Chhattisgarh Timeline 2018

January 2

The CPI-Maoist cadres are fast losing support from the ‘Jan Militia’ members and the people of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, SDGP, Anti-Naxal Operations, D M Awasthi told reporters in Raipur. Sixty five per cent of Bastar region had been freed of Maoists so far, he said while addressing a press conference here to list out the achievement of Chhattisgarh Police during 2017. “By year 2022, Bastar would be made completely insurgency-free region,” Awasthi said. “Two years ago, there were pockets in Bastar where venturing in was not possible. Now, the movement in such regions has been made possible even for civilians,” he said. After the forces mounted pressure on the Maoists, Awasthi claimed, the rebels are now trying to get active in the forest areas of Rajnandgaon, Kawardha and Balaghat regions that border with Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. As of now, 16 out of 27 Districts in Chhattisgarh have been classified as LWE affected of which eight are classified as hyper-sensitive. He said the department has sent a proposal to include Kawardha District in the list of the hyper-sensitive District in view the Maoist presence in the forest areas of that District. Referring to operation Prahaar I and II, carried out in Bastar to flush out the rebels, Awasthi said offensive intelligence-based operations in South Sukma, Maoist core areas and in Abujhmaad areas in Narayanpur District was successfully conducted—inflicting heavy causalities on the Maoist side. However, he said there were two consecutive setbacks to CRPF in Bhejji and Burkapal in Sukma District. With losing support of the ‘Jan Militia’ and the people of Bastar, the Maoists are facing a tough time, he added. Awasthi further informed that at present around 75,000 security personnel are deployed in the State for anti-Naxal operations and the situation is well under control. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, BVR Subramaniam further added that the Naxals are now restricted to a triangular patch in Kawardha region at the borders of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

January 3

SFs arrested seven CPI-Maoist cadres indentified as Kunjam Joga (30), Muchaki Hadma (20), Madvi Deva (25), Muchaki Payka (27), Kuhrami Sukka (21), Madkam Kosa (45) and Madkam Hunga (41) under Bhejji Police Station in Sukma District. The arrested were cadres of the DAKMS, a frontal organisation of the CPI-Maoist, and involved in an attack on a Police team in Gacchanpalli forest in July, 2017. They are also wanted in case related to torching of a car and a motorcycle near Chikhalaguda in December 2017, said DIG, south Bastar range, Sundarraj P.

January 5

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman cadre, were gunned down in an encounter in Muduvandi-Kawadgaon forest axis in Bijapur District. “The operation, involving composite forces of CRPF's elite unit CoBRA 204th battalion and DRG, was launched last night in the interiors of Gangaloor, located around 450 kilometres away from Raipur,” DIG, south Bastar Range Sundarraj P, said. After the encounter, during search, two Maoists clad in ‘uniform’ were found dead at the spot. Besides, one .303 rifle, one 12 bore gun and one country-made pistol, were also recovered from there, the DIG added.

January 6

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres gunned down the village Sarpanch of Chhindgarh village near Kelang of Bastar District. According to officials they (Maoists) suspected that the sarpanch was a ‘Police informer’.

A Maoist was gunned down in an encounter with SFs in Bijapur District. The exchange of fire took place at around 3pm in the forests of Karka village under Gangaloor Police Station limits in which one Maoist was killed, Bijapur ASP, Mohit Garg said. The identity of the killed Maoist was yet to be ascertained, he said.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a poclain machine, one truck and a hyva truck at Hindalco bauxite mines in Kudag area under Samri Police Station limits of Balrampur District. CPI-Maoist cadres also blew up a weigh-bridge unit at Kudag and assaulted two guards before fleeing from the spot, said Balrampur District Police.  

Three Maoists were arrested and a 10 kilograms tiffin bomb was recovered from their possession in Kondagaon District. The cadres were arrested from the forest between Ranapal and Nawagaon villages under Mardapal Police Station limits when a joint team of SFs was out on duty to ensure security to the road construction work, according to Kondagaon, ASP, Maheshwar Nag. The construction of road is underway between Ranapal and Bayanar in Mardapal area, he said. The composite squad, involving 41st battalion of the ITBP and local Police, was carrying out patrolling to provide security to the construction works, when it spotted three Maoists hiding in the forest between Ranapal and Nawagaon, following which they were arrested, he said. A 10-kg tiffin bomb, one bundle wire, one dry battery, Maoist literatures and a Naxal banner in the name of East Bastar Division of the outlawed CPI-Maoist were recovered from their possession, Nag said.

Three powerful IEDs, suspected to have been planted by Maoists were recovered by SFs from Bijapur District. The home-made bombs, weighing 15 kilograms, 9 kilograms and 5 kilograms, were unearthed by a joint team of the CRPF and the local Police from the forests under Basaguda Police Station limits where a road construction work is underway, according to Bijapur, ASP, Mohit Garg. A road is being built from Basaguda (Bijapur) to Jagargunda in Sukma District, another insurgency-hit District. The 49 kilograms road is not only strategically important but also crucial for the people living in this inaccessible region, he said. BDS immediately defused the explosives, which were spotted when SFs were carrying out patrolling near an under-construction bridge, the Police officer said.

January 7

A Police constable was shot dead by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The deceased constable was posted in Bhairamgarh and was visiting his home in Jangla village when the incident took place. The identity of the constable is yet to be ascertained.

Two personnel of DRG, a special wing of the Chhattisgarh Police used exclusively for anti-Naxal operational duties in the Bastar Division, and two women were injured when pressure bombs, laid by CPI-Maoist cadres, went off at three separate places at Gangaloor and Bhairamgarh in Bijapur District. In the first incident, two women sustained splinter injuries when they stepped on an IED on the outskirts of the Pusnar village. In another incident, a DRG constable, Shankar Pulse, was injured in a blast near Burji village, and Raju Kadti, another DRG trooper suffered minor injuries after a pressure bomb exploded in the forest near Biriabhoomi village in Bhairamgarh in the third incident, said Police.

January 8

One Policeman was killed by suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres at a village market in Bijapur District. Assistant constable Raju Lekam died after he was attacked with sharp-edged weapons by suspected rebels at the weekly market under Jangla Police Station limits, a District Police Official said. Lekam was posted with Bhairamgarh Police Station of the District.

January 9

Acting on information of the presence of Maoist leader Ganesh Uike, personnel of the DRG and the STF were on the search for three days near Bijapur border in Dantewada District. While returning, the Maoists were trapped in the spike-hole and an exchange of fire took place between the rebels and SFs in Hiroli-Dokkapar forest area under Kirandul Police Station limits. After the firing, the injured Maoists were successful in fleeing away. During search, the Force recovered an inverter with two printers, a large cache of IEDs, Tiffin bombs, Pithu, electric wire, computer cable, uniform including Naxal literature and two color printers from Perpa-Hiroli jungle. In the encounter, DRG's SI Sangram Singh sustained injury. Naxals have been shot and they are also injured, Naxal operation ASP, GN Baghel confirmed the incident.

Fourteen CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from Sukma and Narayanpur Districts of the Bastar Division, in three separate incidents. Nine CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested in Sukma District and five cadres of CPI-Maoist from Narayanpur District. In the first incident, Chhattisgarh Police rounded up eight CPI-Maoist cadres at Bhejji Police Station limits in Sukma District,  identified as Madvi Manish (27), Jan-Militia ‘deputy commander’, Madvi Hunga (24), ‘head’ of DAKMS, a frontal of CPI-Maoist,  Podiyam Ganga (34), ‘deputy head’ of DAKMS and Madvi Hidma (19), Muchaki Kosa (19), Madvi Bheema (20), Madkam Aayta (26) and Madvi Baman (28), who are associated as ‘Jan-Militia’ of CPI-Maoist and DAKMS. All of them were allegedly involved in carrying out IED blasts targeting the SFs and firing on Police teams in Bhejji and Maraiguda areas of Sukma District. In the second incident, Madkami Pandu (26) a ‘Jan-Militia commander’ was arrested by Police team from Kukanar Police Station limits of Sukma District. Pandu was accused of carrying out a blast and opening fire on a Police patrol team in the forests between Baddugudem and Munga in Sukma District in January 2018, said ASP, Jitendra Shukla. In the third incident, five CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Bajaru Noharu, Mangatu Nag, Arjun Yadav, Amaru Patai and Sukhlal Potai were arrested and produced before a court in Narayanpur District. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were involved in various offences such as murders, attack on Police teams and their camps and bomb blasts and carried rewards on their heads, said Police.

January 10

 A woman CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs in Bade Kedwal-Tumalpad forests in Sukma District. Several composite squads of the STF, DRG, CRPF and its elite unit-CoBRA had launched the operation in the southern forests of Sukma which is considered as a core area of Maoists' military battalion no.1. When a team, comprising STF and DRG personnel, was cordoning off jungles near Kedwal-Tumalpad, it came under heavy firing from a group of rebels, leading to a gunfight, SP, Abhishek Meena said. "After the encounter ended, security forces searched the area and recovered the body of a woman Naxal clad in uniform," Meena said. Troopers also recovered some weapons and explosives from a Maoist dump in the area. The identity of the killed Maoist was yet to be ascertained, he said.

The Maoists blew up a bridge by blasting an IED in Sukma District. According to reports, the Maoists blasted the IED by blasting them near Dharampenta at around 11 pm late. A part of the bridge has been badly damaged by the blast. SP Abhishek Meena said that after the blast, CRPF personnel fired at the Maoists who later escaped. On December 11, 2017, the same bridge was damaged by the rebels by blasting it.

January 11

 An encounter between the CPI-Maoist cadres and SFs took place at Chhotedongar under Irpanar Police Station limits in Narayanpur District. However, there was no report of any casualty.

A wanted CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Sagruram Sori (27) was arrested up by BSF and District Force jawans after an exchange of fire during a search operation in Bhomrapara forest under Koyelibeda Police Station area in Kanker District. The SFs also recovered two firearms, explosives, Naxal literature and other materials from the possession of the Sori.

January 12

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a bus after asking the passengers to alight, in Sukma District. However, there were no reports of any casualties or injuries of the passengers in the bus. The incident occurred under Chintagufa Police Station limits when the private bus was on its way to Jagargunda from Jagdalpur, a local Police official said. The official said that a group of Maoists, armed with sharp-edged weapons and sticks, stopped the vehicle between Chintagufa and Burkapal villages and after asking passengers to alight, set it ablaze.

SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Sodhi Prakash (35), Pedkam Ramesh (19) and Buddallu Pulla (40) were arrested from two separate places in Sukma District. Prakash, who was active as the head of KJS squad of CPI-Maoist and wanted in 17 Naxal related incidents including attacks on Police party, triggering IED on Police teams, murder and others, took place in Chintagufa, Chintalnar and Polampalli Police Stations areas in Sukma District, was arrested from Chintagufa Police Station limits. Ramesh and Pulla, were involved in set ablaze of vehicles and thrashing labourers engaged in construction of road near Kansaram rivulet of Sukma District on December 21, 2017 and triggered IED blasts in 2017 between Kansaram and Potakpalli villages, were arrested from Kistaram Police Station area, said SP, Abhishek Meena

Under the PMGSY scheme, the Kanker District Police cleared a six kilometres road route traversing a 650-metre inclined, forested and rocky landscape and the road became operational in Kanker District. The connecting road is set to link inaccessible settlements of the tribals who live in the inhospitable terrain barely 15 kilometres away from the Kanker District headquarters. “Ever since Independence our villages had remained deprived of a route to connect us with the main roads. Every election we raised our demands for road connectivity, but all we got were promises and no action,” said Lachhanu Mandavi, the Patel of Marrapi village. The road connects more than 2,000 tribal families in around half-a-dozen remote and undeveloped villages, including Marrapi, Useli, Kalmuchhi, Marme-Kanali and Nilegondi.

January 14

Several CPI-Maoist cadres were reportedly injured in Police-Naxal encounter in Tetamadugu Jungle near Tetamgarh in Sukma District. In the encounter, the Police neutralised the Naxalites' camps. Police claimed that half a dozen Naxalites of the military battalion of the Maoists have been injured in the firing, and some other managed to escape. Police has seized the Maoist belongings kept in the camp.

SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres in Dantewada District. A joint team of Police and the CRPF was out on a search operation when the joint team arrested them. All three were involved in many murder, robbery and arson cases. One of the arrested Maoists was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head. The identities of the Maoists are yet to be ascertained.

January 15

SFs killed a CPI-Maoist cadre and destroyed a camp during a combing operation in Jhilmili forest under Bakarkatta Police Station area in Rajnandgoan District. SP, Prashant Agrawal said the operation was conducted by a joint team of the ITBP, the STF and the DRG. SP, Agrawal said that the team attacked the Maoist camp housing 50 Maoists within Bakarkatta Police Station limits in the northern part of Rajnandgaon District. In the exchange of fire, one Maoist cadre was killed. The SFs recovered three weapons and a huge cache of Naxal related material from the camp. “One pistol and two 12 bore guns were recovered. The Maoist belonged to the ‘Vistaar Platoon’ of the CPI-Maoist. Search operations are on in the area,” SP, Agrawal said. The camp was located in Jhilmili forest, about 160 kilometres from Rajnandgaon, bordering Balaghat area of Madhya Pradesh. 

January 16

Police arrested CPI-Maoist cadre Sakhalu Hemla (35) at Karekorma's Karrapara forest in Rajpara in Bijapur District. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadre was involved in case of killing a woman in the village Katekormama village and accused of Dantewada jailbreak. He carries a reward of INR 5000 on him declared by SP, Bijapur.

January 17

Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Madvi Baman (30) and Harish Podiam (23), after an exchange of fire between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The encounter took place during an anti-Maoist operation launched at Galgam, Bhusapur and Tekmela villages of Usoor by a joint team of the STF, CAF and District Police. Two CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from the forests near Bhusapur village under Usoor Police Station and recovered directional bomb, detonator, bow and arrow and other materials, said Police official.

January 18

One DRG soldier sustained injury an IED blast near Tumripara under Fulbagadi Police Station limits in Sukma District. SP, Abhishek Meena said, "There was an IED blast near Tumripara under Fulbagadi Police Station in which a DRG soldier sustained injuries."Following the blast the DRG team launched a search operation of the area and arrested 11 CPI-Maoist cadres from Kistaram Maraiguda area of the District. All the arrested Maoists were also involved in setting 27 vehicles on fire, firing upon the soldiers in Kasalpada and Dharampenta bridge blast.

CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a newly-established CRPF camp in Bastar District. However, there was no report of any casualties or injuries in the attack at the Malewahi camp on the borders of Bastar and Dantewada Districts.

January 19

Two armed cadres of CPI-Maoist identified as Nelli Ram Kashyap and Munna Istia surrendered before the Police in Dantewada District. Two Billfold Holster guns, tiffin bomb and ammunition were recovered from the surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres. The duo was fed up with the hollow ideology and partisan attitude of the CPI-Maoist. Nelli Ram Kashyap joined CPI-Maoist on the request of CPI-Maoist leaders, Ajay and Deepak, four years ago and worked as ‘Jan Militia’ cadre in Haandawada area. While, Munna Istia joined CPI-Maoist in 2013, said ASP, Gorakhnath Baghel.

January 20

An Assistant Constable, identified as Jagat Ram Karma, was injured after CPI-Maoist cadres triggered IED near a weekly market in Chhote Tumnar village under Geedam Police Station of Dantewada District. Karma, posted at Nelasnar Police Station of Bijapur District, was rushed to a hospital in Bijapur and he is currently out of danger. The Police have launched combing operations to against the CPI-Maoist cadres, said Police official.

SFs recovered two pressure bombs and petrol bomb from a bridge in Kanker District. The SFs conducted a search operation on the banks of Katari River in Bethia Police Station area.

January 22

Seven-seven kilograms of two Tiffin bombs suspected to have been planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres to harm the Police and ITBP's search parties were recovered in the forest of Jhansi Khaira of Dhur area in ​​Rajnandgaon District. Acting on the information, the joint Police party of the District Police force and the ITBP had launched a search operation in the forest. During the search, the joint party saw the bomb and the electric wires kept hidden among the bushes. Police and ITBP team destroyed the bomb there in the forest.

January 23

An encounter between the SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres took place in the forests of Atapalli of Basaguda Police Station in Bijapur District.  After the long encounter, the Maoists fled leaving behind their weapons and escaped. Police recovered a pipe bomb, bottle bomb, mobile and items of daily use from the encounter spot.

A joint team of the ITBP and the District Police arrested nine CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women cadres, from the forests near Becha and Kadenar villages under Chhotedongar Police Station limits in Narayanpur District during an anti-Maoist operation. The arrestees, identified as Sitaram Watti, Munna alias Ravishankar, Shankar, Fagu alias Jaisingh, Sonadhar, Sukman Korram, Lchhuram Neta, Jaldai Watti and Budhmati alias Phulbati, are lower-rung cadres who are wanted for crimes like attempt to murder, attacking Police party and loot, Narayanpur SP, Jitendra Shukla, said.

Four CPI-Maoist ‘jan militia’ members, identified as Pohduram Korram (45), Sonu Netam (35), Sonsai Netam (45) and Kenvsi Kashyap (32), were arrested by a composite squad of the STF and ITBP during a combing operation at Rajadongri forests under Mardapal Police Station in Kondagaon District. The Police combing operation was to ensure security to the road construction work in the area. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were active as ‘jan militia’ members and involved in loot, arson and attempt to murder, said Kondagaon ASP, Maheshwar Nag.

January 24

CPI-Maoist cadres killed four Police personnel and severely injuring eight others in an attack in Abujhmaad area in Narayanpur District. Special DGP, anti-Naxal operations, D M Awasthi said two sub-inspectors and two constables were killed when a joint team of STF and DRG was out on anti-Naxalite operations in the forests of Irpanar in Abujhmaad region of Narayanpur District. Over 60 jawans were out on an operation when they were attacked by the Maoist ‘6 Company’ around 11 am. The slain jawans were identified as sub-inspectors Vinod Kaushik and Moolchand Singh Kanwar and Constables Devnath Pujari, Raisingh Markam.

A STF constable was killed and a Policeman was injured when a pressure bomb planted by the Maoists went off in Bijapur District.  The incident occurred in the forest near Hidmapara village under Basaguda Police Station limits when a joint team of the STF and DF was returning after conducting an anti-Maoist operation, a senior Police official said. As per preliminary information, the explosion occurred after the STF constable, identified as Lakhan Gadbale, unknowingly stepped on the pressure IED connection near Hidmapara. "Gadbale succumbed to injuries while being airlifted to Jagdalpur for treatment," the official said. DF, constable Ashish Tiwari who was walking nearby Gadbale sustained minor injuries in the blast and was being airlifted to Raipur for better treatment, he said.

January 26

Three CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Manku Varda (25), Khunta Varda (23) and Tangru Padda (22) were arrested following an exchange of fire between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres from Alparas village under Koyalibeda Police Station in Kanker District. SFs recovered one muzzle loading gun, one Naxal uniform, two detonators; two small boxes of gun powder, couple of crackers and other Maoist-related materials were recovered from the arrested CPI-Maoist cadres, said Police official. In view of the Republic Day, separate composite squads of BSF, STF and local Police had launched the combing operation on January 24 towards Gattakal, Mindi, Kamteda, Kaknar, Irganar, Alparas and Panidobir villages of Koyalibeda. SFs managed to arrest three CPI-Maoist cadres, all natives of Kurushnar area of Narayanpur District, when they were trying to escape into forest.

CPI-Maoist memorial was dismantled by SFs in Gundul village of Koyalibeda Police Station in Kanker District.

January 27

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including one woman, were gunned down in an exchange of fire with SFs in the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli villages under Chintalnar Police Station limits in Sukma District. "A joint team of CoBRA 201st battalion - a CRPF specialised unit, and local Police had launched the counter-insurgency operation in the jungles of Chintalnar, around 500 kilometres away from State Capital, Raipur”, said Sukma SP, Abhishek Meena said. The SFs were cordoning off the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli, when they came under fire from a group of armed Maoists leading to an exchange of fire, SP, Meena said. After the encounter, the SFs searched the area and recovered the body of two Maoists including one woman, along with two weapons, he said. The SFs also recovered some detonators and other material from the encounter site. The identities of the slain Maoists are yet to be ascertained.

A team of highly trained 60 women commandos has been deployed by the CRPF to assist in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations being carried out in forest areas of the Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh. Armed with automatic weapons, these women commandos will guard one of most dangerous patches in south Sukma where a road is being built from Dornapal to Jagargonda, reports said. The road where the women commandos have been deployed is about 56 kilometres and is under construction.

January 28

Four suspected Maoists attacked a Police constable in Nakulnar town of Dantewada District. Constable, Divykant Markam, working as a personal security guard of Chhattisgarh Congress leader Avdhesh Gautam, was attacked when he had gone to the local market along with other security guards of Gautam. The Maoists also snatched his AK-47 rifle and fled from the spot. The Congress leader was not present in Nakulnar when the incident took place.

One IED weighing at least eight kilograms was detected and defused by the 85 Battalion CRPF on Mahadev Ghati Bhopalpatnam road in Bijapur District.

