoist in Gadchiroli District received a partial response. The response was visible in places like Korchi, Kurkheda and Dhanora in north Gadchiroli. The southern part of the District remained quite peaceful.

There was no information of any untoward incident from any corner of the District on the last day of the Maoists' protest week which was also observed as a strike. The DKSZC had appealed to the people of Gadchiroli to observe the days between June 1 and 7 as 'protest week'. They were raising their voice against the central government's decision to station the army at Bastar in Chhattisgarh and also start a training institute there.

June 11

A civil contractor was allegedly killed by a group of Maoists at Pendhari village in Dhanora taluka in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra in the night. Police said that the Maoists picked up Sanjay Mandal (37), the civil contractor, from his house and fired three bullets at him from close range killing him on the spot.

The Maharashtra Government is opening a regional Public Works Department (PWD) office at Sironcha in the Maoist-affected Gadchiroli District to expedite inter-state bridge and road works in the area, PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal said.

June 12

Maoists in Gadchiroli District have struck fear in the hearts of 68 elected representatives of civic bodies, forcing them to give resignation. Eighteen of the 68 Panchayati Raj institutions' representatives are heads of villages, 44 are panchayat samiti (block level local self-Government institution) members and one is from the zilla parishad (district level local self-Government institution) at Bhamragarh. The State administration is reportedly trying to convince them to take back their resignations.

June 12-13

Maoists killed one person, identified as Rama Madavi (35), at Pattigaon village under Aheri tehsil in Gadchiroli District in the night. His body was recovered on June 13 by Jimalgatta Police. It is allegedly said that Madavi was extorting money from contractors in the name of Maoists.

June 16

The Central Paramilitary Forces and District Police arrested an alleged CPI-Maoist 'action squad' member from the outskirts of Pendhari village in Dhanora tehsil in Gadchiroli District. The arrested Maoist, identified as Anil Minje alias Sidhu, a member of the Kasansur local area squad, was part of the team that killed civil contractor Sanjay Mandal on June 11. Minje, active in Maoist movement since 2009, confessed of participating in several offences in the last couple of years. Apart from Maharashtra, Minje also took part in Maoist offences in Chhattisgarh too.

June 20

Talking to reporters in in the evening, CEO of Gadchiroli Zilla Parishad (District level local self-Government institution) Sumant Bhange said 71 elected representatives in Gadchiroli District have resigned in the last one month. Of these representatives, one is ZP member, four Panchayat Samiti (block level local self-Government institution) members and 66 village Panchayat (village level local self government institution) members, he said.

June 22

No nomination has been filed in 132 out of 139 gram panchayats going for polls on June 24 in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli District. Only candidates in five wards in four gram panchayats (GPs) have dared to contest the elections in entire District. Three other gram panchayats have elected their members unopposed. By-elections were announced in 139 GPs in eight tehsils (revenue units) of Gadchiroli recently. Nominations were called for 19 GPs in Gadchiroli tehsil, 34 in Dhanora, 2 in Korchi, 6 in Kurkheda, 20 in Bhamragad, 19 in Etapalli, 17 in Sironcha and 22 in Aheri. Aspiring candidates were asked to file their nominations between June 5 and 9. However, nominations came in two GPs in Aheri and one each in Sironcha and Kurkheda tehsil. Apart from this, members in Anglekheda and Chikli GPs in Kurkheda and Vitthalpeth GPs in Sironcha tehsil have been declared unopposed winner for lack of contest.

June 24

The CPI-Maoist gave a call for bandh in Gadchiroli District on June 25 to protest against Operation Green Hunt launched by the Police. The Maoists dropped leaflets at some places in the District appealing people to make the bandh a success. The leaflets were circulated by the North Gadchiroli-Gondia Divisional Committee of CPI-Maoist.

