Bihar Timeline 2017

Date

Incidents

Members of NOJ, left a note threatening to kill Pipra (Supaul District), MLA, Shyam Babu Prasad Yadav if he did not quit the BJP by February. NOJ is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. The group has sought an extortion of INR 500,000 from Yadav.

The UMHA flagged the operational efficiency of SFs in the Naxal-affected areas as one of its biggest achievements during a presentation before PM Narendra Modi. The Ministry informed Modi that since the NDA Government came to power in May 2014, there had been a 45 per cent increase in the efficiency of Central Forces (CFs) in operations against the Naxals. In a presentation made by Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi, Modi and other officials were informed that the number of Naxal cadres killed in 2016 had been the highest ever in six years. Eighty-Four cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in 2015 and in 2016, the number swelled to 218, which was an increase of 160 per cent. There was also an increase in the number of Police encounter from 237 in 2015 to 316 in 2016. UHM Rajnath Singh told in a press conference earlier this week that demonetization had increased the problems of CPI-Maoist and that they had weakened. The EFC has already given the go-ahead for an ambitious road project in the 44 worst Naxal-affected Districts. Under this project, the Government proposes to construct 5,412 km of roads and 126 bridges and it would cost INR 117.25 million. The Government is redrawing the 'Red Corridor' - the area affected by LWE - and may soon take off 20 Districts from the list of Naxal-affected areas. The 106 Districts which span 10 States - Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - constitute the Red Corridor. Of these, 44 Districts are said to be the worst affected. India has a total of 683 Districts.

The Police arrested six cadres of the CPI-Maoist along with arms and ammunition during a raid at Karmpur Bhataulia village under Paroo Police Station in Muzaffarpur District. The Police have also seized two country made pistols, six detonators, four cartridges of .315 bore, 17 cartridges of 7.62 bore, hand-written six leaflets meant to threaten people to realise levy and two motorcycles. The arrestees were identified as Dashrath Ram, Santosh Sahni, Baidyanath Paswan, Mukesh Paswan, Rajesh Paswan and Sanjay Kumar Sahni.

A CPI-Maoist cadre demanded an extortion of INR 1 million from BDO, Satish Kumar, of Jhajha in Jamui District. The sender in the letter identified himself as Umesh Yadav, and claimed himself a native of Jhajha Police Station area. BDO lodged an FIR at Jhajha Police Station.

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has commuted death sentences of four cadres of the MCC, now known as the CPI-Maoist, to life imprisonment setting aside a recommendation from the UHM. The Four men identified as Krishna Mochi, Nanhe Lal Mochi, Bir Kuer Paswan and Dharmendra Singh were convicted of killing 34 upper-caste Bhumihars in Bihar 25 years ago.

A Patna Police team stumbled upon a diary in Beur Central Jail in Patna District, which has names of people who paid levy to jailed CPI-Maoist leader Ajay Kandu. Kandu, the alleged mastermind behind the November 2005 Jehanabad jail break, is in the Beur jail that was raided by a Police team headed by Patna SSP, Manu Maharaj. Acting on a tip-off, the SSP with a SDPO and officials from the District administration reached the jail around 2.50am and conducted the raid. The Police also seized six mobile phones, four chargers, a few packets of marijuana, four knives, packets of khaini and earphones during the search.

The Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre and his associate while receiving "levy" of INR 10,000 from a private company staff near Indrapuri Barrage in Rohtas District. SDPO, Mohammad Anwar Javed Ansari said that the two arrested had been identified as Arun Kumar alias Birbal and Dhiraj Kumar. Arun Kumar is an accused in a murder case in Aurangabad District of Bihar.

Sanjay Pandey, a 'munshi' with Raj Kumar Constructions, was beheaded for not paying extortion money to the Naxals in Jamui District. Jamui Police claimed to have recovered the CPI-Maoist literature from the scene of the crime. One such leaflet said those executing Government plans with the help of Police, and without obtaining CPI-Maoist permission, would meet similar fate.

The CPI-Maoist cadres attacked the camp office of Ramie Construction Company and set ablaze a mixer machine and a roller near Barachatti town in Gaya. Locals said the Maoists had earlier demanded 'levy' from Ramie Construction Company, engaged in various road construction projects near Barachatti.

Police arrested Vinod Marandi, Chief of the RCC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, in Gaya District. Police also recovered 7 Kilogram of Ganja. The arrested Maoist was involved in a parcel bomb explosion in which a close aide of Tekari, MLA Abhay Kushwaha was killed at Kujapi village in 2015.

The Police destroyed five illegal mini-gun factories in Rishikund jungle in Munger District. Police also seized four automatic pistols and equipment used for manufacturing illegal guns. According to Police illegal mini-gun factories was being operated under CPI-Maoist cadres protection. Police arrested a person called Shrimant Kumar who was in constant touch with Maoists. Five of his associates managed to escape from the spot during the raid.

The 'zonal commander' Anil Kushwaha aka Sandesh and cadres of the TSPC set ablaze a JCB machine and two tractors in Kaimur District. Maoists attack on a makeshift forest department camp housing construction equipment has led to cessation of work on a 55 kilometres stretch of the all weather Adhaura-Akbarpur Road spread over Rohtas and Kaimur districts of western Bihar. Forest officials fear for their lives after the TSPC 'zonal commander' threatened Forester Manoj Kumar of dire consequences if they dared to resume the work on the project. TSPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed Sunil Yadav, husband of a deputy mukhiya, at Champapur village in Lakhisarai District.

Mantu Khaira, 'zonal-commander' of CPI-Maoist, was killed in an anti-Maoist operation, led by SP, Rajeev Ranjan, in Dahibara forests under Anandpur in Banka. The SFs, comprising personnel from the STF of Bihar Police and Sashastra Seema Bal SSB, recovered two SLRs, an AK-47 rifle and some grenades at the encounter site. No SFs were injured during the encounter.

The TPC 'zonal commander' Anil Kushwaha alias Rakesh Mishra and 10 cadres killed Jitendra Kharwar (18) over delay in serving them food in Rohtas District. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A self-proclaimed CPI-Maoist leader Vijay Kharbar was arrested from Adhaura in Kaimur District. SP, Harpreet Kaur said a rifle and 47 live cartridges were seized from his possession. Kharbar was wanted by Kaimur and Rohtas Police for his involvement in Naxal related incidents.

