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Chhattisgarh Timeline 2016

Date

Incidents

January 1

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed and three others arrested in Kutul area of Abujhmarh in Narayanpur District. "The District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Narayanpur District Police recovered two dead bodies of uniformed Maoists and apprehended three Maoists during an anti-Maoist operation in Kutul area of Maoists' undeclared capital Abujhmarh today. Seven weapons, including a 303 rifle, were recovered," said IGP, Bastar Range, S.R.P. Kalluri.

A Maoist Jan militia ('commander' identified as Sonadhar alias Sona of Metapal range committee was arrested in Sukma District. "Sonadhar had a reward of INR 100,000 on his head," said IGP Kalluri.

A Maoist 'deputy section commander' of military company number 2, surrendered before Dantewada District Police. He carried a reward of INR 800,000 on his head.

January 2

Three youths from Pune, identified as Adarsh Patil, Vilas Valake and Shrikrushna Shewale who were on a peace cycle rally from Pune to Malkangiri in Odisha were allegedly abducted by Maoists in Bijapur District. Bastar Range IGP SRP Kalluri said, "Though there were inputs about abduction of four youths, later it was confirmed they were three. Hailing from Pune they went missing from thick forested region on Basaguda area in Bijapur district and were last traced on December 28."

January 3

After four days in CPI-Maoist captivity, three students from Pune were released in Chhattisgarh. The students were on a cycle rally from Pune to Malkangiri District in Odisha to promote peace when they went missing from Bijapur District. Bastar Range IGP S.R.P. Kalluri said the students were in the custody of Maoist Papa Rao, 'secretary' of the Jagargunda area committee of CPI-Maoist in Sukma District. The three students were identified as Adarsh Patil, Vikas Walke and Shrikrishna Shewale.

Eleven CPI-Maoist cadres "impressed" by the surrender policy of Chhattisgarh government, surrendered in Kondagaon District, while citing disappointment with the "ill-treatment" by senior cadres, Police said. Two of the cadres, Ganesh Korram (23) and Lalit Kashyap (22), were carrying a reward of INR 300,000 each on their head and were acting as key Maoist couriers in Bastar region. Besides, Kolsai alias Panku (30), a military platoon member, was carrying INR 200,000 reward, while INR 100,000 each was announced for the arrest of Dhaniram (23) and Folsingh Salaam, who were local operation squad member and head of Maoists' cultural outfit Chetna Natya Mandli, respectively. The others who surrendered were lower rung members.

January 4

Five powerful IEDs allegedly planted by CPI-Maoist, were recovered from an under-construction route in Dantewada District. Out of the five IEDs seized, two weighed about 10 kilograms each, while the others were around 5-7 kilograms each.

One Maoist was arrested by Sukma District Police from Kerlapal area of the District.

January 5

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed and one was arrested during an exchange of fire with the Police in Kondagaon District. "The Maoists' Kudhur LOS 'commander' and one LOS members were killed in a fierce encounter between Kondagaon District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Maoists today morning," said S.R.P. Kalluri, the IGP, Bastar Range.

A huge cache of explosives including 28 petrol bombs was recovered during a search operation by security personnel in Gariyaband District in restive forests of Karlajhar village.

A group of SFs personnel had a close save as Maoists detonated a powerful pipe bomb blast in Bijapur District. No one was injured in the blast. The Maoists exploded the pipe bomb near Tarrem village under Basaguda Police Station limits when a team of CoBRA personnel was patrolling in the region.

January 6

A grant of INR 10 billion was approved by the UMHA for 35 worst Naxal affected districts spread across seven States to carry out development work and augmenting facilities to fight the CPI-Maoist. The affected areas include 16 districts in Jharkhand, eight in Chhattisgarh, six in Bihar, two in Odisha and one each in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Ministry allocated fund at the rate of INR 280.57 million per district.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, Renga Shankraiyya (30) and Sukman Kursam (27) were arrested from Awapalli Police Station area in Bijapur District.

January 7

The CRPF will soon deploy about 300 women commandos for undertaking operations in some of the states affected by Naxalism. DG of CRPF Prakash Mishra said few chosen companies drawn from its four 'mahila' battalions will be soon sent for pre-induction training and after about six weeks of regimen in various types of combats and special tasks, the women contingents will be sent for final deployment. "We are going to give more operational duties to our women personnel. We are sending our women personnel to some of the most difficult areas," Mishra said while announcing the hosting of the 7th National Conference of Women in Police beginning January 7.