June 25

The CPI-Maoist slammed Maharashtra Forest Minister Patangrao Kadam for the plan to expand Navegaon national park. The Maoists issued a pamphlet through the North Gadchiroli-Gondia division committee of the CPI-Maoist, which is controlled by the Maharashtra state committee. They claimed that the ambitious project of extending the periphery of the national park would displace 30 hamlets in Deori tehsil (revenue unit) of Gondia District. Apart from opposing the national park expansion plan, the Maoists have also urged the elected representatives to resign from their posts as they have so far played an indifferent role in addressing the grievances of people who voted them to power.

Separately, concerned over mass resignations of panchayat members in Gadchiroli District, the Centre has asked the Maharashtra Government to ensure safety and security of elected representatives from CPI-Maoist threats in the Naxal hotbed. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram spoke to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan recently and asked him to do the needful to protect the elected civic body members in Gadchiroli, many of who have put in papers after the Maoist intimidation.

Official sources said during last one month, two Gadchiroli zilla parishad (district level local self-Government institution) members from Etapalli tehsil (revenue unit) quit their posts following Naxal ultimatum. Four panchayat and one zilla parishad member in Bhamragarh in the District had also resigned from their respective posts. The sources said of late Maoists have abducted many panchayat or zilla parishad members in Gadchiroli and released them only after they agreed to abide by the Naxal diktats. The Maoists, they said, do not want any development in rural areas of Gadchiroli as under-development and lack of connectivity give them free run in these remote areas.

June 25

The bandh call given by CPI-Maoist received partial response in Gadchiroli District. The markets in Dhanora and Korchi, both Maoist-affected talukas, remained closed. Vehicular traffic was missing and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) did not ply buses in these talukas, causing inconvenience to people. However, no any untoward incident was reported during the bandh, Police sources said. The bandh was, however, not effective in south Gadchiroli. The bandh was called by Maoists to protest the anti-Maoist offensive "Operation Green Hunt" and "police excesses" on tribals.

June 29

Some CPI-Maoist cadres were injured in an encounter with the joint forces of CRPF and Police in Fulbodi forest in Korchi tehsil in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. Official sources said the CRPF and Gadchiroli Police were carrying out joint operations in the forest when they were ambushed by Maoists. The Police recovered a detonator, a pittu (back pack), medicines and Maoist material from the spot. Blood stains were found at the site suggesting some Maoists were injured in the gun battle.

July 5

The day-long bandh called by the CPI-Maoist remained by and large peaceful in Gadchiroli and Gondia Districts. The Maoists had called the bandh to protest two encounters of South Chhattisgarh in June 28-29, where the Maoists have accused Security Forces (SFs) of gunning down villagers in the name of action against armed guerrillas. The Maoists tried to stop traffic by tying banners and creating small obstacles across roads with stones at several places in Gadchiroli like Dhanora, Kasansur, Jarawandi, Pendri and Korchi, and some other places in southern parts of the District. Attempts to paralyse traffic by blocking roads in some parts of Maoist-dominated Gadchiroli and Gondia Districts were thwarted by SFs, who had begun their preventive action on the eve of the strike.

The Maoists used the opportunity of the bandh to appeal to the tribal population to make their 'Shaheed Saptah' or martyr's week between July 28 and August 3 successful.

July 10

As many as 24 Sarpanchs en-masse tendered their resignations to the local administration in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, citing harassment of people by Police and non-fulfilment of their long-pending demands, official sources said. As many as 114 Panchayat members from these 24 village panchayats had resigned on July 9, they said. In Korchi, Zilla Parishad (district level local self-Government institution) elections had to be postponed in February last as no candidate came forward to file nominations apparently due to Maoist threat.

July 11

Around 30 Police patils (volunteers working as department's representatives in villages) of Korchi taluka (revenue division) in Gadchiroli District, submitted their resignation to the sub-divisional magistrate alleging torture by C-60 commandos of the District Police.