The CPI-Maoist cadres demanded INR 800,000 'levy', from Nutan Construction Company in East Champaran District. Nutan Construction Company employee Sonu Singh registered an FIR at Pakridayal Police Station in the District, saying some motorcycle-borne persons had visited the site of the construction firm and threatened to blow up its equipment if INR 850,000 was not paid as 'levy' to the CPI-Maoist. "One of them identified himself as CPI-Maoist 'area commander' Mithu Ram", Sonu said. Nutan Construction Company is engaged in construction of approach road to a bridge on Patahi-Shikargunj road in the District.

A man identified as Kaushal Paswan (30) was shot dead by CPI-Maoist cadres near Mahuraushan village in Gaya District. Paswan was a member of an anti-Maoist outfit - Bhakt Sangharsh Samiti - formed last year by some Dalits as a vigilante group against Maoists after they had killed some members of Bhuian and Paswan communities during Assembly polls in 2015.

Police arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres, wanted in about a dozen cases in Rohtas District. Police also recovered two country-made rifles, detonators and live cartridges from their possession.

A CPI-Maoist cadre was arrested in a joint operation of Bihar Police, SSB and CRPF, from Manikkhtan village of Jamui District. The Police recovered heavy arms and ammunition including 1 AK-56 rifle, 5 AK-56 magazines, 108 rounds of AK ammunition, 1 pistol, 2 grenades and three detonators.

CPI-Maoist cadre was arrested from Lausinha village in Gaya District. Acting on a tip off, a joint team of CRPF's CoBRA unit arrested the Maoist in connection with setting on fire an under-construction railway station at Kharaundh in Nawada District in October 2016.

The hardcore CPI-Maoist cadre arrested from Jamui District, with an AK-56 assault rifle and hand grenades, was identified as Shyam Marandi alias Manoj Da alias Umesh Marandi. Jamui SP, Jayant Kant, said Marandi was arrested from his hideout on the Jamui-Banka border where the rebels had assembled to carry out a major operation, during a raid jointly conducted by the Jamui Police, STF, SSB and CRPF. According to Jamui SP, Kant, 106 live cartridges, three country-made pistols, three detonators and two hand grenades were also recovered from Manoj's hideout. CRPF sources said Umesh hailed from Kuchugaon in Kokrajhar District of Assam. Fluent in English, Hindi, Assamese, Santhali and Bengali, he frequently changed his name as he operated in Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam. "It's a major achievement... Manoj was involved in several criminal cases in the district and adjoining areas," the SP said, adding he was being interrogated.

CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Ram Pati Ram alias Awadhesh Ram was arrested along with an associate from Dumarpokhar village in Kaimur District. Police said Ram, a native Chandauli District of Uttar Pradesh, was wanted in several Naxal-related incidents in the neighbouring State and had been hiding in Kaimur. The identity of Ram's associate is yet to be ascertained.

Suspected cadres of the TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, on April 9 night raided the construction site of GAIL, the agency engaged in laying gas pipeline passing through Gurua Police Station area of Gaya District of Bihar and "ordered" stoppage of work for the company's failure to pay the 'levy' demanded by the outfit. City SP, Awakash Kumar said a case has been registered and work will resume. "Full Police protection would be provided to those engaged in gas pipeline laying work," said the City SP.

Two hand grenades suspected to be of the LWEs were recovered from a maize field in Kapasia village of the Samastipur District of Bihar, following a tip-off by a mukhiya.

Suspected CPI-Maoist militants killed an unidentified JCB driver and set ablaze six vehicles at Gangatia ghat on the bank of Kiul River at Badaspur village under Chanan Police Station area of Lakhisarai. Lakhisarai SP, Ashok Kumar said five trucks, a tractor, a JCB machine and a motorbike were torched.

Police arrested three cadres of CPI-Maoist engaged in manufacturing illegal firearms from the Bariarpur and Gangta Police Station in Munger District. The arrested CPI-Maoists were identified as Anil Yadav of village Dhanmani Patam under Naya Ramnagar Police Station, Chanchal Yadav of Nista under Surajgarha Police Station in Lakhisarai District of Bihar and Kesho Yadav of Kajichak under Bariarpur Police Station. SFs recovered two unfinished pistols, two unfinished regular guns, one base machine, one drilling machine and 13 magazines besides a large number of tools used in manufacturing firearms.

Two employees of a road construction contractor, Kampani Sao and Amar Kumar, were arrested with INR 100,000 cash meant for payment to a CPI-Maoist operative in Bihar's Munger District. Police seized three mobile phones and a diary from the two men.

Bihar IG, operation, Kundan Krishnan ordered review of security measures at all CAPF camps and other vital installations in Naxal-affected areas of the State at Patna District. In Bihar, SSB and CRPF battalions are responsible for anti-Naxal.

Bihar CM, Nitish Kumar, announced INR 500,000 ex gratia to family of each of the six jawans of CRPF who died in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres at Sukma District in Chhattisgarh on April 24.

Bihar ranked third among the ten states hit by LWEs violence in 2016, according to the data available on the UMHA website. Besides Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are the other states affected by LWE. The MHA figures say altogether 1,048 incidents of LWE violence took place in these 10 states in 2016. Bihar was third with 129 incidents. Chhattisgarh with 395 incidents was on top followed by Jharkhand 323.

SFs arrested three cadres of the CPI-Maoist from Lutua Police Station area in Gaya District. The arrested cadres were identified as Visheshwar Bharti, Chhotu Bharti and Ashok Kumar. SFs also recovered five cartridges of different weapons, Naxal literature and wires from their possession.

The 27th battalion of SSB with District Police and STF of Bihar Police arrested a 'commander' of the CPI-Maoist Musafir Sahni alias Alok Ji and four other cadres in Muzaffarpur District. The four other Maoists were identified as Rambali Paswan, 'area commander' of Saraiyya area in Muzaffarpur, Anil Sahni, Ganesh Rai and Shiv Kumar Ram. Security Forces recovered 18 live cartridges of assault rifle, eight live cartridges of pistols, two country made pistols, 14 detonators and Maoist literature from them.

Around 70 Naxalites escaped after a fierce encounter with combined Police and Paramilitary team in Nawada District. According to SP, Vikas Burman, around 70 Naxalites were spotted in Gaighat locality under Kawakol block. Immediately, assisted by CRPF and STF besides local Policemen, the Naxalites believed to have been led by notorious Nepali Yadav, who was operating a training camp in the District a couple of years ago, were challenged resulting in an encounter. The Naxalites left behind several items such as knapsacks, uniforms, solar plates, cooking material and Naxal literature.