Five Maoists, including three carrying cash rewards on their heads, surrendered before Police in Bijapur District. Surrendered Maoists were identified as Hemla Paklu (28), Budhram Kowasi (24), Hemla Pandu (25), Motu Parsa (19) and Hemla Budhram (35). Of them, Paklu, a member of military platoon no. 12 was carrying a reward of INR 200, 000, while INR 100, 000 each was announced for the arrest of militia company commander Budhram and Awapalli militia commander Pandu.

January 8

Four CPI-Maoist cadres, including a 'commander', were arrested from two different locations in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Three rebels, who were involved in setting vehicles on fire at Hahaladdi iron ore mine, were arrested from Karremarka village in Kanker District, a senior Police official said. Those arrested were identified as Budheshwar Netam (25), Dharmuram (28) and Somji Nareti (20).

In the second incident, Veko Budhru (25), active as LGS 'deputy commander' in Bhairamgarh area committee was arrested in Dantewada District. The CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly set on fire four vehicles of a private firm engaged in a road construction work in Dantewada District. The incident occurred at a remote Muskel village under Dantewada Police Station limits where work on construction of a road was underway, Dantewada SP Kamlochan Kashyap said.

January 11

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman 'commander', were killed in a joint operation of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra Police in Bijapur District. One of the dead Maoists has been identified as Mangi, the LOS 'commander' of national park area committee of the Maoists in West Bastar and she carried a reward of INR 500,000 on her head. One more dead body of a uniformed Maoist was recovered when the forces were returning to the base camps in Maharashtra.

January 12

A Police Constable was injured in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres under Tongpal Police Station limits in Sukma District. The exchange of fire took place when a joint team of State DRG and STF was carrying out an anti-Maoist operation in the region, Sukma ASP Santosh Singh said. While the SFs were cordoning off a forest axis at Kunna, a group of Maoists opened fire on them following which an encounter broke out between the two sides.

In order to strengthen security apparatus in the Maoist-hit areas, the Chhattisgarh Police have sent a proposal to set up 50 more Fortified Police Stations in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism, particularly Bastar. "The Centre has already approved to establish 75 FPS for Chhattisgarh of which construction on 40 have been completed while 35 are under-construction," ADGP (anti-Naxal operations), RK Vij said.

January 13

Two school students, identified as Rameshwar Oyam (18) and Vishal (16), were injured in a landmine blast suspected to be planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The explosion took place while the students were travelling on a motorcycle towards Tarrem village from Sarkeguda under Basaguda Police Station limits, Bijapur ASP Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

January 15

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with the DRG of Bijapur District. "A small team of the DRG Bijapur District, numbering about 50 men, had a successful encounter with the Maoists at village Pedda Jojer under Gangaloor Police Station limits of Bijapur today morning. The DRG team managed to recover dead bodies of four Maoists along with four Bharmars (locally made guns), local grenades and Maoist dump," informed Bastar IGP S.R.P. Kalluri.

A Police Constable was injured in an exchange of fire with Maoists in Sukma District. The encounter took place in the forests under Tongpal Police Station limits when a joint team of DRG and STF was carrying out an anti-Maoist operation in the region, said Sukma ASP Santosh Singh. While the security team was cordoning off a forest axis at Kunna when a group of armed Maoists opened fire on them following which a gun battle broke out between the two sides, he added.

As many as 30 Maoists, including a woman, surrendered before Police in Bastar District. Bastar SP R.N. Das said that these Maoists decided to return to the mainstream as they were impressed by the rehabilitation policy of the State Government. 19 cadres of Darbha division committee and 11 cadres of East Bastar division surrendered before senior Police officials.

January 18

A CPI-Maoist 'commander' carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head was killed in an encounter with Police in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The 'black uniform-clad' Maoist 'commander', identified as Kartam Deva, was killed in the encounter that took place in the forest near Burumapad village, SP D Shravan said. Later, during a search of the spot, Police recovered the body of the Maoist 'commander'. Four loaded guns, detonator and other material were recovered from the spot. The horns and skin of a deer were also seized from the place, the SP said.

Two Maoist cadres identified as Mangel (48) and Mura (21) were arrested from Kanker and Sukma Districts of Chhattisgarh, respectively. During interrogation, Mangel said that he was a former member of Barda and Kiskodo Dalam.

January 19

A Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with the SFs in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. When the 204 battalion of CRPF reached Hirma para village of the District during a patrol, the Maoists opened indiscriminate fire at them. The SFs opened retaliatory fire in which one Maoist cadre was killed, Police said.

A woman CPI-Maoist 'commander' identified as Zareena was killed in an encounter with SFs personnel at Bayanar village under Bedre Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. "An encounter took place between the Police and the Maoists between 12 to 12.45 pm today near Bayanar forest of Bijapur District. A woman Maoist commander was killed during the encounter and one 12-bore rifle, one locally made gun and heavy Maoist dump was recovered from the spot of the encounter," said a statement issued by the Police.