Their action follows over 100 Gram Panchayat (village level local self-government) members, including 23 Sarpanchs (presidents of Panchayats) who had resigned on July 10. It is learnt the local Police had slapped preventive action against Buddhram Hedami, Police patil of Phulgondi village in Korchi, for alleged role in helping the CPI-Maoist.

In Gadchiroli, more than 200 elected representatives and office-bearers have so far resigned under some pretext or another in the ongoing year. Earlier in the day, two more Gram Panchayat members are learnt to have resigned. It is learnt the village headmen federation decided to ask members to vacate their posts protesting the unfulfilled promises of the local administration. "There is scope to believe that these resignations have come due to threat of Naxals as some of the demands we have received are demands about non-existent issues like (not to give) licence for coal mining. No licence even for prospecting activity for coal or any other mineral has been given in the area," said Abhishek Krishna, district collector of Gadchiroli.

July 13

Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil admitted in the legislative Assembly that Naxal violence in the State has not witnessed a drop, despite heavy presence of Security Forces.

July 15

Fifty-two more local body representatives have resigned protesting 'police atrocities and lack of development of the region,' in the Korchi tehsil (revenue unit) of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The total number of resignations now stands at 218 in Korchi. "The list includes 27 sarpanchs [heads of gram panchayats, village level local self-government institution], 27 deputy sarpanchs, 31 police patils and 133 gram panchayat members," Nandkishor Vairagade, secretary of the Sarpanch Union of Korchi told The Hindu.

With these 218 resignations, the total number of resignations of local body representatives in Gadchiroli district has now shot up to 355. Gadchiroli zilla parishad CEO Sumant Bhange said that apart from the mass resignations from Korchi, his office had received 137 resignations from the elected representatives from different parts of Gadchiroli.

July 18

The Sarpanch association of Korchi tehsil in Gadchiroli District decided to observe a day-long hunger strike protesting District administration's alleged neglect of developmental issues. On July 25, the village headmen association and other organizations are to observe 'chakka jaam' in a follow up action.

As many as 25 Sarpanches and 135 members of Gram Panchayats from Korchi area of Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra, who had resigned in protest against non-implementation of developmental works and Police excesses, withdrew their resignations.

July 20

An encounter broke out between CRPF personnel and CPI-Maoist cadres in Kaneri forest in Dhanora taluka of the Gadchiroli District. The firing between the two sides began at around 7.30am when CRPF personnel raided the forest area, acting on a tip-off.

The Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre identified as, Anil Raju Gawde alias Suraj alias Sampat (22) from Morawahi village under Etapalli taluka in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra.

July 21

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a farmer in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The Maoists suspected Kishor Bhimrao Atram of Kamalapur village in Aheri tehsil of Gadchiroli to be a Police informer had abducted him three days ago and subsequently killed him.

The Maoists will be observing martyr's week from July 28-August 3.

July 27

The CPI-Maoist have appealed to the masses to observe martyr's week from July 28 to August 3 in memory of 150 colleagues who lost their lives, including around 40 in Central India's Dandakaranya, in the fight against Government forces. The Maoists have also called a bandh during the period. The Maoists have urged people to erect memorials in villages across areas dominated by them to remember the sacrifices of martyred comrades.

In another press release by the Gadchiroli divisional committee of CPI-Maoist, the Maoists have launched a strong attack on Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh, who had visited the District earlier this year. The Maoists have called Ramesh's attempt to help tribals of Menda Lekha village a farce and demanded suspension of existing forest rights.

A Maoist press release of Korchi area committee of the CPI-Maoist condemns the withdrawal of resignations on July 18 by the village headmen and elected representatives. The Maoists also claimed that the elected representatives and Police patils tried to mislead the masses, but have been exposed. They have also warned against starting any Government sponsored works in villages.

July 29

The Police and CRPF personnel came under fire from CPI-Maoist in Gadchiroli District. Police said the incident occurred in the Kumarganda forests near Bhamragad during a joint search operation by a team of the Gadchiroli Police and the CRPF. On searching the spot, Police found a country gun, a magazine and 12 live rounds of an AK-47 rifle, a detonator, a wire bundle and a flashlight.