SFs arrested two cadres of the CPI-Maoist at Charkapathar in Jamui District of Bihar. The arrested CPI-Maoists have been identified as Suresh Sao and Anwar Mian. SFs recovered two bombs weighing 2.5 Kilograms.

Musafir Sahni, a self-styled 'zonal commander' of CPI-Maoist, confessed during interrogation that one north Bihar MLA, had recently paid INR 500,000 to CPI-Maoist in Muzaffarpur District. Sahni further added that at least 25 elected people representatives, including three legislators, had been paying 'levy' to Maoists operating in north Bihar. Sahni was arrested along with two other CPI-Maoist cadres from Ramnagar village in Sakra Police Station area of the District on May 11.

CPI-Maoist cadres abducted a private company's security guard and a labourer from its base camp at Kapasia village under Paraiya Police Station in Gaya District, after the company management refused to pay them extortion money.

IG, Bihar sector of CRPF, M S Bhatia, while addressing a press conference in Patna District, said that the CRPF is working on a plan to create a strong intelligence network in the state to carry out anti-CPI-Maoist strikes. IG, Bhatia also added that two more battalions are required in Bihar to tackle CPI-Maoist menace. "The issue was raised at the May 8 meeting between Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and chief ministers of Maoist-hit states in New Delhi," he said, adding five regular and two CoBRA battalions are already deployed in the state to fight the Maoists. The long pending plan for positioning of a chopper either in Patna or Gaya for anti-Maoist operations was also discussed with the state Government officials at a meeting held in Patna last month (April 2017). At present, four choppers are stationed in Ranchi District of Jharkhand for anti-Maoist operations in Bihar.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested during a joint operation of the STF and Saran Police in Saran District .

Sasaram Police seized 1,950 Kilogram ammonium nitrate, 18,000 detonators and hundreds of country liquor pouches at Kharbandi in Rohtas District. The material was meant to be supplied to CPI-Maoist cadres.

A CPI-Maoist cadre named in an attack on an under-construction railway station in Nawada District on November 3, 2016, was arrested in Gaya District. Anuj Yadav, a resident of Jehanabad District, was arrested from Bodh Gaya following a tip off to the STF and handed over to Nawada Police.

The ADJ of Munger Court, Jyoti Swaroop Shrivastava, awarded capital punishment to five CPI-Maoist cadres in Munger District. Maoists identified as Bipin Mandal, Adhiklal Pandit, Ratu Koda, Banu Koda and Manu Koda are convicted with the killing of two CRPF personnel, Sone Gauda and Ravindra Rai, during the last parliamentary elections in April 2014.

The Munger judge who awarded capital punishment to five Maoists on May 25 received a threat message on his WhatsApp number in Munger District. The threat message reads, "Hamare Jan Adalat Nein Apko Phansi Ki Saja Sunayi Hai". ADJ Jyoti Swaroop Srivastava had sentenced to death five Maoists for ambushing and killing two CRPF jawans and injuring at least 12 others on the Gangta-Lakshmipur road under Haveli Kharagapur subdivision during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

The Maoists have called a two-day Bihar bandh on May 28 and 29 in Bhagalpur, Munger, Lakhisarai, Jamui and Banka Districts to protest against the Munger court order, according to Laljeet Koda, spokesperson of the CPI-Maoist's Eastern Bihar-Jharkhand regional zonal committee.

At least 30 to 40 cadres of the CPI-Maoist set ablaze a mobile tower, three kilometres away from a CRPF camp in Anandpur village under Laxmipur Police Station in Jamui District. According to reports, tower, generator set and other instruments were damaged completely in the attack.

Nine CPI-Maoist cadres involved in the attack on security personnel in Sukma District forest of Chhattisgarh on April 24, were arrested in Jamui District. Jamui SP, Jayant Kant said after receiving a tip-off that some CPI-Maoist cadres were planning major attacks in Naini Pathar and Asarkho forest areas under Charkapathar Police Station in the District, a team of CRPF, SSB, STF and Bihar Police rushed to the jungle and arrested nine of them. The arrested Maoists were identified as Ramdeo Kora, Gopal Bhulla, Madan Bhulla, Sunil Marandi, Shyam Soren, Jhanki Murmu, Sonam Hansda, Chamru Ram and Arjun Kora. Twelve pipe bombs weighing 5 Kilograms each, one can bomb weighing 10 Kilograms, 40 metres of electric wire and two batteries were also recovered from their possession.

Bihar Police arrested former leader of the CPI-Maoist Bachchan Kahar and his associate Bharat Paswan Rampur from Sarauti village in Arwal District. During search at Kahar's house, the Police seized a stolen rifle, five ammunition and Naxal literature.

The CRPF, IG, (Bihar) M.S. Bhatia convened a meeting with CRPF officials at Koilwar in Bhojpur District, to weed out the CPI-Maoist cadres from Naxal pockets in Bihar.

In meeting held at the 205th CoBRA Battalion headquarters of the CRPF in Gaya District and a second one at IG (operations) Kundan Krishnan's office in Patna District, SFs decided to intensify operations in the State against the CPI-Maoist. The meeting assumes importance, as according to CRPF sources three pockets - the Jamui/Nawada/Giridih (triangular section), Gaya Aurangabad section and Lakhisarai/ Munger/Banka/Jamui section - are still under CPI-Maoist influence. Total seven battalions of the CRPF are deputed in Bihar. Five of those battalions do general duty and two are posted as CoBRA battalions. There are around 1,000 security personnel in a battalion.

CPI-Maoist cadres beheaded a man alleging he was a 'police informer' in Jamui District of Bihar. Police said the Maoists abducted Vijay Barnawal, a resident of Bhelwaghati of Giridih District, who was earlier an active member of a Maoist group, when he had gone to neighbouring Bihar for some work. His decapitated body was found in Sijuwa village of Jamui District. Police traced Barnawal's identity from his Aadhaar card, as the Maoists slit his head. Barnawal, who was lodged in Giridih District jail for three years, worked as a stone trader after his release.