Eight Maoists surrendered before the Police in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. The surrendered Maoists include two women.

The Bastar Police sent an IAF chopper to Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh, to bring an injured Maoist to Jagadalpur District headquarters for treatment. "A chopper was sent to Bijapur today to bring Linga Sori, a Maoist who was injured and arrested during Pedia encounter on January 18, for better medical treatment. He will be admitted to Mecoz hospital in Jagadalpur. This gesture from the Police will shut the mouths of those so-called Human Rights activists who term the Police-Maoist encounters as fake and at times call the Maoists as innocents," said Bastar District SP R.N. Das in a statement.

January 20

Diliip Uikey alias Guha, a top CPI-Maoist leader who was active in three states for nearly two decades and named in more than 200 cases, including 19 murders in Balaghat District of MP, will be questioned by the Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh Police, officials said on January 20. Guha, who hails from Matte village in Balaghat District, was arrested from the jungles in Songudda in Balaghat by the MP Police in May, 2015. He carried a total of INR 3.5 million cash reward on his head. According to Police, Guha was a member of the Malajkhand dalam in the mid-1990s and later became the 'deputy commander' of a special guerilla squad before becoming the 'divisional commander' of Gadchiroli-Balaghat-Gondia committee of CPI-Maoist in 2008.

January 21

A top Maoist surrendered before the Police in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. According to SP, Dantewada, Kamlochan Kashyap, the Maoist was carrying a cash reward of INR 300,000 on his head. The insurgent identified as Somdu Markam alias Somlu (35) resident of Madkamiras Police Station, Dantewada has decided to lay down arms, he said. Somdu was 'Deputy Commander' of Maoist Area Committee active in Malangir region of Darbha division. Somdu in 2006 was involved in setting afire 55 vehicles of Essar Company at Kirandul.

January 22

A huge cache of arms mostly barrels used in manufacturing guns was recovered from forests in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh. Acting-on a tip off, as many as 39 barrels of 12 bore guns were recovered from Mangikholi forests under Bortalav Police Station area by a joint team of SFs, Rajnandgaon SP Sundarraj P said. During interrogation, a recently arrested CPI-Maoist woman cadre, Manisha had revealed about the location of a dump of materials for making guns hidden in the forests of Kandhurra based on which search operations were on in the jungles of Kandhurra for the past few days, the SP said.

Seven Maoists, three of them carrying reward of varying amounts on their heads, were arrested from Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. "The cadres were apprehended by a joint team of security forces near Chingavaram village under Gadiras police station limits," Sukma ASP Santosh Singh said. The Maoists have been identified as Madvi Bapu (30), Madvi Linga (30), Madvi Hidma (35), Podiyami Kosa, Madvi Handa (40), Madvi Muda (35) and Madvi Hadma (23). While Hidma was carrying a reward of INR 1,000, Handa and Kosa carried INR 2,000 each. According to Police, the Maoists were allegedly involved in activities like damaging roads, set vehicles on fire, and dropping Maoist pamphlets in the region.

January 23

A CRPF trooper, identified as Janaradan Sonawane was injured in an IED blast near Sameli village in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.

Four Naxalites, including two women, who were carrying cash reward on their heads, identified as Malangir LOS 'commander' Anita alias Mitki (22), Nelnar LOS member Rajo Vekko (25) and two Jan Militia members, Sannu (30) and Raju Mandavi (25) were arrested from Kirandul Police Station area in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The arrested cadres were allegedly involved in an attack on a Police anti-landmine vehicle in Dantewada on April 13, 2015 killing five Policemen and injuring eight others.

January 24

Six CPI-Maoist cadres, one of them carrying cash reward on his head, surrendered before Police in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. "The cadres surrendered before senior police and CRPF officials citing disappointment with the ideology of Maoists and ill treatment meted out to them by senior leaders," Sukma ASP, Santosh Singh, said. Those surrendered were identified as Kunjam Lakhma, a medical team member of Jagargunda area committee of Maoists, Dubi Lakhma, head of DAKMS - a frontal wing of Maoists, and four lower rung members - Kawasi Lachhu, Dubi Hunga, Kawasi Kosa and Kawasi Budhra, he added. Dubi Lakhma was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, he added.

Two janmilitia members of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Madvi Sukka (38) and Madvi Linga (32), were arrested from Lakhapal village under Kukanar Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The duos were rounded up during patrolling by a joint team of CRPF and District Force in the Kukanar region, located around 450 kilometres away from Raipur, ASP, Santosh Singh, said.

