CPI-Maoist Major Incidents 2018

*Data till June 3, 2018

May 29: Special Police team killed three alleged Maoist cadres at Chandiya Dongari under Bortalav Police Station limits in Rajnandgaon District in Chhattisgarh. "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.

May 28: Three suspected TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SFs near Dundur hillock in a remote region called Kala Pahar under the Chhaterpur Police Station in Palamu District in Jharkhand. The Police recovered two dead bodies of TPC cadres with two AK-47 rifles from the encounter site. The exchange of fire triggered between TPC cadres and SFs during patrolling of the area, after a tip-off, said Palamu SP, Indrajit Mahatha. The identity of the TPC cadres killed in the encounter is yet to be ascertained. Two TPC cadres surrendered before the 134 Battalion of the CRPF and the Jharkhand Police in Palamu District of Jharkhand.

May 20: Seven SFs were killed and one critically injured in an IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist) cadres near Cholnar in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh 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.

May 13: Four CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women were killed during exchange of fire with Police at Godanki village under Kandhamal sadar Police Station limits in Kandhamal District of Odisha. The Police recovered eight weapons including an AK-47 and an INSAS assault rifle from the spot. The encounter started with firing by CPI-Maoist cadres at Police during the search operation. The retaliation from Police led to the killing of four CPI-Maoist cadres, said SP, Prateek Singh.

April 28: C-60 personnel recovered one dead body of CPI-Maoist cadre from the Indravati river bed in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The death toll in twin Naxal encounters increased to 40. The Police also recovered an AK-47 rifle with highly decomposed body of a Maoist. There were 20 women in the total of 40 CPI-Maoist cadres killed in twin encounters. The Police have identified 18 identified bodies of CPI-Maoist cadres and handed over 13 bodies to the family members. The four DVC members killed in the encounters are Shinu alias Shrikant alias Vijendar Narasimhulu rao (51), 'chief of South Gadchiroli Naxal unit', Sainath alias Dolesh Madi Atram (36),Perimeli Dalam 'commander', Raju alias Ramesh Naresh Kutke (29), Gatta Dalam 'commander' and Shantabai alias Mangali Pada (31), Aheri Dalam 'commander', said Police.

April 27: 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 of Chhattisgarh. 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 of Chhattisgarh. 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.

April 25: SFs have recovered two more dead bodies of CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman, were found in the Indravati River near Kasnasur in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The total count of the killed CPI-Maoist cadres increased to 39 in the two encounters on April 22 and April 23. However, the total CPI-Maoist cadres fatalities from April 22 encounter increased to 33 with recovery of two more bodies. SFs have identified 18 CPI-Maoist cadres and returned the bodies of nine Maoists to their relatives for last rites, said Police.

April 24: SFs recovered 15 dead bodies of CPI-Maoist cadres, including eight women from Indravati River near to the encounter spot in Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra. SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire on April 22 in Kasansur area of Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra. The total number of CPI-Maoist cadres killed in this encounter is 31. Similarly, a total of 37 CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in two encounters in Gadchiroli District in last three days. One INSAS rifle was also recovered during the search operation on April 24 by SFs and there is a possibility that some senior Maoist leaders could be among the dead Maoists. The search operation has been intensified in the area, said, Sharad Shelar, The IG of Maharashtra Police's Anti-Naxal Operations unit. In the second encounter at Jimulgatta area of Gadchiroli District on April 23, SFs recovered one SLR, one INSAS assault rifle, and three other weapons were recovered from the spot of this encounter. Of the total 37 dead Maoists, 19 were women. Police have identified 16 bodies so far and the identity of 21 bodies is yet to be ascertained. These 16 Maoists carried a combined reward of INR 10.6 million. These encounters have eliminated four out of five 'Divisional Committee Members' of the CPI-Maoist in Gadchiroli, said Police statement.

April 23: SFs have killed six CPI-Maoist cadres in an encounter at Rajaram Khanla village in Aheri Tehsil in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The deceased CPI-Maoist cadres in encounter include 'Dalam Commander' identified as Nandu. The exchange of fire took place between Damrancha and Rajaram Khanla, said ASP, Maheshwar Reddy.

April 22: The C-60 commandos of the Gadchiroli Police and personnel from Battalion 9 of the CRPF killed 16 CPI-Maoist cadres, including a few women, in Boria jungle in Bhamragad tehsil of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The massive encounter broke out between the SFs and Maoists operating in Boria jungle, when the anti-Naxal squad of Gadchiroli Police launched a combing operation in thick jungles located in vicinity of Tadgaon range of Bhamragad tehsil at 7 am. The Maoists opened fire against the C-60 commandos, prompting the latter to retaliate. "We have recovered 16 bodies of Maoists from the Boria-Tadgaon jungles. There are a few women among those killed in the encounter. Our combing operations are continuing in search of more bodies," a senior officer of the Gadchiroli police said.