January 30

Chhattisgarh Police arrested four CPI-Maoist cadres including a woman leader in separate incidents from Kondagaon and Bijapur Districts. In the first incident, SFs arrested Balmati Korram (21), an active member of Amdai LOS, who was associated in several cases of Naxal violence and ambush on Police parties, during a search operation in Chitpani forest under Mardapal Police Station limit in Kondagaon District. She was carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on her head, announced by State Government, said SP, Abhishek Pallav. In the second incident, CRPF and District Force personnel arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres from Jangla forest from Bijapur District. All the three arrested cadres, whose identities are yet to be ascertained, were carrying a reward ranging from INR 3,000 to INR 10,000.

February 3

One Policeman was seriously injured as Maoists opened fire on a Police team in the forest area of Tippapuram village in Bijapur District. A composite squad of security personnel, including the STF, DRG, District Police, was out on patrol when the ultras opened fire, Police said. The Policeman, identified as Constable Arvind Salaam, sustained serious injuries in the attack. "After the naxal firing, Police launched a retaliatory attack. The exchange of fire lasted for around one-and-a-half hour following which the naxals fled from the spot," Police said. There is a possibility that some Maoists died in the Police firing, they said.

Maoists set on fire 10 vehicles near Bhattiguda village under Modakpal Police Station limits in Bijapur District. Police officials said that construction of road was in progress between Kongupalli to Bhattiguda. "This morning, Naxals came to the spot and asked the labourers involved in road construction to stop the work and then torched the vehicles," an official said.

February 4

CPI-Maoist cadres killed Manoj Podiyam (24), an employee of a road contractor, at Gatam village under Katekalyan Police Station limits in Dantewada District. Podiyam, the deceased, was working as an accountant with a private contractor engaged in road construction work in the area. Maoists stormed into Podiyam's house at Gatam, around 400 kilometres from State capital, Raipur, and shot him in front of his wife, the Police said. Podiyam's sister-in-law Muskan Mandavi (10) was hit in the leg by a ricocheting bullet.

A Police Constable was allegedly abducted and killed by the Maoists in Bijapur District. “Assistant constable Sitaram Bagde, abducted last night, was found dead near Kachlaram village under Farsegarh police station limits on February 5,” DIG, south Bastar range, Sundarraj P said. The Maoists set ablaze a passenger bus near Kachlaram between Farsegarh and Toynar late on February 3, after asking its occupants to get down, the officer said. Subsequently, they stopped some passersby, including Bagde, who was on his motorcycle, at the spot. “When Naxals discovered his identity, they took him to forest along with them,” he said. Bagde’s body with his throat slit was spotted by some locals this morning, the DIG said.

Two Maoists, who were carrying a total reward of INR 1.1 million on their heads, surrendered before Kondagaon, SP, Abhishek Pallava in Kondagaon District. The surrendered Maoists included ‘East Bastar Division company number 6’ member Umesh Kumeti (18) and Bayanar LOS member Sampo Korram (17), Police said. The State Government had announced a reward of INR 800,000 on the head of Kumeti, while Korram was carrying a reward of INR 300,000. Both rebels were wanted in connection with the Tetam, Tushpal and Irpanar Maoist attacks on SFs during 2016 and 2017, Police said.

February 5

Six wagons and the locomotive of a goods train derailed on the Kirandul-Visakhapatnam railway section in Dantewada District, after  CPI-Maoist cadres  uprooted the rail tracks to disrupt train traffic during a Bandh called by them. The CPI-Maoist cadres uprooted the tracks between Bhansi and Bacheli, leading to the derailment of six wagons and the engine of the goods train. The train, loaded with iron ore, was on its way to Visakhapatnam from Kirandul, derailed around 7 pm in the forests under Bacheli Police Station limits and there were no casualties reported.

February 6

Three CAF personnel were injured in an IED blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. Injured constables, Nitesh Dewangan, Anil Dhruv and Bhaluram Toppo, were returning to their base camp after conducting search operation in Kutru-Farshegarh area, DSP, Khoman Singh, said. The SF personnel were returning after carrying out an anti-Maoist operation when the blast occurred in a forest near Ranibodli village, around 450 kilometres from State capital, Raipur.

A jawan of the BSF sustained bullet injury in an early morning encounter on February 6, between SFs and armed Maoists in Gome Pahadi under Koyelibeda Police Station area in Kanker District. The exchange of fire took place in a forest when a joint team of the BSF’s 35th battalion and the District Force was out on an anti-Maoist operation, SP, K L Dhruv said. When the SFs were advancing through the forest between Gome and Gattakal villages, when a group of Maoists fired on them leading to the gun battle, Dhruv said. However, the rebels soon escaped from the spot, while Constable Virappa KB, belonging to BSF’s 35th battalion had sustained injuries in his leg below the knee in the encounter.

The CRPF deployed to combat CPI-Maoist has taken up the responsibility of educating the children in the Maoist-affected villages, by providing free coaching. In Cherpal village under Bijapur Tehsil of Bijapur District, where a group of 30 to 40 children of age not more than 15 years can be seen sitting on a bench under a tree and a CRPF jawan (trooper) of 85 Battalion teaching them with the help of a board. Through this, the CRPF is not only trying to improve the future prospects of these children but also protecting them from getting recruited by Maoists who are known for training young children for combat operations.

February 7

An ITBP Head constable, identified as Yelappa Koppad was injured in an IED explosion triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres in Narayanpur District. The IED blast occurred two kilometres from Dhanora Police Station on Dhanora-Orchha road, when SFs were carrying out the road opening duty. Koppad was injured and taken to Narayanpur for treatment, said Police official.

SFs arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre from forest area of Basaguda in Bijapur District. SFs recovered detonator, wires and other equipment from him. The identity of the arrested CPI-Maoist cadre is yet to be asserted.

February 8

A CPI-Maoist ‘jan militia commander’ was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) near Hiroli village in Dantewada District. The exchange of fire took place late on February 7 evening in Dokapara forest under Kirandul Police Station limits when a joint team of SFs was out on an anti-Naxal operation, ASP, Gorakhnath Baghel said. "The composite squad of STF and DRG was cordoning off the forest area on the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts, around 450 kilometres away from the capital, Raipur, when it came under heavy fire from ultras in Dokapara, leading to the gun-battle," he said. After the guns fell silent, the SFs recovered the body of a Maoist along with one 315 bore gun from the spot, the ASP said, adding that the Maoist has been identified as Ungami alias Chakra, who was active as a ‘jan militia commander’.

An exchange of fire took place between the Maoists and a CISF team, when a group of around 40-50 armed Maoists was spotted near a depot of the NMDC plant in Bacheli area of the Bailadila Mines in Dantewada District. “The CISF neutralised the Maoists [who] ran towards Bijapur District … normal operations at the mining area have resumed,” a Police officer said.

The Police arrested three Maoists from Ketulnar village forest under Kutru Police Station limits in Bijapur District. The cadres, identified as Hadmo Podiyami (35) was active as a ‘militia commander’, while Raju Tati (30) and Budhram Podiyam (35) as a militia member and DAKMS member, were arrested from Ketulnar village forest under Kutru Police limits when a joint team of the DRG and local Police was out on a search operation, a senior Police official said. All three were wanted for the killing of a Police Constable, Suklu Gota, in Farsegarh area of the District in 2017. They were also wanted in cases related to loot, arson and the Arms Act.

February 9

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a former colleague, branding him a ‘Police informer’, at his native Phulpar village under Baikunthpur Tehsil in Koriya District. Hinga Madkami, who had surrendered in June last year (2017), was shot dead by rebels at his native Phulpar village under Kuakonda Police Station limits, a senior Police official said. After quitting the CPI-Maoist outfit, Madkami was working as an informer for the STF in the area, the Police official said. On February 8, Madkami had gone to Phulpar, located around 450 kilometres away from the State capital, Raipur, to take part in rituals being performed at his house following the death of his mother, the official said. The rebels stormed his home, attacked him with sharp weapons before shooting him, the official informed.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including a ‘deputy commander’, were killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in the forest of Bodla village under Gatapar Police Station limits in Rajnandgaon District. The encounter took place at around 12.30 pm in the forest when a joint team of ITBP, DRG, District Force and Hawk Force of Madhya Pradesh Police was out on a counter-insurgency operation in Gatapar, located around 160 kilometres away from the State capital, Raipur, SP, Prashant Agrawal said. "After the guns fell silent, security forces searched the area and recovered bodies of two naxals along with two weapons," Agrawal said. The slain Maoists were later identified as Vinod alias Daven Sherku Ram, ‘deputy commander’ of military platoon no. 55 of Maoists, who was a native of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, and Sagar, who hailed from south Bastar and was a member of the platoon, he said. Vinod and Sagar were carrying cash reward of INR 800,000 and INR 200,000 on their heads respectively. Arms and ammunition and some other items of daily use were recovered from the encounter site.

February 10

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Bodki Kowasi alias Sukhram (33) and his wife Ganga Madkami alias Manila (30), surrendered before the Senior Police officials in Bijapur District. Kowasi, was active as LGS, ‘deputy commander’ under KAC of CPI-Maoist and carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on his head. His wife, Madkami was working as a member of Matwada LOS and carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on her head. The CPI-Maoist duo expressed disappointment over the hollow ideology of the Naxal movement and violence. A cash of INR 10,000 each was given to them as encouragement amount, said Police official.

February 11

A DRG jawan, identified Sondhar Hemla, was killed in a IED blast, suspected to be planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The incident took place when the DRG team was out for an area domination operation in the forest near Tippapuram, nearly 500 kilometres south of Raipur. DRG Assistant Constable, Sondhar Hemla, unknowingly stepped on IED and died on spot. The Police launched combing operation in the area against CPI-Maoist cadres.

Chhattisgarh State Government allotted INR 43.09 billion in the budget of 2018-19.The outlay includes creation of SOG to strengthen anti-terror activities, new Police Stations, Outposts, 225 posts of traffic management, special women crime cell in six Districts, installation of CCTVs in 232 Police Stations, C & D category fire-stations in 17 Districts, 30 barracks to reduce congestion in jails apart from INR 2.3 billion for SCS for LWE affected districts.