January 25

A joint team of District Police and CRPF arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Mahadev Korram, from his house under Mardapal Police Station limits in Kondagaon District. Based on a confirmed intelligence input that he was present in his house, SF personnel raided the place and rounded him up.

January 27

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, who were allegedly involved in the Jiram valley attack on Congress leaders in Bastar District on May 25, 2013, were killed in an encounter led by SF personnel at Metapal village in Dantewada District. SP Kamlochan Kashyap said that based on an intelligence tip off provided by the SIB about the presence and movement of the Maoists led to the encounter.

Suspected Maoists set ablaze three vehicles, including two tipper trucks engaged in sand mining, in Bijapur District.

January 28

Chhattisgarh has constituted a post of Special DGP Anti-Naxal Operations to effectively combat LWEs in the State and has given the charge to senior IPS officer D. M. Awasthi as part of a minor reshuffle on the top.

January 29

Seven hardcore CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from various places in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh. Three Maoists, carrying a reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads, were arrested from Dantewada District. Two Maoists were arrested near Metapal village of Sukma District, while two others were arrested from Kanker and Narayanpur Districts.

One Maoist cadre has surrendered before Rajnandgaon District SP. The Maoist was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on his head.

January 30

Three cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in two different encounters in Bastar region. In the first encounter, two woman Maoist cadres were killed and their dead bodies were recovered after an encounter near Palamadagu village of Sukma District. The woman Maoists, identified as Vanjam Shanti and Vanjam Pojje, were militia members of Palamadagu range committee of the Maoists, IG of Police, S.R.P. Kalluri said. Three locally made guns, detonators, uniforms and some bullets were recovered from them.

A Maoist cadre identified as Ramasu, who was the trainer of the Maoists LOS in Awapalli area was killed in an encounter which took place at Pannur village of Bijapur District. One 8 mm locally made gun was recovered from him.

The body of a villager who was abducted by the CPI-Maoist cadres two days ago for refusing to join their ranks was found in Sukma District. The body of the victim, identified as Hidma, was found lying in a pool of blood on the outskirts of his native village Madiyaras Korra, said Santosh Singh, ASP, Sukma. The villager was abducted by armed men from a local market on January 28.

January 31

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SF personnel in Sukma District of Bastar region, said S.R.P. Kalluri, IGP, Bastar Range. "A small contingent of the DRG (District Reserve Guard) and the STF (Special Task Force) was dispatched by Sukma District Superintendent of Police D. Srawan to Kistaram area of Sukma on the basis of some specific inputs provided by intelligence agencies. A fierce gunbattle took place between the Police team and the Maoists near Vanjalvala village. Two bodies of uniformed Maoists were recovered from the spot of the encounter by our boys," added IGP Kalluri. The two Maoists have been identified as Dusra Dharma, the 'president' of Revolutionary People's Committee of the Maoists in the area and Vetti Raju, the 'president' of Dandkaranya Kisan Majdoor Sangh of the Maoists. Police also recovered two locally-made guns, backpacks and some Maoist literature from the encounter spot.

February 1

Two SSB personnel were injured in an IED explosion triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Kanker District. The blast occurred when the SF personnel were patrolling to ensure security to the under-construction railway track between Kacche and Bhaismudi villages in Bhanupratappur region, Kanker SP Jitendra Singh Meena said. "Constables Ayon Mandal and Parmanand Maurya have sustained superficial injuries in the blast," the SP added. Preliminary probe revealed that the IED, placed in a pressure cooker, was planted under a heap of murrum, around 30 metres away from the under-construction railway track, the SP said.

19 Maoists including five carrying cash rewards on their heads were arrested during separate operations carried out by SF personnel in Sukma District.

February 2

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in a fierce encounter with SF personnel in Kanker District. The encounter took place in the forests of Kesekodi under Koyalibeda Police Station limits between a joint team of security personnel and the Maoists, Kanker SP Jitendra Singh Meena said.

A composite team of BSF, STF and District Force was carrying out an anti-Maoist operation in the south of Koyalibeda. When they were cordoning off a forested patch in Kesekodi, a group of armed cadres opened indiscriminate fire on them following which an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides. During a search, body of a Maoist, one SLR rifle and its magazines were recovered.

February 4

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed and another injured in two separate encounters in Bastar Division. Both the bodies have been recovered. Kunjam Linga (22), a People's Militia 'commander' under Jagargunda 'area committee' of the CPI-Maoist and carrying a reward money of INR 100,000, was killed in an encounter with a joint team of SF personnel in the forests of Chintagufa Police Station area in Sukma District, Sukma ASP Santosh Singh said. An injured Maoist, identified as Sodhi Mang, was also arrested from the encounter spot. A Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire between a team of DRG and Maoist cadres in the forested hill of Korli under Mardum Police Station limits in Bastar District.