July 31

The Police and the civil officials have practically stopped from visiting villages to implement development and welfare schemes, as well as attending to people's grievances in Gadchiroli District due to fear of the CPI-Maoist. Panchayat Samiti officials frankly admitted that there is always a threat to their lives due to Maoists presence, while Police officers said that they cannot move in Maoist-affected areas without following the SOP.

Speaking on the sideline of a function in Mumbai, CM Prithviraj Chavan stated that the 'spread of Maoist and terrorism' is a concern in the country. Terming the situation in Naxal-hit Gadchiroli as 'serious', CM Chavan has said that the State Government and the Centre have been taking a number of steps to curb the menace of Naxalism from the State.

August 1

A joint team of anti-Naxal cell and C-60 squad, on July 30, arrested Chandrapur in-charge of the CPI-Maoist Pramod Godghate (30). Godghate was arrested from the court premises adjacent to district collectorate in Chandrapur.

The Maoists in State have banned locally manufactured liquor 'Gudumba', prepared from jaggery or 'gud'. A banner of the Maoists, found at Jimulgatta in Aheri taluka in Gadchiroli District on the occasion of their July 28-August 3 Martyrs' week, warned the local tribal against making or trading the brew.

August 2

Gadchiroli SP Mohammed Suvez Haque has called upon the people to come forward and take the initiative to eliminate the Naxalite problem from Gadchiroli District. Haque was addressing an anti-Naxalite peace rally at Armori tehsil; he said that Gadchiroli District has been plagued by Naxalism. "Several innocent people are being killed by them unnecessarily and the development of the district has also been stalled. To end this problem, citizens should come forward," he said.

August 3

The CPI-Maoist has asked members of the SHGs, village committees and forest management committees in Gadchiroli District to step down. The Maoists have given them a deadline of August 15 to step down, warning them of severe consequences if they did not follow the diktat, sources said. The Maoists also called some of the members in the forest somewhere in Aheri taluka and pronounced their diktat, sources said.

August 9

The CPI-Maoist in Gadchiroli District hit out strongly at leaders who have been using the "Gandhian" ideal of non-violence in spearheading the CFR movement in tribal areas. They have charged Mohan Hirabai Hiralal, who pioneered the model in Mendha-Lekha village, with "waylaying the tribals from the path of conflict". "Hiralal is a follower of Vinoba Bhave, who had sought land from the rich. He is trying to cover up the violence by capitalists against the poor by professing non-violence," says a press note released by the Gadchiroli divisional committee of CPI-Maoist.

August 12

With two panchayat samiti members from Etapalli having withdrawn their resignations, senior officials felt that the democratic machineries would soon return to normalcy.

August 14

Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil said that there was no dearth of funds for development projects in Gadchiroli District but the CPI-Maoist were putting up hurdles. The local people themselves should now raise their voice against the Naxal movement and there was no point in blaming the administration, Patil added.

August 15

The Kasansur Police foiled an ambush bid by the CPI-Maoist by unearthing explosives hidden under an anti-Independence Day banner in the village market adjacent to Kasansur Gram Panchayat in Etapalli tehsil in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. Police deactivated the booby trap and recovered two steel boxes full of IEDs along with a detonator and electric wire.

Maoists hoisted a black flag on Independence Day at Sawargaon village in the District, one kilometer from an ITBP camp on the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border.

Maoists built a 'martyr statue' at Nadekal village under Korchi tehsil in the District during the martyrs' week observed by Maoists from July 28 to August 3.

August 23

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a father-son duo in Tambada village in Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, on suspicion of being Police informers. Sources claimed that over 50 Maoists barged into the house of Baju Gota (52), reportedly shot his son Raju Gota (35) in front of family members and took Baju with them and shot him dead from close range near a poultry market of the village.