An exchange of fire took place between CPI-Maoist cadres and Police at Toogudem Police base camp under Pamed Police Station limits in Bijapur District. The temporary Police base camp was recently established to facilitate construction of roads in Naxal affected areas of Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. CPI-Maoist cadres have tried to attack this Police base camp thrice in a span of seven days and fled from the encounter site after Police retailed fire.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Nildhar alias Guddu (25), LOS member, Ginnu (25) and Ghassuram (30) 'Jan Militia' cadres were arrested near Ehakli rivulet in forest under Mardapal Police Station in Kondagaon District. SFs arrested the trio during a search operation. Guddu was carrying a reward of INR 300,000 over his head. An 8-kilogram tiffin bomb, CPI-Maoist banners and literature were recovered from the possession of the two 'Jan Militia' members. They admitted that the explosive was meant to target the SFs during their operation in the region. The trio was allegedly involved in several incidents, including planting of IED and attacks on Police parties, said ASP, Maheshwar Nag.

SFs busted a CPI-Maoist camp located in the hills of Jongeras under Kukanar Police Station limits in Sukma District and recovered a huge cache of explosive materials. A joint team of DRG and District Force of Police carried out the operation, DIG, south Bastar, Sundarraj P said. "After a brief encounter Maoists escaped from their camp taking benefit of the dense jungle," he said. During search, eight bullet-proof jackets looted by Naxals from CRPF jawans after ambushes, a huge quantity of detonators and gelatin rods, cordex wire, batteries, five steel tiffins of various sizes used to make explosive devices and Maoist uniforms were seized from the camp, he added.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by Police in Kondagaon District. The arrested Maoist couples, identified as Ramdhar Sorey (20), and Parvati Corram (20), both residents of Narayanpur District, were 'Jan Militia' members. "18 kgs of Tiffin bomb, Naxalite banner, literature, wire and other items were recovered from their possession," Police said.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Sanni alias Kunjam Lakkhe and Nanda Gurdum were killed during an exchange of fire with SFs in a forest near Tokanpalli village under Chintagufa Police Station in Sukma District. Sanni was working as the LOS cadre of CPI-Maoist in Nagaram area and Nanda was working as CPI-Maoist militia. Police recovered two weapons from the encounter spot and other Maoist material, said south Bastar range, DIG, Sundarraj P.

Two Policemen were killed and six others injured in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres in Sukma District. The encounter took place in a forest under the Bhejji Police Station when a joint team of the STF, DRG and local Police was out on an "area-domination operation", DIG, South Bastar range, Sundarraj P said. As the team was passing through the forest between Bhejji and Elarmadgu, around 500 kilometres from State capital Raipur, it came under heavy firing from the ultras, leading to the gun-battle, the DIG said. "Assistant constables Madkam Handa and Mukesh Kadthi of the DRG were killed and six other jawans were injured," the DIG said.

Along the stretch between Bhejji and Elarmadgu, where a road construction project is underway in Sukma District, the Maoists killed Anil Kumar, the supervisor of the private contractor, and set vehicles engaged in the road construction work ablaze. "The heavily-armed ultras also killed a contractor's supervisor and set ablaze nearly one dozen vehicles -- which were engaged in road laying works on the sensitive Chintagufa-Injaram road," SDG, Anti-Naxal Operation, DM Awasthi said.

In one encounter in Errabore village area, the body of one Maoist, identified as Bhamiya Gad, who was killed in the encounter with Police has been recovered in Sukma District. Bhejji and Errabore are around 450 kilometres south of Raipur.

More than 20 CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SFs in Sukma District, said Special DG, anti- Naxal operations, D.M. Awasthi. The SFs gave a befitting reply to the CPI-Maoist cadres during the encounter which lasted for around 5 hours, in which two of our personnel died. More than 20 Naxals were killed in the firing, added DG Awasthi.

Five CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Sodhi Malla (25), Dirdo Deva (30), Vetti Masa (28), Tati Hunga (28) and Vetti Lakhma (30) surrendered before the Police in Sukma District. All the five CPI-Maoist cadres were active as DAKMS and carrying permanent warrants against them. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres will be benefited under the rehabilitation schemes and other schemes of Government.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Sukaram Salaam (23) and Lamkuram Korram (21) were arrested from the forest between Aadnar and Chema villages under Bayanar Police Station limits in Kondagaon District. The SFs arrested the CPI-Maoist cadres during a search operation and recovered 16 kg tiffin bomb, one 16 kg IED, detonator, electric wire, Maoist banners and literature. The duo admitted that they were active as 'janmilitia' cadres in Temrugaon village of Narayanpur District, said ASP, Maheshwar Nag.

A commando of CoBRA Battalion of the CRPF was injured in an exchange of fire with CPI-Maoist cadres in the interiors of Kistaram near Komalpad forests in Sukma District. The incident happened after SFs, from Palodi camp, and CPI-Maoist cadres came face to face as part of an anti- Naxal LWE combing operation. The CPI-Maoist cadres opened indiscriminate fire which injured the CoBRA jawan and managed to flee, said Police.

SFs recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in joint operation conducted by the District Police and the CRPF in Dhamtari District. The Police also seized four Naxal uniforms, various medical kits and blankets from the location. The CPI-Maoist cadres managed to flee from the location.

Nine CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from three different locations under Chinagappa, Dornapal, Polpalli and Kukanar Police Station areas in Sukma District. The SFs raided CPI-Maoist hideouts in Chintagufa forest, Kukanar forest and Dornapal forest and arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres from three different locations. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were active members of CPI-Maoist militia, village committees and DAKMS and wanted by the State Police for various incidents, said CRPF official.

Acting upon the tip-off SF personnel arrested an under-warrant Maoist, identified as Badse Hadma, son of Hurra alias Bhima (30) of Pegdapalli, during a joint search operation from a forest-covered area in Bijapur District. The arrested Maoist was involved in several criminal activities. Execution of a permanent warrant is also pending against him, informed the Police sources.

Two CAF personnel, identified as Puran Singh, 'Assistant Platoon Commander' and Constable Bhuvaneshwar Yadav, were injured in an IED blast carried out by CPI-Maoist cadres in the forests near Tarlaguda and Tarud villages in Bijapur District.

SF personnel recovered a mutilated body of a villager, identified as Bedma Tameya, from Bhattigunda forest in Sukma District. Tameya was allegedly abducted by a group of CPI-Maoist cadres from his village three days ago (February 23) on the suspicion of being a 'Police informer'.

Three SF personnel were injured in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres on a hillock between Mungari and Dulargufa under Barsoor Police Station limits in Dantewada District. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the STF and the DRG raided a Maoist hideout on the hillock, about 18 kilometres from Barsoor, and Basoor is around 450 kilometres from the State capital Raipur. "During the raid, there was a heavy exchange of fire. The troops fought back bravely and destroyed the hideout," the DIG, South Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said. The injured soldiers were identified as Samadu Aarakshak (DRG), Sunil Nag (DRG) and Ravindra Yadav (STF).

Police arrested a Maoist, identified as Pillu Ursa (35), while carrying out a search and combing operation in Farshegarh village under Mandem Police Station area in Bijapur District.

Four Maoists, including top ranking Maoist leader Ganesh Uike's gunman, Partha Munna, surrendered before SP, Mohit Garg, in Bijapur District. The other three Maoists are identified as Totti Santu, Mahadev and Telam Budrulu. Munna, who served as the 'Secretary' of the LOC carried a reward of INR 800,000. While, Santu and Mahadev carried a head money of INR 200,000 each, there was no such reward on Badrulu.

Nine Maoist cadres active in Chintagufa area, surrendered before Police in Sukma District.

Three SF personnel were injured during an encounter between the SFs and armed CPI-Maoist cadres in Abhujmarh forest at Dantewada District. The injured SFs, identified as Sunil Nag, Somdu and Ravindra Yadav were airlifted and admitted to a private hospital, where their condition was stated to be stable. The CPI-Maoist cadres were hiding on a hill top, triggered a landmine blast and opened indiscriminate firing on the SFs. A joint anti- Naxal operation was launched in Abhujmarh forest, under Barsur Police Station area by Narayanpur and Dantewada Police, along with the CRPF, said SP, KL Kashyap.

Nine CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Muchaki Lakhma (22), Muchaki Kosa (25), Mandvi Lakhma (25), Nuppo Latham (37), Nuppo Ganga (30), Sodi Hidma (30), Nuppo Dual (55), Sodi Mukka Hidma (50) and Sodi Joga (19) were arrested during a search operation by SFs in Bhejji area of Sukma District. The joint operation was conducted by DRG, DF, CRPF and CoBRA battalion of the CRPF. Muchaki Lakhma had arrest warrants pending against him in Bhejji and Konta Police Stations. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were involved in attack on a Police team in Elarmadgu forest of Bhejji on February 18, 2018 in which two Police personnel were killed and six others were injured. They were also involved in an incident on the same day in which a labourer was killed and construction equipment and vehicles engaged in road construction were set ablaze, said Senior Police official.

Ten CPI-Maoist cadres, including six women and one Greyhound constable, identified as Sushil Kumar were killed in an encounter near Pujarikanker in Bijapur District, along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The encounter started at around 4 PM on March 1, when the Greyhounds of Telangana, assisted by Special Police Personnel from Chhattisgarh, started the combing operation. The combing team came across at least 50-100 CPI-Maoist cadres in a forest near Pujarikanker, and asked them to surrender but the Maoists opened fire. All the CPI-Maoist cadres killed are suspected to be from the TSC and combing operations started after a tip-off about a big meeting of CPI-Maoist somewhere along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The Police also recovered one AK-47, one SLRs, two single bore rifles, five INSAS assault rifle, one .303 rifle, one pistol, three claymore mines, six rocket bombs, two solar plates, seven kit bags, a Sony radio, empty cartridges, live ammunition of different calibre, Naxal literature and INR 41,000 cash from the encounter site. The dead Maoists include member of the NTSZC and 'action team commander', Dadaboina Swamy alias Prabhakar (53) of Ramapeta village under Kazipet Mandal of Warangal District (Telangana); member of the CRC Doctor's team' and a ACM, Rame alias Pande of Gollapalli in Karimnagar District (Telangana); member of the 'CRC Doctor's team' and a 'A-Section Commander', Mallesh alias Baman of Dunga Indravati of Bhairamgarh, Bijapur District; 'CRC Dalam member', Kosi of Rangaigudem in Dornapal, Dantewada District; and Dalam members - Ithu of Thippapuram in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District (Telangana); Kamala of West Bastar (Chhattisgarh); Pedda Budri of Sukma District; Ratna of Bijapur District ; Sukki of Gangloor, Dantewada District and Somidi of Sukma District.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian on the suspicion of being a 'Police Informer' and set ablaze four vehicles in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. CPI-Maoist cadres torched a TSRTC bus, a private bus and two trucks. TSRTC bus was on its way from Jagdalpur in Bastar District to Hyderabad and CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze vehicles 10 kilometers away from Dornapal. Maoists asked all the passengers to exit before setting the vehicles on fire and raised the slogans against Telangana Police for killing 10 CPI-Maoist cadres in encounter, said SP, Abhishek Meena.