February 5

At least 43 CPI-Maoist cadres, including five women, surrendered in Sukma District citing disappointment with the ideology of the outfit. "The 43 rebels and their supporters, including five women, turned themselves in before senior Police and CRPF officials at Chintagufa Police Station premises," Sukma ASP Santosh Singh said. An encouragement amount of INR 10,000 was given to each of the surrendered cadres.

February 6

10 Maoists impressed by the surrender policy of Chhattisgarh State Government surrendered in Kondagaon District.

February 7

CPI-Maoist has claimed the Police was trying to revive a "Salwa Judum" like movement in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh by backing few people to organise rallies and protests against the Maoists in the region. The Maoists have warned retaliatory peoples' action against what they described as "Salwa Judum-II". In pamphlets circulated in different parts of Bastar region, the State and the Police had floated different outfits in the name of Bastar Vikas Sangharsh Samiti and Samajik Ekta Manch to organise rallies and protests against the revolutionary movement. It said the Police unleashed propaganda that it would observe this year as "Mission 2016" to eliminate the Maoists. The Maoists maintained that those were now in the forefront of such rallies and protests were also part of controversial Salwa Judum, an anti-naxalite movement that took place in Bastar between 2005 and 2008.

February 8

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman, were arrested in Dantewada District. Of them, Shyam Lal, who was a Central Regional Command 'company' III member of CPI-Maoist was rounded up from the forests in Faraspal Police Station area by a joint team of DRG and a squad of local Police. The woman Maoist, identified as Shanti, a member of military company no. 1, was arrested from her native place Masapara under Bhansi Police Station limits, when she had come there to meet her family members. Both, Lal and Shanti, carried head money of INR 800,000 each on their heads.

Three Maoists were arrested by a joint team of CRPF from Bhusaras village under Gadiras Police Station limits of Sukma District. The arrested trio was identified as Sodhi Joga (28), Madkami Joga (30) and Madvi Deva (25).

A Maoist cadre identified as Kishore (27) was arrested from Katgaon village under Partapur Police Station limits of Sukma District.

34 CPI-Maoist cadres, including a few of their supporters, surrendered in Narayanpur District. They were active in Benur and Kiskod area of the District as Local Operating Squad members, ASP, Narayanpur, O.P. Sharma said.

February 9

Five CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Madvi Deva (22), Kavasi Somu (23), Madvi Soma (25), Madvi Handa (27) and Madkam Hunga (32), were arrested during an operation carried out by a joint contingent of 195th, 230th battalion CRPF and District Police near Chhotemurki village under Gadiras Police Station limits of Sukma District.

A team of DRG, CoBRA and CRPF personnel arrested a suspected Maoist, identified as Hemla Jaggu (22), from the jungles of Minpa under Chintagufa Police Station limits of Sukma District.

Four Maoist "sympathisers" were arrested for their alleged involvement in torching of vehicles and digging of roads in Dantewada District. The alleged Maoist sympathisers were identified as Histaram Bhogami, Budhram Bhogami, Malla Midiyami and Gagru Bhaskar.

February 10

CPI-Maoist cadres detonated five serial IED blasts and fired indiscriminately at a team of CAF in Bijapur District. No one was injured in the incident. The Maoists exploded landmines between Bodli and Bhairamgarh under Bhairamgarh Police Station limits while a CAF's squad was patrolling in the region to ensure security to the Geedam-Bhopalpatnam road, Bijapur SP K.L. Dhruv said. Later, during searching, three explosives, one IED weighing 10 kg, were recovered from the spot.

February 12

A trooper - Neeraj Kumar - belonging to the 170 battalion of CRPF was severely injured in a CPI-Maoist orchestrated blast near Kongpalli in Bijapur District.

12 CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from separate places in Sukma District.

February 13

A BSF trooper, identified as Harikesh Prasad, died after being hit by the bullet fired by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Sangam village under Kanker District. The trooper died due to excess blood loss.

Three Maoists were killed in an encounter with SF personnel at Sendra village in Bijapur District. "Three dead bodies of the Maoists were recovered after an encounter at Sendra village in Bijapur District on Maharashtra- Chhattisgarh border today. The number of Maoists killed is likely to increase. Our parties are still inside the operational area and more encounters are expected," Bastar range IGP S.R.P. Kalluri said in a statement. Five weapons, including one 303 rifle, were recovered from the spot of the encounter.