August 24

Seven Naxals including two Dalam 'commanders' had surrendered before the Gadchiroli Police of Maharashtra this year so far, the Police said. The two 'commanders' are Nirmala Lalu Kulmethe (25) and Platoon 'commander' Damji Dugga (23). The others who surrendered this year are Sonu Madavi, Mangesh Atram, Kisan Madavi, Chandu Vilas and Renuka Jagan, according to a release issued by Gadchiroli Police. The Maharashtra Police also appealed to CPI-Maoist cadres to surrender and assured them of all possible help.

August 27

The Security agencies engaged in anti-Naxal operations seem to be viewing the audio-visual propaganda of Naxals, presently making the rounds in the form of clippings on mobile phones in the Maoist stronghold of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, as nothing different than regular party activities. The clippings highlight the Maoists' dream to capture power in the country and also see their red flag fluttering atop the Red Fort.

August 28

Nine alleged CPI-Maoist cadres, including a few senior leaders, were produced before the District Judge in Gadchiroli District and charges under sections of Indian Penal Code, Indian Arms Act and Damage to Public Property Act were framed against them. Prabhakar Suryadeora, Arun Parera, Anjela Sontakke, Anuradha Sonule, Mayuri Bhagat, Jyoti Chorghe, Bhimrao Bhowate, Sushma Ramteke and Siddhartha Bhosale are accused of murder, attempt to murder, damage to public property and arson in connection with various incidents in the District. Next date of hearing is September 13, prosecution sources said. All the accused were arrested in the last one year.

August 31

A Police team exchanged fire with alleged Naxals in the forest near village Gangin and Betkathi under the Korchi Police Station limits in Gadchiroli District. There were no reports of casualties.

September 3

An IED weighing 20 kilograms, two detonators, and a booster were recovered by the Police from a canal near the Kumarguda forest on the Bhamragad-Lahiri road in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli District. The haul came when Gadchiroli Collector Abhishekh Krishana, Superintendent of Police Suvez Huque and Additional SP of Naxal operations Rahul Seth were visiting Bhamaragad, according to informed sources.

September 6

A team of CRPF and District Police officers were stranded in a remote village for four days due to heavy rains and floods. The team, which included Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Mohd Suvez Haque, set out on a tour of Naxal-affected Bhamragad village on September 3. They had to stay put in the village till September 6 due to floods in Perlkota river flowing adjoining Bhamragad and heavy downpour.

September 15

The Maharashtra DGP Sanjeev Dayal met with senior officials engaged in anti-Naxal operations and discussed on the rebels' issue and law and order situation in the Naxal-affected Districts of Gadchiroli and Gondia.

September 20

Maoists abducted two villagers identified as Ramaji Madavi of Kumarganda village and Kopa Durva of Tekala village in Bhamragad division in Gadchiroli District.

September 21

Mahadev Mangaruji Waghade, an officer of the BDDS was injured when a detonator exploded while defusing land mine explosives planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The Maoists had put up a red banner on the main road to Kamalapur village in Rennaplli sub-division in front of Bhagvantrao School. "Peoples War Group (PWG) and NCCI unity day Jindabad by CPI (Maoist)" was written on the banner.

The CPI-Maoist call for bandh to observe the foundation day of their organisation, evoked good response at Korchi taluka and some remote parts in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. Sources said the Maoists had not publicised the bandh call across the District and pamphlets were distributed only at select places.

Nagpur University officials received a letter from a Naxal organization called 'Lal Salaam' allegedly threatening to take action against colleges and universities for unnecessarily harassing the students, NU sources disclosed. Though the letter was addressed to State Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, it was sent to vice chancellor Vilas Sapkal at his office address.

September 25

A 12-bore gun and live cartridges were recovered from a spot where suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist had gathered for a meeting near tribal village of Ramayyapetha in Aheri taluka in Gadchiroli District.