SFs killed two suspected CPI-Maoist cadres in an encounter in the Barmasia forest area under Barhat Police Station in Lakhisarai District. A joint team of the CRPF's specialised unit for jungle warfare CoBRA, the State Police's STF and the District Armed Police conducted the operation based on a tip-off of Maoist movement in the forest under Barhat Police Station in the District. The SFs were combing the area when, the troops spotted some heavily armed Maoists between Barmuha and Barmasia villages and two Maoists were killed in the encounter that followed. ASP (operations), Pawan Kumar, said some other of the rebels also suffered bullet injuries in the five-hour-long operation but managed to escape. Blood stains were found on the trail the Maoists fled. Two bodies were recovered and two .303 bore assault rifles were seized from the site. The identity of the killed rebels is yet to be ascertained, but they were suspected to be Maoist cadres from Chhattisgarh. "Two rifles, a magazine and liquor pouches were recovered from the spot where the Maoists had gathered," said Jamui ASP, D.N. Pandey.

The Bihar Government has announced cash rewards ranging from INR 25,000 to INR 500,000, for anyone giving information about at least 43 top CPI-Maoist leaders active in the State. The cash awards will be on offer for anyone who gets hold of the Maoist leaders -- living or dead -- or assists the Police in facilitating the arrest of the Maoists. "Anyone cooperating with the police in getting hold of the Maoists will be rewarded with cash, as announced by the Bihar government for each of the ultras falling in the rewards category," ADG (headquarters), Sanjiv Kumar Singhal said. The Maoists leaders on whose heads a cash reward of INR 500,000 has been put include Arvind Kumar Singh alias Dev alias Arvind Kumar of Jehanabad, Sandip Ji alias Vijay Yadav of Gaya, Ram Babu Ram alias Rajan of Madhuban and Parvesh Da alias Anuj Da alias Amlesh Da of Hazaribagh (Jharkhand). Of these, Arvindji (53), is a topmost Maoist leader at the national level. A politburo member of CPI-Maoist, he carries a reward of INR 10 million in Jharkhand, where he is wanted in around 13 cases. He also carries a cash reward of INR 4 million each in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. In addition to these top four, a reward of INR 50,000 each has been announced on 33 Maoists and of INR 25,000 each against four Maoists. Interestingly, 21 out of 43 Maoists on the heads of which reward has been put belong to one District - Jamui in south-eastern Bihar.

A special court in Sasaram (western Bihar), constituted for trial of cases under the POTA, pronounced five CPI-Maoist cadres guilty of killing DFO Sanjay Kumar Singh in the Rehal forests under Nauhatta Police Station area in Rohtas District on?February 15, 2002. The court pronounced former CPI-Maoist 'zonal commander' Nirala Yadav and his associates, Ram Bachan Yadav, Nitish Yadav and Lalan Singh Kharwar, guilty under sections 302/149, 148 and 353/149 of IPC, section 27 of Arms Act and 3(2) (1) and 22 (5) of POTA. Another member of CPI-Maoist, Sudama Yadav was found guilty under section 20 of POTA, for being a member and supporter of a terrorist organization.

Two jewelers in Sarai at Vaishali District have complained to the Police that they apprehend a threat to their lives from Maoists who have demanded INR 2.5 million from them.

A Munger District court convicted a CPI-Maoist cadre to seven-year rigorous imprisonment for possession of explosive substances. Additional District Judge - II Purushottam Mishra passed the order convicting Birbal Murmu after finding him guilty under provisions of the Explosive Substance Act, 1884 and Rules, 2008. Murmu, a CPI-Maoist 'area commander' of Kharagur region of Munger District, was found guilty of concealing 93 gelatin sticks in Kandani forests. Earlier, he was arrested in June 2012 from Pakur District.

A 26-year-old woman was beheaded by CPI-Maoist cadres in Nawada District. "She was a police informer and worked against the spirit of people's revolution. The local Police Station in-charge will meet the same fate," read a note which was found near her dead body. Victim Jaya Devi was a native of Baragad village which is situated near Kauakol jungle bordering the Maoist-affected State of Jharkhand.

Gaya Police and the CRPF during a joint combing operation recovered 10 cylinder bombs, suspected to be planted by CPI-Maoist cadres to target SFs, from the jungles of Ashani village under Guraru Police Station area in Gaya District.

A local court in Bihar acquitted 14 CPI-Maoist cadres in connection with an attack on the base camp of a private road construction company at Goh in Aurangabad District in July 2013 for lack of evidence.

Five Naxals were convicted by a special court in Sasaram District for the murder of then DFO, Sanjay Kumar Singh, in the Rehal forests under Nauhatta Police Station area in Rohtas District on?February 15, 2002. The four accused, namely Nirala Yadav, Ram Bachan, Lalan Singh and Nitish Kumar Oraon, all were sentenced life imprisonment while the fifth accused Sudama Uraon will have to undergo 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said that the agency had registered a case on March 22, 2002, on the request of the Bihar Government.

A group of suspected CPI-Maoist cadres have threatened to kill ADSJ, Prabhunath Singh over his sentencing, on July 5, four Maoists to life term for the 2002 killing of then Rohtas DFO, Sanjay Kumar Singh. The employees of Sasaram civil court in Rohtas District found a pamphlet pasted on the wall of the court building. The pamphlet has warned the judge of "punishment" in a kangaroo court. Singh on July 5 sentenced self-proclaimed 'area commander' Nirala Yadav and three more Maoists to life imprisonment for the forest official's murder in February 2002, and the fifth accused Sudama Oraon to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.

SFs arrested 16 CPI-Maoist cadres from their hideout in Jamui District. The Maoists had assembled at Kalyanpur village.

CPI-Maoist cadres abducted three members of a family, suspecting them to be 'police informers', and subsequently killed them in Jamui District. A group of Maoists descended on the house of Shiv Koda at Tari village in the early hours of Friday and held three members of the family hostage at gunpoint. Thereafter, they took them to the nearby Kukarjhap dam near Barhat and killed them. The Police identified the deceased as Shiv Koda, Bajrangi Koda and Meena Devi. The bodies bore multiple injuries which suggested that the killers had used heavy stones and blunt objects to kill them. Jamui SP, Jayant Kant said, "We found the bodies near Kukurjhap dam near Barhat. A red slip found at the spot claimed responsibility for the killings," he said adding that the Police had started combing operations in the Maoist-hit area.

The ED has initiated the process to attach properties of two top CPI-Maoist leaders following a letter received from Bihar Police in this regard. Sources said the ED has initiated action against Pradyuman Sharma and Sandeep Yadav, who are most wanted in Bihar and Jharkhand. Sandeep carries INR 500,000 reward on his head in Bihar and INR 2.5 million in Jharkhand. The Bihar Government has announced INR 50,000 on Pradyuman while he carries a reward of INR 500,000 in Jharkhand. IG (operation) Kundan Krishnan said four more Maoist leaders are on the list of those whose property details have been collected to be sent to the ED for attachment very soon while work was on against several other leaders. "Most of these properties were in the name of their relatives. This proves that the Maoists are not revolutionaries but like other criminals who lead a lavish life with money extorted from businessmen and villagers," Krishnan said.