The villagers of Chikpal and Marjum villages under Tongpal Police Station limits in Sukma District have decided not to support Naxal activities. Around 250 people from Chikpal and Marjum villages reached the Police Station and informed Police about their decision. The villagers have assured to block every kind of assistance that was being given to CPI-Maoist cadres by them in the past and stay away from Naxal ideology and violence. The villagers had been supporting Naxals by providing food, shelter and other logistic support either by will or force, said DIG, South Bastar range, Sundarraj P.

A BSF Assistant Commandant Gajender Singh and Constable Amresh Kumar were killed when CPI-Maoist cadres triggered an IED in the Kilenar village forest area under the Rowghat Police Station limits in Kanker District. The incident took place at around 4 pm in the Kilenar village forest under the Rowghat Police Station limits when a joint team of the BSFs 134th battalion and District Force was out on an anti-Naxal operation, said, Vivekanand Sinha. IGP, Bastar range. "When the patrolling team was 10km inside the forest of Kilenar, the ultras triggered IED blasts and also opened indiscriminate firing on them, which led to an exchange of fire," Deputy IGP, north Bastar range, Ratan Lal Dangi said. The Naxals fled from the spot after a prolonged gunfight, he said. Forces have been rushed to the spot, and the bodies of the two BSF personnel were being evacuated from the forest, he added.

Twenty-nine cadres of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Police in Sukma District. All the surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres are from Konta Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist, which also include 11 women cadres. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres include militia 'deputy commander', militia members, DKMS members, school committee members and members of the CPI-Maoist supply team. Self-styled militia 'deputy commander' Madkam Hadma is among those 29 cadres who claimed that they were disillusioned with the Maoist ideology, atrocities, discrimination and violence. None of the surrendered Maoists had weapons with them at the time of surrender before the senior Chhattisgarh Police officer.

At least nine CRPF personnel were killed and two were critically injured when CPI-Maoist cadres blew up a MPV in Kistaram jungle area in Sukma District. The personnel belonging to the 212th battalion of the CRPF were conducting an area domination operation in a forest in the Kistaram area when their vehicle was blown up. The blast is suspected to have been triggered by Maoists by joining wires from a distance when the MPV crossed over the explosive devices on the road from Kistaram and Palodi, officials said. The CRPF men were moving from Kistaram camp to the new camp in Palodi in the MPV when Maoists triggered IED targeting them, D.M. Awasthi, Special Director General, Maoist operation, said. Those killed have been identified as ASI, Ram Krishna Singh Tomar, Head Constable Laxman, Constables Ajay K. Yadav, Manoranjan Lanka, Jitendra Singh, Shobhit Sharma, Manoj Singh, Dharmendra Singh and Chandra H.S. The injured Constables have been identified as Madan Kumar and Rajesh Kumar.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set at least seven machines and vehicles engaged in a road construction project ablaze in Bijapur District. A road construction project is underway at the stretch between Bijapur and Gangaloor, considered a strategically important route. A group of armed Maoists stormed the construction site near the Ponjer rivulet, around 17 kilometres from Bijapur and about 450 kilometres from State capital Raipur, and threatened the workers to stop the work, Bijapur SP, Mohit Garg said. Before fleeing the spot, the Maoists set ablaze two road-rollers, two mixer machines, two water tankers and a JCB machine, all belonging to a private construction company, he said.

CPI-Maoist 'commander' identified as Malya alias Malu Kashyap was arrested from Kudur village under Mardapal Police Station limits in Kondagaon District. SFs raided the village after receiving information about CPI-Maoist 'commander's presence in Kudur. Kashayap was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head. He was active as 'jan militia commander' and wanted in at least seven Naxal-related incidents, including murder, loot and attacks on Police party, said ASP, Maheshwar Nag.

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a road construction site and killed a contractor identified as Vishal Kumar in Bijapur District. The Maoists also set ablaze six vehicles at the site near Koitpal village on Bijapur-Gangaloor road where the work was going on under the PMGSY. "This incident should act as a warning to other contractors. If you take up road work, there will be action against you. The aboriginal tribals do not get anything from the construction of such roads," read a pamphlet issued in the name of Gangaloor Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist. Angered over the killing, some anti-Maoist groups staged a protest in Bijapur later in the evening.The Police recovered Vishal Kumar's body near the construction site with his head smashed with an axe, said DIG, south Bastar range, Sundarraj P.

10 Maoists surrendered to the Police in Kondagaon District. The surrendered Maoists were identified as Maoists' 'Jan militia commander' Vikas Salam, 'Jan militia' member Ramlal Vadde, Jaggaram Salam, Ram Vadde, Raisingh Salam, Pohadu, Dasharu Gawade, Mangalram Gawade, Bajju Lohar and Sarita Netam. "All of them were accused in various cases of attack on the Police, and of planting explosives to target security forces," a press note issued by the Kondagaon District Police stated.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed the brother of a Police constable, identified as Ramsai Dhruv (35), after holding a 'jan adalat' on March 9, near Jharawahi village in Abujhmaad area in Narayanpur District. The victim's family lodged a complaint at Kurusnar Police Station on March 21. Dhruv was brutally hacked to death after thrashing him badly in front of villagers by CPI-Maoist cadres, said SP, Jitendra Shukla.

Fifteen CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by SFs in two separate incidents in Sukma District. In the first incident, 14 CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women were arrested from Bhejji forest area. Three of the 14 CPI-Maoist cadres arrested are identified as Sodhi Pojja (42), Head of DAKMS carrying a reward of INR 0.1 million on his head, Rawa Kosi (22) and Hemla Hungi (32), members of the Local Guerilla Squad in Kistaram and the medical team of Maoists. The other arrested were lower rung cadres of CPI-Maoist. All the 14 cadres arrested from Bhejji were allegedly involved in the attack on a Police team in Elarmadgu forest in which two SFs were killed and six others were injured and set ablaze of construction vehicles in February 2018. In the second incident, SFs arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Madkam Somaru (25), LGS member in Machkot area and carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head from Pushpal area in Sukma District. He was allegedly involved in at least 10 Naxal LWE related incidents, including attacks on Policemen, killings, setting vehicles on fire used in road construction works and planting IEDs to harm the SFs at separate places in Sukma, said DIG, south Bastar range, Sundarraj P.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a tribal youth identified as Patel Durod Hansda, after branding him as 'Police informer' at Dhuraguda village under Phulwadi Police limits in Sukma District. A group of at least 15-20 armed CPI-Maoist cadres barged into Hansda's house at night and dragged him out at the gun point, dubbing as 'Police informer'. The CPI-Maoist cadres held a 'Praja Court' in a nearby forest after taking Hansda there and killed him by slitting throat. Several posters were left by CPI-Maoist cadres near the dead body of Hansda, warning villagers of the same fate in case they opt to be 'Police informers'.

Five CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Oyam Dasru, Kovasi Vella, Oyam Deva, Muchaki Mangu, Punem Sannu and one CPI-Maoist supporter identified as Tarachand Nayak were arrested by SFs from Basaguda area in Bijapur District. The CPI-Maoist cadres were trying to block Sarkeguda-Tarrem road by felling electric poles, SFs rushed to the spot forcing the CPI-Maoist cadres to flee. However, SFs gave chase and managed to arrest CPI-Maoist cadres. The SFs recovered couple of detonators, detonating cord, batteries, material used in making explosives and other items from them, said SP, Mohit Garg.

Five DRG personnel identified as Padam Muya, Nurum Dula, Sodhi Deva, Kartam Pandu and Kichhe Naga were injured in an IED blast, suspected to be carried out by CPI-Maoist cadres in a forest near Sirsetti village under Fulbagdi Police Station limits of Sukma District. Four of the injured DRG personnel were Assistant Constables, while Kichhe Naga was Constable. The blast took place when a Police DRG team was returning after an anti-Maoist operation. CPI-Maoist cadres opened fire on the DRG team, which led to exchange of fire. The CPI-Maoist cadres fled after a brief exchange of fire, said DIG of Police, Sundarraj P.

SFs arrested seven CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Komram Sade (25), Madkam Joga (31), Madkam Hidma (30), Madkam Ganga (25), Vanjam Aayta (34), Vanjam Singa (32) and Madvi Sukka (30) in the forests of Kistaram of Sukma District. All the arrested seven CPI-Maoist cadres were involved in Kistaram MPV attack on March 13 and active members of CPI-Maoist 'janmilitia' in the Kistaram area, said SP, Abhishek Meena.

A joint team of CRPF's 199th battalion and local Police recovered a five kilograms IED, laid by the Maoists from a field under Bhairamgarh Police Station limits in Bijapur District. When SFs were carrying out patrolling in the forests along Bhairamgarh Keshkutul road, they spotted the IED, hidden beneath the earth, in a steel tiffin, few meters inside the road, SP, Mohit Garg said. Later, the BDS personnel immediately destroyed the explosive, he added.

A CRPF jawan was injured in a Maoist ambush and IED blast in Sukma District. The SFs said Maoists had set up a strong ambush in the jungles of Kondasawali-Jagargunda area in south Bastar District and troops of the 231st battalion of the force got engaged in it when they were undertaking an operation. A heavy exchange of gunfire took place between the two sides followed by an IED blast, a senior Police official said. "The Maoist ambush was successfully thwarted and a CRPF jawan suffered splinter injuries on his hand due to the impact of the IED explosion," the senior official said.

A youth leader was allegedly attacked with sharp objects and killed by CPI-Maoist cadres in Bhopalpatnam area of Bijapur District. After the attack, the youth was rushed to Sironcha Hospital in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, where he succumbed to his injuries. The deceased youth was identified as Jagdish Kondra, a former District Panchayat member. The reason behind the killing is yet to be ascertained.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a Police constable, identified as Baman Markam, in Dantewada District. The Police constable was attending a fair at Muskel village in the District when a group of 20-25 Maoists attacked him with rods and axes, and slit his throat. Markam was a surrendered Maoist and was on a suspension since January, said Police. Markam joined the department under the State's rehabilitation scheme, and was promoted as a constable in DRG force for his good work, said Police.

CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly killed two surrendered Naxalites after branding them as a 'Police informer's in Dandakaranya forest area in Bijapur District. One of the deceased was identified as Irpa Laxman alias Bharath (25), a surrendered Maoist from Pusuguppa, a remote tribal hamlet in Charla Mandal of Telangana, while the identity of the other person was yet to be ascertained. Sources said that a group of Maoist rebels whisked away Laxman along with another surrendered Maoist of Usur Tehsil of Bijapur District into Utlapalli forest area in the Maoist stronghold of Bastar Division and grilled both of them in a 'Praja Court' charging the duo with acting as 'Police informers'. They allegedly attacked the duo with boulders killing Laxman on the spot. Another surrendered Maoist reportedly succumbed to bleeding injuries. The ultras left behind a note in the name of CPI-Maoist Bhadradri Kothagudem-East Godavari Division Committee holding a surrendered Maoist 'responsible' for the recent major encounter in Bijapur district, in which 10 Maoists were gunned down.