September 27

A few CPI-Maoist cadres were reportedly injured and huge quantity of explosives was seized after firing between the Police and the Maoists near Darrekasa in Salekasa tehsil in Gondia District of Maharashtra. Police found huge quantity of explosives in a buried plastic drum containing two steel boxes in which explosive rods were hidden along with polythene sheets.

Gadchiroli Police arrested Meera alias Sarita Devaji Kolha (20), a member of platoon number three of the CPI-Maoist from a forest near Gandepalli village in Etapalli division of the District.

October 8

A team of Gondia District Police had a brief encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres at Kemul village in the District, after a team went to the village on a tip-off that Maoists were holding a secret meeting there. Three rifles and 25 live rounds were among other things recovered from the spot.

Two teenage girls identified as Anjali alias Rani Zaduram Kumbre (19) and Divya alias Baiji Ilani, a minor girl (17), both residents of Lavari village under Purada Police Station were arrested in Lavari village in Gadchiroli District. The girls are allegedly active Maoist members in Korchi Dalam.

October 9

Two teenage girls identified as Laxmi alias Radhika Halani, an 18-year-old and Kasari alias Sunita Tawade, a 15-year-old, were arrested from their home in Lavari village in Gadchiroli District. The girls are allegedly active Maoist members in Korchi Dalam.

October 12

The Gadchiroli Police arrested a hardcore CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Karan alias Umesh Wadde (19), in Kasansur forest, under Etapalli division of Gadchiroli District. He was involved in multiple encounters and blasts. A resident from Jhuri village, Umesh was inducted to the Kasansur local operating squad (LOS) in 2010.

October 16

At least four CPI-Maoist cadres were injured in an encounter with Police near Lankachen village in Gadchiroli District. The Police recovered twenty SLR rounds, ten detonators, 20 pistols, utensils and Naxal literature in Telugu language from the spot. The cache of ammunition included a rifle bearing the Indian Ordnance Factory mark on it.

At least 4-5 CPI-Maoist cadres were reported injured in an exchange of fire with the Police in the mountains between Venkatapur and Reguntha outpost, south of Aheri in Gadchiroli District. A loaded rifle, SLR rounds, Pittu, utensils, and Naxal literature were seized from the encounter site.

A buried dead body of a Maoist cadre was recovered from the Devgad Jangal area of Gadchiroli. The body supposedly covered in a red flag is believed to be that of a Maoist who was killed in the Khobramendha encounter which took place on an unspecified date.

A Police team from Gondia District found twenty kilogram of gelatine explosives from Piparkhari village and 20 kilogram from Parsodi Dhamditola forests, with some detonators as well, in Gadchiroli District.

October 20

The SFs arrested Somli Potem alias Vasanti alias Savita (25), a former 'commander' of Gangloor Dalam of the CPI-Maoist, during an anti-Naxal operation in Koindur forest of Bhamragarh in Gadchiroli District.

October 31

Around 30 CPI-Maoist cadres and the anti-Maoist squad of Gadchiroli Police reportedly exchanged fire in Kospundi forest area in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. Police later conducted a search in the area and recovered two bicycles, a Chinese pistol with 6 live cartridges, a magazine, 100 grams of gun powder and other material from the spot.

November 7

Three women CPI-Maoist cadres including a dalam 'commander' have been arrested from Charvidand village in Gadchiroli District. The three arrested Maoists have been identified as Khobramendha dalam 'commander' Rajita alias Sukri Weladi (35), Suman alias Sumitra Lekhami (23) and Tunge Hedo (22).

November 11

Three CRPF troopers were injured in an encounter with CPI-Maoist cadres in Jarawandi jungles near village Ropi under Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra.

November 18

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a 70-year-old farmer and dumped his body in a field at Devgaon village in Aurangabad District.

November 20

CPI-Maoist cadres killed an ex-Sarpanch, identified as Narayan Srirangi (33) suspecting him to be a Police informer, in Motala-Tekdi village under Sironcha Taluqa of Gadchiroli District, bordering Andhra Pradesh.