Three CRPF troopers were hurt in a landmine blast in Kondapara area of Dantewada District. "They (CRPF men) sustained minor injuries and all are out of danger. First aid has been given to them. They shall be airlifted to Raipur for further treatment," IGP Kalluri said.

A BSF trooper was attacked by the Maoists in Pankhanjur town of Kanker District.

Security personnel have recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition and materials, used in making explosives, from a CPI-Maoist dump at Nagrar village under Mainpur Police Station limits in Gariyaband District. The seizure includes two 303 bore rifles, as many muzzle loading guns, one country-made pistol, a country-made gun, 16 detonators, a walkie-talkie, gelatin stick, two remotes, live cartridges of 12 bore gun, a mobile phone, four tiffin bombs and other materials used in making explosives, besides daily use items.

February 14

Three suspected CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested during a joint operation by SFs personnel in Sukma District. "They were apprehend by a squad of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and district force from separate places under Gadiras Police Station area," ASP Santosh Singh. On reaching Padwaras village, the squad rounded up two Maoists, identified as Vijay Sodhi (35) and Dewa Sodhi (32), while Kunjami Dewa (26) was arrested from Bhusaras village, the ASP added.

February 15

Eight suspected Maoists were arrested in Sukma District. "The cadres were nabbed from their native Tokanpalli village under Chintagufa Police Station limits," said ASP Santosh Singh.

February 16

Ravindra Kadam, the IGP, ANO, Nagpur Range, while speaking to a Marathi News channel has said in Gadchiroli District that the probe conducted so far into arrested DU Assistant Professor G. N. Saibaba's alleged Maoist links has found that both DU and JNU have a large number of Left-Wing radical students, who are in touch with Kashmiri extremists groups.

The family of an alleged CPI-Maoist cadre killed in an encounter with the Bastar Police earlier in February has said he was a farmer with no Maoist links and he was killed in a "fake encounter." "Around 25 policemen surrounded our house. Six of them entered it and asked my husband to show them a way out of the village. When my husband refused, they gagged him and took him along with them," said Galo Kashyap, wife of Hadma.

February 17

A man was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres on the suspicion of being a 'Police informer' in Kanker District. The victim's blood-soaked body was found on the outskirts of Markanar village under Koyalibeda Police Station limits.

Two Policemen, identified as Suman Yadav and Shankar Mandavi, were injured after they were shot at by the Maoists in Rajnandgaon District. The incident took place when the duo was marching around Gatapar Police Station in Khairagarh region. A small action team of Maoists fired upon them resulting in minor injuries on their legs.

SF personnel recovered a powerful IED, grenades and ammunition from a Maoist hideout in Rajnandgaon District. Officials said the recovery included an 8-kilogram IED, two grenades and some bullets.

A Maoist, who was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, was killed in an encounter with SF personnel in Sukma District.

February 19

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Baldev Janesh, a member of company number 6, platoon 1 and former 'commander' of a LOS was killed in an intelligence based operation in the forests of Hiramandla in Kondagaon District. Security personnel have recovered the Maoist's body, arms and weapons from the spot along with some Maoist material, and two bharmar rifles.

Chhattisgarh Police said at least 31 bodies of Maoists have been recovered since the start of the year (2016) with nine alleged Maoists being killed in six big operations in the past three weeks alone. Senior Police officers said the number was achieved after a shift in strategy that has seen an increased use of DRG, a unit of the State Police, that has among its recruits several surrendered Maoists. Bastar IGP S.R.P. Kalluri said, "The turning point in Bastar has been the use of the DRG. I have no hesitation in saying that much of the credit goes to lower rung surrendered Maoist cadres, who have specific information. They never lose their abilities in a jungle, and they are motivated to see that Naxalism ends so that they can go back to their villages."

The Police have also arrested 141 Maoists with 90 arrested from Sukma District alone so far this year.

February 20

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed during an exchange of fire with SF personnel in the forests of Tarlaguda village under Golapalli Police Station limits in Sukma District.

February 21

A CRPF officer and a trooper were injured in an IED blast at Aranpur village in Dantewada District. The injured have been identified as Assistant Commandant Aman Kumar and Constable Rakesh.

February 22

Three 'suspected' CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Dasru Ram Mandavi (40), Kamlu Korram (45) and Budhu Korram (35), were arrested during a search operation by SF personnel at Oyanger village forests under Orchha Police Station limits in Narayanpur District.

February 23

A 15 kg IED was recovered by SF personnel from Narayanpur District. Officials said the recovery was made by a squad of paramilitary ITBP force from the Revamand-Kulnar road area of the District.