At least fifty-nine Naxals, who were supporters and executed the ground works of the CPI-Maoist, surrendered before the Bastar IGP, at Errabore in Sukma District. Sukma, SP, Abhishek Meena said that 59 rebels including 16 women cadres laid down the arms before Police at Errabore village. Arrest warrants were pending against nine of them, he said, adding, all of them were residents of villages under the Errabore Police Station limits. "Frustrated with the anti-development and anti-tribal ideology of the CPI (Maoist) over 500 villagers persuaded the lower range committee cadres to shun violence and join the mainstream. They were inhabitants of the remote villages located in Naxal stronghold of Sukma. It will weaken the rebels' influence in the region", Bastar, IGP, Vivekanand Sinha affirmed.

A CRPF jawan was injured in the explosion of a pressure bomb, suspected to be planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres, in Bijapur District. DIG of Police, South Bastar, Sundarraj P, said that Lakshman Rao (29), a jawan of the 85th battalion of the CRPF, part of a CRPF team which had set out for Bhopalpatnam from Bijapur for patrolling, was injured after stepping on a pressure bomb near Mahadev Ghat.

The Chhattisgarh Police busted a Maoist hideout in Irpanar forest area of Narayanpur District. Nine Maoists were also arrested during the search operation from the hideout. Police uniforms, materials to make IEDs and two hand grenades were recovered from the site.

CPI-Maoist cadres have killed two villagers in Khairgarh Block in Rajnandgaon District. SDPO, Pushpendra Nayak told that at least 10 kilometres from Khairgarh Block headquarters in Borla village, the Maoists have killed two villagers identified as Chaitram and Rajkumar. Based on the primary information, it has been found that the Maoists have killed both the villagers suspecting them to be 'Police informers'.

A youth was killed by a group of Maoists for allegedly spying for Police in Dantewada District. The youth (yet to be identified) was encircled by a group of Maoists in a forest and was killed using sharp objects. The Maoists also left a note describing him to be a 'Police informer'.

The Chhattisgarh Police claimed to have arrested 12 alleged cadres of the CPI-Maoist in connection with an IED blast in Sukma District on March 13, in which nine CRPF personnel were killed. "The Sukma DRG, STF, and the CRPF have arrested 12 Maoists involved in the blast near Kistaram on March 13. Most of them belong to Kistaram and Bhejji areas of Sukma," the Sukma District Police said in a statement. The arrested cadres have been identified as Madkam Deva, Madavi Hunga, Komram Ramu, Podiyam Nanda, Madavi Dula, Madavi Singha, Madkam Nanda, Podiyam Pandu, Sodi Deva, Madkam Hadma, Madavi Joga, and Madkam Hidma. "All of them were the Jan Militia members in south Sukma," the statement added.

CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Mangu Oyam (22), 'jan-militia member', was killed in an encounter with the DRG personnel in a forest near Itampara village in Bijapur District. CPI-Maoist cadres started firing on DRG personnel, who were cordoning off the forest area during anti-Naxal operation. The Police recovered 315 bore pistol, its 10 live rounds, INSAS assault rifle magazine with four live rounds, IED of about 2 kilogram, a couple of detonators, cordex wire, battery and other Maoist material from the spot, said SP, Mohit Garg.

SFs arrested eight CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Madkam Kona, Padiami Joga, Padiami Sukka, Padiami Bhima, Padiami Kosa, Padiami Handa, Padiami Joga and Kawasi Lakma during patrol in Sukma District. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were wanted for killing, attempt to kill, arson, abduction, loot, firing on Police and triggering blast, said Police.

Two DRG Police personnel were killed and five others injured after CPI-Maoist cadres triggered an IED blast targeting a passenger bus in which a group of security personnel were travelling at Namaid in Bijapur District. The bus carrying 30 DRG personnel was travelling from Kuturu to Jangla when it was blown up near a bridge close to the forested village of Namaid. The front part of the bus got separated from its body under the impact of the explosion, said DGP, anti-Naxal operations, D.M. Awasthi. PM Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Bijapur on April 14.

Two SFs have sustained minor splinter injuries after an exchange of fire took place following two IED blasts in the forest area between Mahadev Ghati and Chinnabodkel in Bijapur District between CPI-Maoist cadres and SFs. SFs recovered a live IED, which was diffused immediately by the BDDS during search operations in Bijapur District.

Seven CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from three different places during search operations in Narayanpur District. In the first incident, SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Jaitram Kashyap (30), Mandiram (35) and Manaji Katlami (26) from Irpanar village forest in Narayanpur District. In the second incident, Budhram Wadde (40) and Sonaru alias Gadge Wadde (45) were arrested from Gumiyabeda-Kotnar forest in Narayanpur District. In the third incident, Laluram Usendi (50) and Jhankai Katlam (19) were arrested from Orchha Police Station area of the Narayanpur District. All the arrested were active as cadres of 'jan militia' and 'janatana sarkar' squad of Maoists and allegedly tasked with arranging meetings of Naxals, conducting recce for them, damaging public property, putting up pamphlets, posters and banners and planting explosives to harm the SFs, SP, Jitendra Shukla said.

SFs have claimed to have arrested CPI-Maoist 'commander' identified as Mandvi Malla Lakpal, carrying INR 100,000 on his head, under Chintagufa Police Station limits in Sukma District. He was involved in firing at Police and IED blasts, said Police.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres of military Dalam, identified as Manjula and Sundar Kormram, have surrendered before the District Police in Dantewada District. Both the surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres were carrying a reward of INR 800,000 each on their heads. Manjula was involved in attack on SFs chopper at Timlawada, killing of 12 SFs and arms robbery at Tadimetla and killing of five SFs at Bhatti Ghunda. Sundar was also involved in killing of Police personnel.

CPI-Maoist cadres have attacked empty CRPF camp located in Sukma District. CPI-Maoist cadres have carried out a blast in empty CRPF camp. There was no loss of life or injuries due to the blast. The place of the explosion is approximately 150 kilometers away from Jungala village in Bijapur District, where Indian Prime Minister's event is scheduled, said Police.

Five CPI-Maoist cadres and 18 CPI-Maoist aides, including five women, have surrendered before SFs at Kukdajhor Police Station in Narayanpur District. All the five surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres were active as 'jan militia members' while the remaining were supporters of CPI-Maoist. They were tasked with arranging meetings and food for CPI-Maoist cadres, putting up pamphlets, posters and banners, and collecting information, besides planting IEDs to target SFs. All the surrendered cadres were in contact with the Police for the last one year and were willing to come back to the mainstream. After noticing their activities and willingness to quit the CPI-Maoist, their surrender was accepted. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres gave statements that they are frustrated with the exploitation, violence and atrocities perpetrated in the name of the Naxal movement, said SP, Jitendra Shukla.

Five CPI-Maoist cadres and 18 CPI-Maoist aides, including five women, have surrendered before SFs at Kukdajhor Police Station in Narayanpur District. All the five surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres were active as 'jan militia members' while the remaining were supporters of CPI-Maoist. They were tasked with arranging meetings and food for CPI-Maoist cadres, putting up pamphlets, posters and banners, and collecting information, besides planting IEDs to target SFs. All the surrendered cadres were in contact with the Police for the last one year and were willing to come back to the mainstream. After noticing their activities and willingness to quit the CPI-Maoist, their surrender was accepted. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres gave statements that they are frustrated with the exploitation, violence and atrocities perpetrated in the name of the Naxal movement, said SP, Jitendra Shukla.

April 16

SFs recovered dead body of civilian identified as Bala Nageswara Rao alias Kasulu near a Kasaram rivulet under Kistaram Police Station limits in Sukma District. He was working with a road construction contractor in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh, and kidnapped by CPI-Maoist cadres with two others on April 14. The victim hails from Banapuram village in I Polavaram Mandal of East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. He was kidnapped with two others by Maoists between Faidagudam and Dharampenta villages after they set ablaze a truck used for road construction work.

April 17

Chhattisgarh CM, Raman Singh, who has been battling LWEs in the State for the last 15 years, says he is ready to talk to CPI-Maoist -- but only if their top leadership comes to the table. CM, Raman Singh, says the fight against Maoists is the "toughest fight in the world" and asserts that left-wing extremists can still claim dominance in only "15-20 per cent areas" in just two Districts - Bijapur and Sukma. "The battle against Maoists is the toughest fight in the world. This is a fight where our own people (Maoists) roam around wearing lungis and suddenly start firing. What will a jawan do under such circumstances? They (Maoists) keep themselves surrounded by women and children and innocent villagers. We can't do anything. We can't kill everybody," CM, Raman Singh, told IANS in an interview.

April 20

An officer of the CRPF was killed in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres in a forest area in Sukma District. The encounter took place in Kistaram Police Station area when a team of CRPF's 212th battalion was out on a search-cum-area domination operation on intelligence inputs, DIGP, South Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said, adding, "Assistant Sub Inspector Anil Kumar Maurya was killed in the incident." Security Forces have launched a combing operation in the area, located around 500 kilometres away from the State capital Raipur, Sundarraj added.

A BSF constable, identified as Shree Bhagwan Singh was injured in an exchange of fire with CPI-Maoist cadres near Mahla BSF camp, under Partapur Police Station limits in Kanker District. CPI-Maoist cadres triggered two IED blasts when personnel from BSF's 114th battalion were out on an area domination operation and opened fire on SFs. CPI-Maoist cadres fled the encounter spot after coming under heavy fire from the patrolling team, said SP, KL Dhruv.

Fifteen CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by SFs in two separate incidents from Sukma and Narayanpur Districts. In the first incident, Nine CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Muchaki Kosa (24), carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on his head and associated with 'military platoon number 8' of CPI-Maoist, Madvi Pandu (32), Sodhi Lakhma (24), Madkam Pojja (23), Madvi Sukka (30), Madvi Lakhma (25), Madkam Bheema (30), Muchaki Deva (22) and Muchaki Raja (22) were arrested by SFs from Konta area in Sukma District. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were working as members of the DAKMS, a front organisation of CPI-Maoist and involved in setting ablaze a water tanker at Joranala near Injram on April 10, said SP, Abhishek Meena. In a separate search operation conducted by SFs in Orchha in Narayanpur District, Six CPI-Maoist cadres, including three women were arrested. The six CPI-Maoist cadres were tasked with arranging meetings, conducting reconnaissance, supplying materials and carrying out Maoist propaganda, said Police official.