November 23

The DG of CRPF, Pranay Sahay, visited an interior location, Pendhari, a tribal village in Dhanora taluka, in the Naxal affected Gadchiroli District to review anti-Naxal operations along the state's border with Chhattisgarh.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Bamu alias Monu Dewa Miccha (20), accused of his involvement in an attack on a Police team in Bhamragarh tehsil on July 4, 2010, has been sentenced to seven years of imprisonment by the Gadchiroli District Court.

November 25

The Gadchiroli Police killed a woman CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Riki alias Rakhi alias Lakhsmi Likami (25), in an encounter in Ambapur forest under Chamorshi tehsil in Gadchiroli District.

November 29

Unidentified CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze three vehicles deployed on road construction site near Watra village in Aheri tehsil of Gadchiroli District.

December 4

A woman CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter near the Hikker forests in the Etapalli division of Gadchiroli District. Police have recovered one rifle, two pittus (back packs) and some Naxal literature from the encounter spot.

December 7

An encounter took place between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres in the forests near Kakadyeli village under Dhanora taluka in Gadchiroli District. The Police recovered a rifle and some Maoist literature from the spot.

December 9

Anti-Naxal cell and C-60 squad arrested a top Maoist cadre, identified as Sanjay alias Bandu Bawne (34), in a joint operation, from his residence in Bhatala village under Shegaon Police Station in Warora tehsil in Chandrapur District.

December 10

In a bid to reassert their presence in central India, the CPI-Maoist has carved out a new zone for their operations comprising Gadchiroli, Gondia and Balaghat areas in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Maoists have also appointed a separate leader, Pahad Singh, to look after the unit.

The Ministry of Home Affair has taken a serious note of the resignations of 127 Gram Panchayat leaders and other public representatives under threat from the Maoists. "The Maoists are coalescing smaller rebel groups with bigger ones and carrying out fresh recruitment in Gadchiroli area. In the last couple of months we have had good contacts with the Maoists and are giving them a tough fight," said CRPF DG Pranay Sahay. In the last three months, the CRPF had 10 encounters with the Maoists. The CRPF has deployed around 6,000 men in the state, including a battalion of the CoBRA commandos.

Deepak alias Milind Teltumbde, the Secretary of the Maharashtra State Committee of the Maoists, is believed to have had a narrow escape, when Police swooped down on a camp in North Gadchiroli near Gondia border.

Police recovered 573 live musket rifle cartridges and 14 rounds of .22 airgun from Lekurbodi village forest under Bedgaon AOP of the Kurkheda Police Station in Gadchiroli District.

A Maoist cadre, identified as Vivek Bhoyar alias Bandu (34), surrendered before the Yavatmal District SP.

December 13

Following a severe reprimand by Bombay HC, the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, J.S. Banthia, issued a circular directing all government departments to fill up vacancies in tribal-dominated and LWE affected talukas of Melghat, Chikhaldara and Dharni in Amravati District, within two weeks.

December 16

CRPF personnel and the Naxals had a brief encounter in the forest of Kucher under Dhondraj armed outpost in Bhamragarh tehsil of Gadchiroli District.

December 22

The Pranhita-Chevella Irrigation Project, a joint venture of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, came under the scanner of SF personnel following the arrest of a manager of one of the private companies engaged in the work for close links with CPI-Maoist.

December 24

State Home Minister RR Patil assured to upgrade the Maoist surrender policy of the State to encourage Maoist cadres to surrender in Maharashtra.

December 28

Two Policemen and a woman were injured in firing by CPI-Maoist cadres at the main square of Gatta (Jambhiya) village in Etapalli taluka in Gadchiroli District.

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Bandu alias Tukaram Pungati, from Mangota village in Aheri taluka of Gadchiroli District.

Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

 

 

 

 

 

 
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