Residents of four villages in Jamui District have taken shelter on the premises of Barhat Police Station, fearing threat to their lives from the CPI-Maoist cadres. The SHO of Barhat Police Station Amit Kumar told reporters that Police is trying to instill confidence among the villagers to go back to their respective houses. The SHO added that CPI-Maoist cadres have lost their domain in the region. That is why they carried out the incident on July 14, 2017 killing three members of family suspecting them to be 'police informers'. Sources in the Police headquarters said requisition for the deployment of 12 additional companies of the CRPF in Bihar have been made to UMHA. At present, 29 companies of the central force are engaged in anti-Naxal operations in the State.

UMHA has asked CRPF (Bihar Sector) to submit a fact-finding inquiry report for the feasibility and use of the two additional battalions in the State. At present, three battalions of SSB and five regular and two CoBRA battalions of CRPF are deployed in Bihar.

Samastipur Police arrested five suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist with illegal weapons during a vehicle-checking drive in Samastipur District. The Police intercepted a SUV on National Highway-28 near Bangra and on searching found one of the five occupants to be in possession of two country-made pistols and two live cartridges. The suspect was later identified as Basant Kumar, a resident of Chhajan village in neighbouring Muazaffarpur District. Basant happened to be an active member of a CPI-Maoist outfit led by Musafir Sahni. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were identified as Ajit Kumar, Ashok Kumar Singh, Rahul Yadav, Ashok Yadav and Shashikant Mehta.

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, Naulakh Singh, from Thathan village in Vaishali District. Police said Naulakh was involved in several Maoists related incidents in Muzaffarpur and Vaishali Districts.

A joint team of CRPF and Police arrested three cadres of the CPI-Maoist in Aurangabad District. Acting on a tip off that Naxalites are pasting posters in different areas to terrorise people to make their proposed August 3, 2017, Bihar bandh a success, a joint team of CRPF and local Police raided Sahajpur and Kalidi villages of the District and arrested three Maoists who had come to paste posters. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres have been identified as Ramlagan Singh Bhokta, Kamlesh Singh Bhokta and Mahesh Bhuiya. These CPI-Maoist cadres were also trying to influence and motivate local youths to join CPI-Maoist cadres.

A CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Sushant Ram, resident of Shivdih village under Lakhisarai District, was arrested by Munger Police near Amarasni river under Larayatan Police Station in Munger District. Police said Sushant was a named accused in a number of cases and was also associated with Naxalite leaders like Pramod Koda and Kare Lal Koda, who were arrested recently. He was also working as an 'informer' for the Maoists and used to report the activities of Police and Police movements to them, said SDPO (sadar), Harishankar Kumar.

Around 100 CPI-Maoist cadres reportedly blew up a mobile tower, abducted three gatemen from different railway level-crossings and also laid siege to the Danapur Durg Express train for a few hours, abducting the cabin man, in the Lakhisarai District. "Around 100 rebels were involved in the abductions from the level crossings, located in a 10-km radius," IGP, Bhagalpur Zone, S.M. Khopde disclosed. They then hijacked the train. A statement by the CRPF noted, "Train no-13288 Danapur Durg Express train was hijacked near the Bhalui station [in Bhimbandh area of Lakhisarai] around 2:30 am (on Thursday). The cabin man who was on duty was also abducted." The siege ended after an exchange of fire took place between personnel of the CoBRA, a specialised unit of CRPF proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare, and the hijackers. However, no casualty was reported from either side. The gatemen and the cabin man were subsequently released.

Bihar Police arrested a cadre of the CPI-Maoist, Suresh Baitha, from Nonfarva village in East Champaran District. Baitha was carrying INR 25,000 on his head. Baitha was wanted in 14 cases of violence and related crimes in the District.

The CRPF has proposed creation of special platoons comprising young and highly trained commandoes in each company of the elite force to tackle the CPI-Maoist problem in Bihar. The proposal was finalised at a meeting of CRPF officials chaired by IG, CRPF, Bihar sector, M.S. Bhatia, in Gaya on August 5. The special platoons, as per the proposal, would be engaged in special drives against the Maoists in the worst-Naxalite affected Districts of the State. Each platoon would comprise 30-35 young and highly trained commandoes. A company consists of three platoons. Bhatia said the strategy had been changed to take on the Maoists more effectively in Bihar. "The personnel of the newly formed platoons will be given specific task to hit the target more effectively," he said on August 6. The members of the special platoons will be equipped with latest weapons and modern electronic gadgets to help them in the operation. Bhatia said apart from the young commandoes, newly recruited jawans will be inducted in the special platoons. "The idea is to add more teeth to the force, which has been assigned to curb Maoist-related violence across the country. The same strategy will be adopted in other Naxalite-hit States later," the IG said. The CoBRA was carved out of the CRPF to deal with rebels in an effective manner. "The purpose is to make the force sharper in their operation to flush out the Naxals," IG, Bhatia said. At present, 30 battalions of the CPRF are deployed in Bihar to deal with the Maoists.

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist triggered a blast in an under-construction community hall at Jamgai village in Gaya District. The CPI-Maoist cadres left leaflets claiming responsibility for the incident. The community hall was being constructed to serve as a Police picket in the Maoist-affected area.

DIG Vikas Vaibhav, informed that Bihar Police will extend its Lok Samvad (Public Interface Initiative) to the Naxal affected Jamui and Lakhisarai Districts. DIG Vaibhav added, "Building confidence of people in policing, apart from ensuring their involvement in mainstream activities, will be our objective in extending the programme to Maoist strongholds in Banka, Jamui, Munger and Lakhisarai Districts under the two Police ranges of eastern Bihar." The programme was launched in Munger last Saturday (August 5) after DIG Vaibhav was given additional charge of the range. The Munger range comprises six districts - Munger, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Sheikhpura, Begusarai and Khagaria. Meanwhile, sources said the Police had also initiated sports activities; involve common man, at select places in Bhagalpur District to make the programme more popular.

The STF of Bihar Police seized a huge consignment of explosives, including detonators and gelatin, from Rajauli Police Station area in Nawada District. The explosives were meant for the cadres of CPI-Maoist. The Police have launched combing operations in Naxal-hit areas of the district close to the Bihar-Jharkhand border.