CPI-Maoist cadres have killed a civilian, who is a village head, accusing them of being Police informer. In this incident, Somaru Ram Mandavi (28), the Sarpanch of Darbha village under the Kutru Police Station in Bijapur District, was attacked by CPI-Maoist cadres with an axe and sticks and was later killed, said SP, Mohit Garg.

Sixty cadres of CPI-Maoist have surrendered before IG, Bastar Range, Vivekanand Sinha and of the ITBP officials at Narayanpur Police Station in Narayanpur District. Seven CPI-Maoist cadres have handed over their country-made weapons. Three CPI-Maoist cadres of 60 surrendered cadres are Janmilitia 'commanders' are identified as Sukhraj Kawachi (22), Sannu Ram Potai (18) and Jaisu Vadda (25). Another surrendered CPI-Maoist leader, identified as Narsingh Kawachi (40) is head of DAKMS. All the four CPI-Maoist leaders surrendered were carrying a reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads. The rest all CPI-Maoist cadres are associated with lower-lever Maoist squads such as 'Jan-militia' and 'Janatana Sarkar'. The surrendered Maoist cadres hailed from Kanagaon, Kohkameta, Irakbhatti, Kachhapal, Ikmeta and Piddilpar villages, and worked under the 'Kohkameta Janatana Sarkar' squad which is active in Abhujmad, said SP, Jitendra Shukla. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres included 40 men and 20 women and also two minors. They were active in the CPI-Maoist for the past 7-8 years and were mainly tasked with spreading Maoist propaganda, damaging Government buildings, attacking Police teams and collecting information, adds Jitendra Shukla.

Eight CPI-Maoist cadres, including six female cadres are killed in an encounter with teams from Greyhounds, an elite anti- Naxal unit of the Telangana Police along with Chhattisgarh Police's STF, DRG and troopers from CRPF in the deep jungles under Ilmidi Police Station limits in Bijapur District. SFs launched joint counter-insurgency operations on April 23 in the forests along the inter-state border with Telangana. The gun-battle broke out when a team of Greyhounds was cordoning off the forested hillock around 13 kilometers away from Ilmidi Police Station between the Maoists and SFs. The Police recovered one SLR, one .303 bore rifle, four .12 bore guns, four SBBL, one .315 bore gun, one revolver, live cartridges, 3 HE-36 Hand Grenades, 6 Rocket Launchers, 10 Maoists 'pithhu' (bags), four pairs of olive green dresses and literature. The bodies of killed CPI-Maoist cadres were airlifted to Bijapur through IAF chopper and their identification process was underway, said SDG, ANO, DM Awasthi. The killed CPI-Maoist cadres were active in Usoor and Basaguda area of Bijapur District. The joint operation was successful because the intelligence units of Greyhounds and Telangana Police have played a crucial role as this operation was carried out for the first time in this area, adds DM Awasthi. A civilian identified as Kumma Bhaskar (44) was killed by six suspected CPI-Maoist cadres at Molasnar village under Bhansi Police Station limits in Dantewada District. Bhaskar was hacked to death with axes by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres and threw Maoist pamphlets on the spot. The Police are probing the killing from all angles, said Police.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including one woman were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces near Metagudam village in Burkapal area of Sukma District. The Police have recovered 11 weapons with two CPI-Maoist cadres' dead bodies, after the encounter. CPI-Maoist cadres fled into the forests after the encounter, which lasted for two hours, said, DIG, South Bastar, Sundarraj P.

The CPI-Maoist cadres took an engineer and two members hostage of a road construction company, and set ablaze at least five vehicles engaged in construction work on Sabag-Pudang road in Bandar Chua area under Samari Police Station in Balrampur District. It is being told that a large number of armed Maoists came to the spot and set ablaze the five vehicles engaged in road construction while PMGSY engineer Dumdum, Munshi Raju Gupta and Shankar Bihari were taken hostage along with them.

Four CPI-Maoist 'jan-militia' cadres identified as Vetti Pojja (22), Madkam Linga (25), Madvi Deva (26) and Madvi Hadma (23), were arrested during a joint operation by the SFs under Chintalnar Police Station limits in Sukma District. They were allegedly involved in planting a pressure bomb to target a Police Patrolling team near Morpalli village in the Sukma District in December 2017, SP, Abhishek Meena, said.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including one woman, identified as Sukku Korram (30), Palidhar Nag (27), Andhari Nag alias Ajanati (22) surrendered before the Police at Kondagaon District. Sukku Korram was active as a 'Local Organisation Squad (LOS) member' and carried a reward of INR 300,000 on his head. He was allegedly involved in the Maoist attack in Mardapal Police Station area in the District in May 2007, wherein nine Policemen were killed and part of the Maoists' squad that had triggered a blast killing seven Policemen near Golawand culvert of the District in 2008. Palidhar Nag, a 'janmilitia commander' carries a reward of INR 100,000 on his head and Andhari Nag, janmilitia cadre carries a reward of INR 10,000 on her head, ASP, Maheshwar Nag, said.

Two Policemen, identified as Lekhram and Bhoj Singh, were killed in an IED blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres near Odh village under Mainpur Police Station area in Gariabandh District. The IED blast targeted the motorcycle, killing one of the Police personnel on the spot and the other injured Policeman succumbed while being moved out of the forest area. CPI-Maoist cadres opened fire on SFs after the blast and fled from the spot after retaliatory fire by Police, Raipur Range, IGP, Pradeep Gupta, said.

CPI-Maoist cadres seat ablaze four tractors, one JCB machine and a road roller at Pusugudi village under Modakpal Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The Police have recovered pamphlets of CPI-Maoist from the site. The company had not sought security at the construction site from the local administration, a local Police official, said.

Chhattisgarh Police recovered three pressure bombs during search operations, planted by CPI-Maoist cadres under Pamod Police Station limits in Bijapur District. Maoists planted bombs to target the SFs and construction vehicles, the Police said.

Eight CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Madkam Sukka (25), Podiam Bheema (26), Madvi Nanga (22), Madvi Joga (25), Hemla Budhu (30), Nuppo Hidma (20), Muchaki Laxman (20) and Hemla Dhannu (23) were arrested by the SFs during search operations at various places under Chintalnar, Chintagufa and Jagargunda Police Stations in Sukma District. Madkam Sukka was a cadre of Supply Battalion of the Maoists, while the rest were cadres of the Maoist militia, DAKMS, and CNM, the cultural wing of the CPI-Maoist. All eight cadres were allegedly involved in planting of an IED on a dirt track in Morpalli village near Chintalnar in December, 2017, Police official, said.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a vehicle near Penta, some three kilometers away from Dornapal in Dantewada District. The vehicle coming from Jagdalpur and CPI-Maoist cadres intercepted and asked the driver to alight. The fuel tank of the vehicle was damaged and set it on fire. The CPI-Maoist cadres warned the driver during the incident, said SP, Abhishek Meena.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres killed a DRG constable identified as Ganeshwar Singh Uike alias Ravi (39) and injured a civilian at Sadak Banajari village in Rajnandgaon District. Uike, who was a former CPI-Maoist cadre before being recruited as constable in the DRG of Chhattisgarh, had surrendered before the Police in 2011. He was said to be on the target of CPI-Maoist cadres since 2016 when he joined the DRG. The injured civilian, who sustained bullet injuries is out of danger, said Police official.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres killed a DRG constable identified as Ganeshwar Singh Uike alias Ravi (39) and injured a civilian at Sadak Banajari village in Rajnandgaon District. Uike, who was a former CPI-Maoist cadre before being recruited as constable in the DRG of Chhattisgarh, had surrendered before the Police in 2011. He was said to be on the target of CPI-Maoist cadres since 2016 when he joined the DRG. The injured civilian, who sustained bullet injuries is out of danger, said Police official.

Police said that they were yet to get any clue about the whereabouts of two civilians who were abducted by CPI-Maoist cadres in Balrampur District on April 28, after a massive search operation. The identities of two civilians kidnapped are Petrus Dungdung, a sub-engineer and Shankar Bihari.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed two civilians identified as Ashok Maravi (36) and Guman Singh Dhruve (26), after accusing them to be 'Police Informers' in Rajnandgaon District. The Police recovered two dead bodies of civilians, shot dead by Maoists in the outskirts of village Suktara under the Gandai Police Station limits of the District. The Police also recovered CPI-Maoist pamphlets, which claimed that two civilians were acting as 'Police Informers'.

CPI-Maoist cadres released two civilians, a Government sub-engineer and an employee of a private construction firm, who were abducted on April 28 in Balrampur District.

SFs killed a CPI-Maoist cadre, during exchange of fire in a forest area near Dudagad village under Bakarkatta Police Station limits in Rajnandgaon District. CPI-Maoist cadres fled into the forest and Police recovered a pressure bomb and some Naxal related material from the spot. The identity of the killed CPI-Maoist cadre is yet to be ascertained.

CPI-Maoist 'commander' identified as Sevak Ram was killed in an encounter with Police in a forest near Ravandiggi village under the Mainpur Police Station limits in Gariabandh District. He was carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on his head and involved in many incidents of violence including killings. The Police recovered dead body of the CPI-Maoist 'commander' after CPI-Maoist cadres fled the encounter spot.

SFs arrested six CPI-Maoist cadres, including one woman are identified as Santu Punem (32), Aaytu Punem (19), Raju Potam (20), Punem Lakkhu (32), Punem Manku (25) and Laxmi Punem (25) under Gangaloor Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Laxmi Punem is head of the KAMS, a frontal organization of CPI-Maoist. The Police recovered cordex wire, bow and arrows and Maoist literature from the arrested cadres, said SP, Mohit Garg.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from two different places in Bijapur District. In the first incident, two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Kunjam Anda (35) and Hemla Lakhma (31) were arrested at forests of Timapur village under Basaguda Police Station limits in Bijapur District. Police recovered cordex wire, electrical wire, batteries, couple of detonators and Maoists literature. Anda, (35) is member of military platoon number 10 and involved in attacks on Police. In the second incident, CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Avlam Sukku (25) was arrested from forest near Gadamali road under Jangla Police Station area in the District.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Balram Pungati (22) and Budhu Kursam (26), both carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on their head surrendered before the Bijapur, SP, Mohit Garg, in Bijapur District. Both the surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres were given INR 10,000 each as encouragement money, said Police.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian identified as Vanjam Kosa at Temadawada village in Sukma District. Vanjam Kosa and another civilian were abducted by CPI-Maoist cadres on May 12. Vanjam was killed with a sharp object by CPI-Maoist cadres while they released the other civilian (unidentified) after beating him. The released civilian was warned by CPI-Maoist cadres before his release, said Police.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres killed an employee of the construction contractor and set four construction vehicles on fire in Bijapur District. The victim was identified as Batoi Pal, the manager of Shivshakti Construction Company. The Mudedar Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist carried out the arson.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a villager (yet to be identified) and set ablaze heavy construction vehicles in Dantewada District. The CPI-Maoist cadres armed with guns and wearing uniforms attacked during the road construction work, said Police.