CPI-Maoist cadres of four groups - Perimili dalam, Aheri dalam, Company 10 and Platoon 14 - had gathered for a meeting when the forces took on them, sources said. Prominent Maoists among those killed in the encounter were identified as Shinu alias Shrikant alias Vijedhar Narasimhulu Rao (51), a resident of Challagariga, a village in Warangal District of Telangana and Sainath alias Dolesh Modi Atram (36), a resident of Gattepalli in Aheri taluka of Gadchiroli District. Both, Shinu and Sainath were Maoists' south Gadchiroli 'divisional committee members, DCM'. The identities of the remaining slain Maoists are yet to be ascertained. "We have recovered a sizeable chunk of weapons including rifles and ammunition from the Maoists killed in the encounter. The weapons recovered from the site included a two AK-47 rifles and one INSAS rifle," a Police officer involved in the anti-Naxal operation said.

April 4: Five cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in an encounter with SFs during a search operation in an area between Sikid and Kedu jungle under Herhanj Police Station limits in Latehar District of Jharkhand. Acting on information about presence of Maoists in the area, a joint team of the CRPF and the 3rd Battalion of the Jharkhand Jaguar with the District Police launched search operation. On seeing the SFs the around 70 Maoists who were present in the area, opened fire leading to an encounter, in which at least five rebels were killed. The slain bodies of the five Maoists have been recovered from the spot along with two SLRs, two INSAS assault rifles, 315 bore rifle, and large number of live bullets from the encounter spot. The identities of the slain Maoists are yet to be ascertained.

April 3: Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women were shot dead during an encounter with SFs in the Srikonda forest under Jhighanoor Police Station limits in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. Gadchiroli range, DIGP, Ankush Shinde said the shootout at Srikonda forests under Sironcha tehsil, about 400 kilometres from Nagpur, happened around 9.30am when a group of rebels fired at a Police patrol. The encounter, which lasted for nearly 30 minutes, resulted in the recovery of three bullet-ridden bodies by the C-60 Commando Force of the ANO, said Police spokesperson. Two of them were identified as Sunil alias Vilas Kulmethe (31), a 'divisional committee member (DCM)' and 'commander' of Sironcha Dalam, carrying INR 1.60 million head money, his wife Swaroopa alias Amsi Pocha Talandi, an 'area committee member (ACM)' and an absconder with a INR 600,000 reward on her head. Apart from the couple, the other cadre shot down has been identified as Suhshil Narote alias Ropi, belonging to Company 4 of the CPI-Maoist. The SFs also recovered two rifles, Maoist pamphlets and literature from the encounter spot.

March 25: Three women cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed during an exchange of fire between SF personnel and the Maoists near Dokari Ghati under Narayanpatna Police limits in Koraput District of Odisha. Though the identity of the slain Maoists is yet to be ascertained, Police sources said the three Maoists are believed to be members of Aruna group of the Koraput division of AOBSZC of the CPI-Maoist. As per reports, a joint team of DVF and SOG launched combing operation in the Dokari Ghati area after getting a tip-off on Maoists presence. The three women Maoists were gunned down after an exchange of fire between the SFs and Maoists during the combing operation. The SF personnel also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the encounter spot.

March 13: 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 of Chhattisgarh. 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.

March 1: 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 of Chhattisgarh, 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 (Chhattisgarh); 'CRC Dalam member', Kosi of Rangaigudem in Dornapal, Dantewada District (Chhattisgarh); and Dalam members - Ithu of Thippapuram in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District (Telangana); Kamala of West Bastar (Chhattisgarh); Pedda Budri of Sukma District (Chhattisgarh); Ratna of Bijapur District (Chhattisgarh); Sukki of Gangloor, Dantewada District (Chhattisgarh) and Somidi of Sukma District (Chhattisgarh).

February 26: Four CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as 'sub-zonal commander' Rakesh Bhuiyan, Lallu Yadav, Rinki and Ruby, were killed in an encounter at Lalaghati-Naudiha area of the Palamu District of Jharkhand, with joint team of the 134th battalion of the CRPF and State Police which was out on an anti-Maoist operation.. The bodies of the four CPI-Maoist cadres were recovered by the Police. The SFs also recovered two SLRs, five magazines and 219 bullets from the spot, said Police. Bhuiyan was carrying a reward of INR one million on his head, while Bimal Yadav alias Lallu Yadav, carried a reward INR 500,000 on his head.

January 24: CPI-Maoist cadres killed four Police personnel and severely injuring eight others in an attack in Abujhmaad area in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. 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.

Note: C - Civilian, SFs - Security Force Personnel, T - Terrorist

Source: Figures are compiled from news reports and are provisional.