Bihar Police arrested four cadres of the CPI-Maoist with explosives from Jhajha Police Station area in Jamui District. Police recovered 73 detonators 60 Kilograms of explosives and others related materials from them. The identity of the cadres is yet to be ascertained.

Four members of a family were allegedly abducted by the cadres of the CPI-Maoist from Lahsorba village under Piri Bazar Police Station in Lakhisarai District. The abductees were identified as Bhuna Yadav, his sons Vikas and Babloo and his nephew, Sanjay Yadav.

Two persons, Sudhir and Shankar Pandey, were lynched allegedly for having connections with the CPI-Maoist in Gaya District. Their bodies were dumped on the banks of river Morhar under Gurua Police Station limits. A Police officer told that Sudhir had no direct links with CPI-Maoist cadres; however, he did use to provide shelter to some active cadres of the outfit at his ancestral village.

The CPI-Maoist cadres shot dead a 30-year-old youth identified as Sunny Ram, suspecting him to be a 'police informer', in Lakhisarai District. Police said a group of 10 Maoists intercepted Sunny near Ramtaliganj Mor under Kajra Police Station when he was returning to his ancestral village Shivdih from the local market. They tied his hands with a rope and shot him dead. The SHO of Kajra Police Station, Sujeet Warsi, said a handwritten pamphlet and four empty cartridges of 7.62 bore were seized from the site of occurrence. The residents told the Police that the Maoists had earlier warned the inhabitants of the village to punish them for leaking information to the Police about their activities.

The bandh call given by the cadres of the CPI-Maoist in Magadh region passed off peacefully. The bandh was called o protest the arrest of CPI-Maoist leader Rajesh Bhokta and a former mukhiya Manu Yadav. Police sources said the bandh was called in Magadh division which includes Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal and Nawada Districts.

The District Police arrested a self-styled 'area commander' of the CPI-Maoist, Satyendra Paswan, from Pachmo village under Barem Police outpost in Aurangabad District. Paswan, a resident of Nimdih village under Dhibra Police Station in the District, carried a reward of INR 50,000 on his head.

Three schoolteachers and two panchayat secretaries have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of Karpi BEO, Shalik Ram Sharma, in Arwal District of Bihar. The arrested have been identified as Virendra Kumar, husband of panchayat schoolteacher Sudha Devi, teachers Suraj Kumar and Umesh Kumar Madhukar, besides panchayat secretaries Ayub Ansari and Dina Nath Singh. The five persons have been arrested for hiring a Maoist to kill the BEO, pursuing a case of fraud in appointment of panchayat teachers. Suspected Maoists had shot at Karpi's BEO Shalik Ram in Arwal District on August 30. He succumbed to his injuries the next day. Arwal SP, Dilip Kumar Mishra, said the accused had hired Vicky Paswan, a Maoist and an accused in the 2005 Jehanabad jail break case, to kill the BEO. Paswan later engaged three others to execute the job. The deal was struck for Rs 60,000, of which they paid Rs 28,000, he added.

Police unearthed five powerful bombs and several explosives, planted in the path of a team of SF personnel on the Pathra-Jharna road under Dhibra area in Aurangabad District. Notably, the CPI-Maoist cadres plant the explosives to target the SFs.

Bihar Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Sanjay Sahni, at Parsauni Kapoor village in East Champaran District. Sahni, a native of Parsauni Kapoor village was wanted in a case lodged at Chakia Police Station against some Maoists' for an abortive bid to blow up railway track three years ago. SP, Upendra Kumar Sharma said that Police was interrogating him to find out his role in other Naxal activities in the District.

One Maoist, identified as Satyendra Paswan, was arrested near a canal at Pachmo village under Badhem Police outpost area in Aurangabad District. Police said Satyendra was involved in various Naxal activities and was at large since long.

A joint team of CRPF, STF and District Police arrested a Maoist from Kajra Police Station area in Lakhisarai District. Police said that the Maoist, identified as Vrihaspati Koda, was arrested from Kajra forest during a combing operation against Maoists. Koda was involved in various unlawful activities in Lakhisarai and neighbouring Jamui Districts.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres blew up the office of a private solar power plant in Gaya District. However, there was no report of casualty in the incident. ASP (anti-Naxal operations), Arun Kumar said about 25 Maoists, including women, raided the premises of Wellson Energy Company Private Limited at Saun village in Aamas Police Station area, held hostage two guards of a security agency deployed there and triggered a dynamite blast. The explosion blew up the control room and the administrative building on the 125-acre premises of the solar power company. The Maoists also set on fire other buildings adjacent to the control room. Non-payment of 'levy', demanded by the Maoists, is believed to be the reason for the attack. Sources said the Maoists had earlier demanded a levy of INR 10 million from the company, but its executives refused to make the payment.

One woman CPI-Maoist leader was arrested during a Police operation against the Maoists in Banka District. Police said a joint team of the CRPF, SSB and the District Police conducted a raid in the Pararia forest under Katoria Police Station of the District and arrested Parwatia Devi alias Kewali Devi, wife of slain Maoist leader Mantu Khaira. Banka superintendent of police Chandan Kushwaha said the operation was launched on a tip off that Parwatia was scheduled to come to Pararia to meet her associates. The police had to face mild protest from local residents when they took Parwatia into custody. Later, a Police team led by ASP, operation, Vimlesh Chandra Jha carried out a raid and seized around 30 kilograms of ammonium nitrate from her hideout under Chanan Police Station of the District. Mantu Khaira, a self-styled 'zonal commander' of the outfit, was killed in an encounter with the Police in Dahibra forest in Banka District in February 2017. Khaira was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head and the Police had launched a special operation to arrest him.

Personnel of the CRPF seized a huge cache of arms during a special operation against the CPI-Maoist in Gaya District. Acting on a tip off, a CRPF team headed by Commandant Ankit Kumar launched an operation in Chakarbandha forest in Gaya, during which, the team detected a tunnel near Tartua village, which the Maoists used for storing arms and ammunition. Three semi-automatic rifles each of .12 bore, a country-made rifle, a country-made pistol, seven cartridges, hand grenades and explosives were recovered from the tunnel. A walkie-talkie and wires in large quaintly were also seized. The arms were stored in the forest to carry out an attack by the Maoists on the SFs. Though some armed squad members of the banned outfit were present in the forest, they preferred to disperse from the spot after leaving behind their weapons.