SFs recovered a huge cache of explosive materials following an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres in Sukma District. The encounter took place when a joint team of the Police's STF, DRG and CoBRA of the CRPF was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukma, SP, Abhishek Meena said. While the team was cordoning off Tumalpad forests, Maoists opened fire on them, SP, Meena said. After a prolonged gun-battle, the Maoists fled, the SP added. During search, four steel tiffin boxes, 12 gelatin rods, urea, 20 detonators, cordex wires, batteries and gunpowder were recovered from the spot, he said. A team of `military battalion no 1' of the Maoists led by company 'commander' Nagesh, which operates mostly in south Sukma, was involved in the encounter, SP, Meena added.

Seven SFs were killed and one critically injured in an IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist) cadres near Cholnar in Dantewada District. The joint team of the CAF and the DF were patrolling the Cholnar-Kirandul road to provide security to trucks carrying construction material for road works between Kirandul and Palnar villages. CPI-Maoist cadres blew up Police vehicle, carrying the SFs with an IED blast creating 10-feet crater on the road and tossed the Police vehicle into the air. Five SFs died on the spot, while two jawans succumbed to their injuries during treatment. CPI-Maoist cadres took away two INSAS assault rifles, two AK 47s and two SLRs from the slain Police personnel. The CAF killed are identified as head constable Vikram Yadav and constables Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ravinath Patel and Arjun Rajbhar. While, the slain DF jawans were identified as head constable Ramkumar Yadav, constable Tikeshwar Dhruv and assistant constable Shalik Ram Sinha. The identity of the injured personnel is yet t be ascertained. The IED might have been planted around six months ago and was detonated on May 20, targeting the Police vehicle, said DIG, P. Sundarraj.

SFs killed a CPI-Maoist cadre in Bijapur District. The incident comes the very day after seven Policemen were killed in an IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Dantewada District on May 20. The identity of the slain Maoist is yet to be ascertained.

SFs killed another CPI-Maoist cadre, during combing operations in Sukma District. CPI-Maoist cadres have initiated the exchange of fire with SFs. The retaliation by SFs led to the death of a women Maoist cadre, while 15 Maoists have fled from the encounter spot after injuries, said SP, Abhishek Meena.

Chhattisgarh Police arrested a suspected CPI-Maoist supporter, identified as Sudan Mandavi (30) from Kohkadi village under Mardapal Police Station limits of the Kondagaon District. He was allegedly part of the Maoist squad that had killed local anganwadi assistant Parvati Korram (20) on April 21, 2018, on suspicion of being a 'Police Informer'. He is one of the key associates of Naxal leader Raiju Lohar and assigned the task of passing on information about the movement of SFs in the area, said ASP, Maheshwar Nag.

Chhattisgarh CM, Raman Singh said that the 'Maoists violent acts will not hinder the development process in Bastar region', while talking to media persons here at helipad at Police Parade Ground in Raipur District.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres blew up a farmhouse owned by a BJP legislator, identified as Vikram Usendi in Bodanaar village in Takodi in Kanker District. CPI-Maoist cadres forced the security guard at the farmhouse to leave the place and then targeted it with IEDs. Two rooms of farmhouse were damage.

An IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres killed a CoBRA of the CRPF SI, identified as Rajesh Kumar and injured CoBRA constable identified as Manik Tinpare near Puswada village in Sukma District. The SFs launched the operation between Timilwada to Dornapal and the CoBRA official, Rajesh came in contact with an IED, planted by Maoists beneath the dirt track, which exploded leaving the two injured. Rajesh Kumar succumbed to his injuries at field hospital of the CRPF in Chintagufa.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, carrying a reward of INR 100, 000 on his head, was arrested in Kondagaon District. He is accused of killings and loots. The identity of the arrested Maoist is yet to be ascertained.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian identified as Vanjami Sukda (45), after branding him as 'Police Informer' at his field near Punpalli village under Dornapal Police Station limits in Sukma District. A group of CPI-Maoist cadres attacked Vanjami with sharp-edged weapons and slit his throat resulting in his death. The Maoist pamphlet recovered by Police accused Sukda as a 'Police Informer', said Police.

A 25-year-old villager was abducted and beaten to death by cadres of the CPI-Maoist in a forest area under Kuakonda Police Station limits in Dantewada District. Budhram Podiyam, the victim, along with some other villagers, was abducted from Budarikarka village under Kuakonda Police Station in Dantewada District, a Police official said. He was beaten to death after Maoists held a 'jan adalat' in a nearby forest, the Police official said. The other villagers, who were assaulted and then set free, told Police that Podiyam was killed as Maoists had accused him of being a 'Police informer', the official added.

Chhattisgarh Police arrested twelve CPI-Maoist cadres in three separate incidents from Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. In the first incident, six CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Madkam Hunga (24), Oyam Manglu (26), Kunjam Hunga (45), Punem Bandi (35), Uika Podia (25) and Nupo Pandu (20) were arrested from the forest near Dalla village under Basaguda Police Station limits in Bijapur District. Madkam Hunga, was an active member of 'military platoon number 9' of the CPI-Maoist and served as gunman of 'CC member' identified as Sonu. He was active in Abujhmad and Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra and allegedly involved in attacking Police parties, said SP, Mohit Garg. In the second incident, five CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Chaitu Kursam (29), Bonjo Poyam (30), Masa Kuhram (30), Sudhram Poyam (22) and Betti Joga (35) were arrested from Murkinar village under Bedre Police Station limits in Bijapur District. All the five arrested belong to the DAKMS and 'Janmilitia' squads of the CPI-Maoist. They were allegedly involved in torching a passenger bus, after asking occupants to alight, between Kutru and Bedre on March 2, 2018.In the third incident, Another CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Dukhari Poyam (35) was arrested by Police from Tarnichhilpatpara in Jangla village in Bijapur District. He was allegedly involved in the killing of a watchman at the house of a Panchayat secretary in Jangla.

Special Police team killed three alleged Maoist cadres at Chandiya Dongari under Bortalav Police Station limits in Rajnandgaon District. "A team of the Rajnandgaon DRG was carrying out a search operation at Chandiya Dongari and Khursipar. At 11 a.m., an encounter broke out between the DRG team and Maoists. Three Maoists, including 'deputy commander' Azad, were killed," Rajnandgoan District Police said in a statement. Azad alias Gopal alias Sudarshan, a resident of Gondpipari town in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra, carried a reward of INR 500,000 on his head. "He was working as the deputy commander of the Darekasa Area Committee on the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border. He had been active in the Maoist movement for the last 10 years. The identity of the other two is yet to be ascertained," the Police statement said. Police also recovered one rifle, one pistol, ammunition, walkie-talkies, and other material from the spot.

SFs busted a CPI-Maoist camp following an encounter with Maoist cadres in a forest between Parredodo and Kattipani villages in Dudhawa area in Kanker District. The Police recovered eight bags, four steel drums, a solar plate, electric wire, medicines and commodities of daily use from the encounter site after Maoists fled into the forest. Police have intensified combing operation in the region to arrest Maoist cadres, said Police official.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Ramu Ram Kunjam and Ramu Kunjam were arrested during a search operation at Masspara are in Dantewada District. The arrested duo was involved in killing of one Jayadev Nag and set ablaze of six vehicles in May, 2018.

CRPF personnel identified as M.M. Ramesh of the 231st Battalion was injured in an IED blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres on the Aranpur-Jagargonda road in Dantewada District. The blast occurred when CRPF personnel were conducting combing operations in the region. The injured CRPF personnel was airlifted to Raipur for treatment.

SFs arrested six CPI-Maoist cadres; two of them with cash rewards on their heads were arrested from Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. In the first incident, Police arrested CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Kanti alias Rama Korram (35), carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on his head from Kondagaon District. In the second incident, another Maoist cadre identified as Koso Poyam (35), carrying a reward of INR 100,000 was arrested by Police from Bijapur District. In the third incident, four CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman were arrested in Dantewada District. The arrested Maoist cadres faced charges of abducting Government officials and attacking Police teams, said Police official.

CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Koso Poyam (35), who is a resident of Paralmentapara Ketulnar was arrested by Police from Ketulnar forest under Kutru Police Station in Bijapur District. He is active in Naxal organization since 2008 as DAKMS President. He is involved in multiple incidents of set ablaze of vehicles engaged in road construction, killings, abduction and other criminal activities.

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his read in Bijapur District. The Police recovered INSAS assault rifle and 20 rounds of bullets. He also participated in the incident that killed seven jawans of the IED bomb explosion.

SFs recovered nine bullets of AK-47, four empty magazines of SLR, tent, medicines, Naxal literature and daily used items after an encounter with CPI-Maoist cadres at forest stretch between Hodnar and Pungarpal in Narayanpur District. CPI-Maoist cadres opened indiscriminate fire on the SFs that led to an exchange of fire during the combing operation from the forest.

Police arrested five CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Deva Kunjami, Kosa, Baman Kunjami, Bheema Netam and Baman Karma were arrested from Perpa-Pirnar village under Kirandul Police Station limits in Dantewada District. All the arrested cadres were active members of `Jan-militia' of CPI-Maoist, allegedly involved in blowing up of a Police vehicle in May 2018. These arrested CPI-Maoist cadres attended planning meeting with local Naxal leaders and lower-rung cadres in Kirandul area on May 18, and were assigned various tasks as part of the plan to carry out the attack. They were associated with the Naxal movement for the last four years and looked after the security of senior cadres during their visit to local villages apart from putting up Maoist pamphlets and banners, conducting recce and cooking meals, said ASP, (anti-Naxal operations), Gorakhnath Baghel.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Kalmuli alias Manikram Kalmu (36) resident of Pallevaya under Bhairamgarh Police limits, Paldeo Lakshmaiya (48) and Devar Sanyasi, residents of Gorla were arrested under Madder Police in Bijapur District. Kalmu was arrested by SFs, who were for area domination operation in Pallevaya village forest. He was involved in several Naxal incidents that occurred in the area. In another incident, SFs received a tip of about presence of some Naxals in Gorgunda and Gorla village forests and arrested Lakshmaiya and Sanyasi