February 24

A 30-year-old CPI-Maoist cadre was arrested during a joint operation by SFs in Sukma District. Madkam Bhema was apprehended by a composite squad of CRPF and district force from Dondpal village of Gadiras Police Station limits, Sukma ASP Santosh Singh said.

February 25

As many as 11 suspected CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested while another surrendered in different places in Bastar Division.

February 26

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Jaisingh Dugga (32) and Ramuram Darro (39), were arrested in Kanker District.

A PLFI cadre, identified as Bhokha, surrendered before Balrampur District Police. He surrendered along with five guns of 315 bore and 20 bullets. Earlier, he was arrested but had managed to escape.

February 27

Paramilitary forces belonging to the ITBP recovered five kilogrammes of IED from Chheribera-Chapai area in Narayanpur District.

In a first, a group of 32 surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres in Jagdalpur city in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh underwent 45-day training for skilled mason, cleared the examination and earned themselves a certificate presented by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh at an event in Bastanar town in the District.

A villager, identified as Sukhram Poyam, was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres at his village Kundla under Kurusnar Police Station limits of Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh, Narayanpur ASP O.P. Sharma said. A group of around 20 armed cadres stormed the village and dragged out Poyam from his house. They shot rounds of fire at him and fled from the spot. As per preliminary investigation, Maoists had branded him as 'supporter and informer' of Police prior to his murder.

A villager, identified as Amrit Hurra (25), was killed with sharp-edged weapons by the Maoists in Bhanupratappur area of Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. Hurra was abducted by some Maoists from his house at Ghotha village and his blood-stained body was found this morning outside the village, following which Police was informed, a police official said. The Maoists had dropped some pamphlets and put up banners at the spot in which they claimed Hurra to be a Police informer.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested during a search operation carried out by Police and para-military forces in Kondagaon District. They were identified as Bhagchand (23), Kulram (28), Siden alias Sindhu (25) and Lal Singh (30).

February 28

As many as 23 Maoists, including two women, surrendered in Bastar District of the State citing "ill-treatment" by senior cadres. The Maoists turned themselves in before senior police officials, saying they were "frustrated" with the ill-treatment meted out to them, Bastar SP R.N. Dash said. Of them, three cadres - Katku (Kudur Janatana Sarkar head), Lali Mandavi and Raju Mandavi (area committee members)- were carrying a reward of INR 300,000 lakh each on their heads. Similarly, Kawasi Gore (35) who was the head of Chetna Natya Mandli (CNM) - a cultural outfit of Maoists - was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, the SP added.

February 29

CPI-Maoist has said that "goons and anti-social elements" are creating havoc in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh in the name of anti-Maoist operations. A recent press statement issued by Mohan, the new 'secretary' of south Bastar divisional committee of the CPI-Maoist, also claimed that the recent attacks on Human Rights activists and journalists in Bastar were orchestrated at the behest of right-wing groups.

CPI-Maoist cadres have allegedly killed four villagers in Narayanpur District. SP, Narayanpur District, Abhishek Meena informed that Police have begun investigation after they received information about the incident. "We have yet to get the exact number of villagers being killed by Naxals since the area from where killings were reported is deep inside Abujmarh forests, more than 50 kms away from any of police camps and the area is highly Naxal infested," added the SP.

CRPF has "destroyed" the Naxals' efforts to create a "red corridor" in the country and was able to restrict them to a few states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar, said the outgoing Chief of CRPF Prakash Mishra in Gurgaon. "CRPF has destroyed the dream of Maoists to establish a red corridor from Pashupati (in Nepal) to Tirupati (in south India) and mainly restricted them to some areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar," Mishra was quoted as saying by a CRPF spokesperson. Mishra said this while addressing the troops during his farewell parade at the forces' camp in Kadarpur area here, the spokesman said.

March 1

At least eight members of the Venkatapuram 'area committee' of the CPI-Maoist, which operates in the Bhadrachalam area of Khammam District in Telangana, were killed in an encounter with SF personnel along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. The Telangana Greyhounds had launched the operation after receiving information about the presence of Maoist leaders in the region, resulting in the encounter which took place in the Sakler area of Sukma District. Along with the dead bodies of the eight slain militants, SF personnel also recovered an AK-47 rifle, three SLRs, several .303 rifles, and ammunition from the encounter spot.

March 2

A villager was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres on the suspicion of being a 'Police informer' in Kanker District. The victim, Satru Ram, was allegedly shot dead by the Maoists at his native place Tiralgarh village under Bande Police Station limits, Kanker DSP Jayant Vaishnav said.