Former CPI-Maoist cadre Tarkeshwar Paswan (46) was injured when three Maoists attacked him at Thathan Bujurg village in Vaishali District. Tarkeshwar, once considered close to self-proclaimed 'zonal commander' of the Maoist, Musafir Paswan, was attacked when he was sitting at a tea stall at Hanuman Chowk, close to the National Highway-77 stretch connecting Hajipur with Muzaffarpur, around 7.30am. Three assailants in a motorbike reached the spot and sprayed bullets from a sophisticated weapon on Tarkeshwar inflicting three bullet injuries. Agitated over the incident, a group of Tarkeshwar's supporters blocked the road and paralysed traffic for over four hours. Tarkeshwar was involved in Maoist-related incidents since 1990. Several villages such as Thathan, Thathan Bujurg and Asadharpur were his areas of operation. Sources, however, said Tarkeshwar had developed good relations with the Police in the region, which angered senior members of the outfit. "He was being touted as an informer of the police."

The PLFI cadres shot dead a contractor after he refused to pay them extortion money at Diha village under Guraru Police Station area in Gaya District. Police said contractor Ramadhar Singh was allegedly shot dead by armed squad of the outlawed, after he refused to pay the "levy" demanded by them. The Police said Singh on way to the construction site from his house when three suspected PLFI cadres intercepted him near Diha village and shot him dead. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A local court in Sheohar District awarded life imprisonment to two CPI-Maoist cadres in connection with the killing of a youth over five years ago. Additional District and Sessions Judge, Rajesh Kumar also slapped a fine of INR 50,000 on each of the two convicts, Lalu Sahni and Brahmadeo Ram. The court also held both the Maoists guilty under the Arms Act and awarded them seven years imprisonment, besides imposing fine of INR 10,000 each. The two had shot dead Sunil Kumar in January 2012, as he was vocal against Maoists and their activities.

Road construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav said the Centre has approved construction of 49 roads in five Maoist-hit Districts. "The total length of roads will be 835 km and the estimated cost will be Rs 1,584 crore," Nand Kishore said, adding, "The Centre will give Rs 821 crore while the state will provide the rest." After the construction of these roads commuting would become safer in Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Aurangabad, Jamui and Banka. The Minister said six roads will be constructed in Aurangabad, 5 in Banka, 9 in Gaya, 6 in Jamui and 23 in Muzaffarpur. The department has been asked to complete tender process in two months and complete the roads within a year.

Sixteen former CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before senior officials of the Police and SSB in Sheohar District. Fourteen of them were earlier active in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Sheohar District while the other two were residents of neighbouring Sitamarhi District. They all faced charges of involvement in attacks on security personnel and for inciting people against the Police. None of them deposited any firearms.

Maheshi Yadav, a Maoist and self-proclaimed former 'zonal commander' of Morhar Nilanjan sub-zone who carried a reward of INR 50,000 on his head, surrendered in Barachatti area in Gaya District. He was wanted in 12 cases.

A STF team seized 260 live cartridges of SLR meant for supply to SFs from NH-31 near Srichandrapur village under Sahebpur Kamal Police Station area in Begusarai District. Three arms smugglers, Manchan Yadav (42), Arvind Mandal (45) and his son Bhrigu Mandal (22), were arrested with the ammunition, a bike, three cell phones and INR 5000. However, Shushil Singh, who had handed over the cartridges to the trio, managed to escape. SHO of the Sahebpur Kamal Police Station, Rajesh Kumar Yadav said the cartridges were manufactured at Indian Ordinance Factory and are supplied only to SFs. "Shushil had brought them from Odisha. It will be known only after his arrest that how he got the cartridges," Yadav said adding that the consignment might have been sold to the CPI-Maoist. He further said Manchan used to purchase the smuggled cartridges at INR 300 per piece and later sold it to Arvind for INR 350. "Arvind used to sell them to Maoists for INR 400 per piece," the SHO said and added that in 2015, Shushil and Manchan were arrested from Begusarai with more than 250 cartridges of INSAS assault rifle.

The Police arrested four CPI-Maoist imposters, including a businessman, on the charge of carrying out extortion in Sheohar District. Acting on a tip off, a Police team led by Sheohar SDPO, Pritish Kumar raided a garments shop at Babali Chowk in the District headquarters town and arrested Devendra Ram alias Dev. They also seized copies of extortion letters sent to businessmen, brick kiln owners and other professionals. Devendra, Police said, was the kingpin of the group that operated in the garb of Maoists. During interrogation, Devendra admitted he had sent threat letters to three businessmen - Pintu Tiwary, Reza Ahmad and Bechan Kumar - demanding extortion. Four of his associates are residents of East Champaran and the others to Sheohar and Sitamarhi Districts.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres abducted Suresh Rajak, a forest official from a wildlife sanctuary, in Kaimur District. The abductors allegedly made the call for ransom on the mobile phone of the victim's son Kaushal Kumar, claiming that they were Naxalites operating in the region. Another call was made on the cell phone of an employee Dhananjay Kumar. The Maoists demanded a ransom of INR 800,000 from his family for his release, officials and his relatives said the next day. The Police said the Maoists descended at the office of Rajak and held him captive at gunpoint. He was posted as forester at the Karar beat office in Kaimur wildlife sanctuary, around 200 kilometres southwest of Patna. Buxar SP, Rajesh Kumar, said a Police team has been assigned to rescue the official from the abductors. He confirmed that ransom calls were made to the victim's family.

A makeshift camp of a construction company was attacked and a machine set on fire near Shivpur village in Darigav Police outpost area in Rohtas District. Seven armed men raided the camp of Baba Hans Construction Company, engaged in making canals under Durgawati Reservoir Project (DRP), and assaulted the staff as well. The area is 15 kilometres south of District headquarters Sasaram and 166 kilometres southwest of Patna. Some farmers, whose land had been acquired for the project, had threatened the staff earlier in the day. Police were investigating if the attack was carried out by farmers or Maoists, SHO, Manoj Kumar said.

An armed squad of the CPI-Maoist attacked the base camp of an agency engaged in the construction of Jagdishpur-Haldia Gas Pipeline and set ablaze four vehicles in Gaya District. The Maoists yesterday attacked the camp located at Darna village under Aamas Police Station of the District and indulged in arson in which many vehicles, including three trucks, were set on fire, Patna's IGP, Naiyar Hussnain Khan said. The Maoists also beat up some staff of the agency, Police said.

November 28

A joint team of CRPF and District Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre from Parasi forest under Jhajha Police Station area in Jamui District. Ravindra Rawat, an associate of Maoist Pintu Rana was arrested from the forest following a specific intelligence input, said ASP, Naxal-Operations, DN Pandey. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadre was mainly involved in extorting money from construction companies. A country pistol and some live cartridges were recovered from his possession.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from Pesauni village under Patahi Police station in East Champaran District. Two of the three arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were identified as Lalbabu Sahni alias Bhaskar, 'secretary' of the NBZC; and Md Mushtaque, CPI-Maoist cadre from Pakaridyal. Bhaskar was involved in the Madhuban attack by CPI-Maoist on the Police in 2005, in which two Policemen and three others were killed when over 500 CPI-Maoists attacked the bank, besides the house of a MP, the block and circle offices simultaneously. He has over 18 criminal cases related to bank dacoity, attacks for levy, attacking brick kiln owners and murder at various Police stations in Bihar. He was in East Champaran to galvanize members in hibernation since Tariyani attack, which killed five CRPF personnel. The Police recovered five detonators, 10 SLR cartridges, besides levy receipts. Another arrested CPI-Maoist cadre, Mushtaque is an accused in the murder case of Rajesh Kumar at Sheikhpurwa in 2011, said HS Gaurav, ASP, Operations. The identity of the arrestee is yet to be ascertained.

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre in Khagaria District. SP, Meenu Kumari said that the 'area commander' of the CPI-Maoist, Manoj Sada, active in Farakiya diara under Morkahi Police Station area in the District, was arrested from his hideout at Jhamakia Musahari by the Police. A pistol and some live cartridges were recovered from his possession. Manoj was involved in more than 24 unlawful activities under Morkahi, Alauli, Chautham and Mansi Police Stations of Khagaria District and also under Salkhua, Simri Bakhtiyarpur and Chiraiyya Police Stations of Saharsa District, the SP said.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres abducted and hacked to death two security guards of a private construction company in Jamui District. Police said the bodies of the two guards, with their throats slit, were recovered from Dudhania village of the District, 166 kilometres southeast of Patna. According to reports, two dozen Maoists surrounded the construction company site at Jainsthan Kundghat of Sikandra village in the District and abducted the two guards at gunpoint. Police sources said the construction firm, engaged by the water resources department for its INR 5586.52-lakh irrigation project, could have been targeted for not paying the 'levy' demanded by Maoists. The victims had been identified as Siddhram Koda and Ganguli Koda, both residents of Dhawatand in Mathurapur Panchayat of the District, Jamui SP, Jayant Kant said. They were deputed as security guards at the site of the firm engaged in the construction of a dam over Bahuar River under Kundghat reservoir scheme, the SP added.

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres attacked the Masudan Railway Station in Monghyr District and set ablaze the station property. Reports also said that Maoists abducted the Assistant Station master and one other railway staff from the incident site. However, no casualties were reported. DRM, Malda, West Bengal, received a call from the abducted Assistant Station master, saying that the Maoists have threatened to kill the two abducted persons if trains continue plying on the Masudan track. CPRO, Eastern Railway, Rajesh Kumar said, "Eastern Railway detains 3 trains in Kiul-Jamalpur-Bhagalpur section of Malda Division in the light of Naxal attack at Masudan Railway Station, services have once again been stopped at Kiul point". The CPI-Maoist had called for a bandh from December 18 to 20 to protest against 'Operation Green Hunt' which is continuing in Bihar and Jharkhand against Maoists.

A joint team of Paramilitary forces and the Jharkhand Police destroyed several CPI-Maoist hideouts at remote locations on Bihar-Jharkhand border and recovered huge cache of landmines, during a special anti-insurgency drive. The SFs raided CPI-Maoist hideouts at Banke Bazar and Amas Police Station areas in Gaya District of Bihar, following leads obtained from a senior CPI-Maoist leader arrested recently (Date not specified). The offensive started on December 14 and ended on December 19. The SFs have recovered 27 landmines planted in steel cans from a CPI-Maoist dump from the bordering areas of Jharkhand and Bihar, said Indrajit Mahatha, SP, Palamu. The Police also seized other items, including raw material for fabricating land mines, personal belongings of the Maoists and uniforms during the operation, added Mahatha.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed Virendra Koda (32), Up-Mukhiya of Sangrampur, at Kacchawa village in Lakhisarai District. Koda who was earlier associated with CPI-Maoist, was dragged out of his house and killed.

CPI-Maoist cadres have set ablaze one saw mill under Dumariya Police Station area in Gaya District. The mill was set ablaze after the refusal by its owner to pay 'levy' to the Maoists. A hand written note of CPI-Maoist cadres threatening more damage in case their demand was not met was recovered, said Garima Malik, SSP, Gaya District.

CPI-Maoist cadres freed two abducted railway staffs, Mahesh Kumar, Assistant Station Manager, and the porter, Narendra Mandal, near Dharhara forest area in Monghyr District. They were abducted from Masudan Railway Station in Monghyr District on December 19, by CPI-Maoist cadres.

Bihar Police arrested two cadres of the CPI-Maoist on Sarmastpur village of Karpi Block in Arwal District. The two unverified CPI-Maoist cadres included 'area commander' of CPI-Maoist for three Districts and his associate. The duo demanded a 'levy' (ransom money) of INR 160 million from the construction company. A total of 18 cases are filed in several Police Stations of Arwal, Patna and Aurangabad Districts, which include attack on the base camp of the road construction and demand levy, said SP, Dilip Kumar.

CPI-Maoist cadres attacked base camp of GAIL engaged in construction of Haldia pipeline project and set ablaze one procaine and two other machines at Kaaj village under Gurua Police Station in Gaya District. The security guards and construction workers at the base camp were assaulted by CPI-Maoists cadres during the attack. Maoists also have fired few shots after taking away mobile phones from construction workers at the base camp. CPI-Maoist cadres have claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks on Haldia pipeline project in their slogans during the attack. Earlier, CPI-Maoist had demanded INR 10 million as 'levy' (ransom money) for GAIL's Haldia pipeline project under different Police Stations of Gaya District. The construction work of the pipeline project was shut down following the Maoist attack in the Gurua area. This is the fourth attack on GAIL's base camps involved with construction of Haldia gas pipeline under Amas, Gurua and Mohanpur Police Stations, said DSP, Upendra Prasad.