Five Maoists, one of them carrying a cash reward on his head, were arrested in Sukma District. "Based on intelligence inputs, the cadres were rounded up by a joint team of Security Forces from a weekly market at Korra village under Gadiras Police Station limits," Sukma ASP Santosh Singh said. Those arrested were identified as Sodhi Joga (30), Sodhi Kosa (28), Madkam Ranga (22), Madvi Budhra (25) and Sodhi Deva alias Malir (28), he said.

23 Maoists surrendered in Bastar District citing "disappointment" with the violent activities of the CPI-Maoist. The Maoist turned themselves in before Senior Police and administration officials, saying they were frustrated with the violent and anti-development activities of its leaders, Bastar SP R N Dash said. Of them, three cadres - Kamlesh Naag and Tulsi Ram Naag - who were janmilitia 'commander' and Naresh Kumar Kashyap - a janmilitia 'platoon commander', were carrying a reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads. A janmilitia 'deputy commander', Pramod Thakur, was also among the surrendered cadres, Dash said. Rest of the surrendered Maoists belonged to lower rung of the banned outfit, he added.

March 3

A woman Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with Police in Abhujmad area of Narayanpur District. "The skirmish took place in Kasturmeta forests," said IGP, Bastar range, S.R. P. Kalluri. "Her identity is being ascertained. Preliminary investigation showed that she was not a local. She could be from Peoples Party Member of Maoists," he added.

March 3-4

Three troopers of CoBRA were killed and at least 15 others were injured in an encounter with CPI-Maoist cadres in Sukma District. Officials said while two Commandos, identified as Constables Linju N and Fateh Singh, had succumbed to bullet injuries on March 3, their colleague Lakshman Singh died on March 4. At least 15 others, including CoBRA Commander P.S. Yadav and the chief of the State Polices' DRG, have been injured in the encounter which ended on March 4.

March 4

The CPI-Maoist has given a bandh call on March 7, 2016, in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Dandakaranya regions, condemning the encounter on Telangana-Chhattisgarh border in which it lost eight armed cadres. Jagan, the party official representative from Telangana State, has issued a statement that was circulated to all the local media offices in which he has said that the Police caught hold of the unarmed women and tortured them before killing them. He further said "The Chief Minister said that there will be no encounters in separate Telangana. But he is trying to eliminate naxals through the same means. Both the KCR and Modi governments have started Operation Red Hunt."

March 5

A CPI-Maoist cadre was arrested from a village in Sukma District. Sodhi Masa was arrested by a joint team of CRPF and District Force from his native village Etalpara Korra under Gadiras Police Station limits, Sukma ASP Santosh Singh.

March 6

Two mining workers were killed and one Policeman was injured in a CPI-Maoist attack in Narayanpur District. "Two villagers belonging to Balod and Kanker District of Chhattisgarh were killed in a blast and firing by the Maoists in Amdai Ghati of Narayanpur. Both were working for Neko Jaiswal Company in Amdai Ghati mining project," said Abhishekh Meena, SP.

March 7

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a manager of a private iron ore mine, identified as Sree Kumar Nair (55), in Rajnandgaon District. "The ultras attacked Sarda Iron Ore Mine in Pallemadi village under Khadgaon Police Station limits and shot dead its manager Sree Kumar Nair (55). They also set ablaze six vehicles at the spot before fleeing," Rajnandgaon SP Sundarraj P said.

March 8

10 CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women, surrendered in Bijapur District. The surrendered cadres include Munna Hemla (26) who carried reward money of INR 800,000. He was active in 'military company' number 2 of the Maoists. Hemla had been instrumental in executing several major Maoist incidents, including the ghastly Tadmetla attack, in which 76 security personnel were killed in Dantewada District in 2010. Another equally hardcore cadre, Vijay Madvi (18), a 'military company's platoon' member, and Ramlal Atami (27), a 'section commander' of 'military platoon number 1', were carrying a reward of INR 200,000 each on their heads. Besides, INR 100,000 was announced each for the arrest of Kumari Payaki (22), Sumit Kumar Hemla (20) and Kursam Tokka (30). Rest of the surrendered cadres was lower-rung members.

March 9

Stepping up the drive against CPI-Maoist, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh announced raising four new DRG battalions in Bastar region by recruiting local youth. Presenting the budget in the State Assembly, he said 3,000 local youths would be recruited for these battalions while a provision has been made to create 1,000 more posts in State Police. As of now there are nearly 1,600 security personnel in the District Reserve Guard Force which comprises of local boys recruited from seven districts of Bastar region.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, carrying reward money of NR 300, 000 each on their heads, were arrested during an anti-Maoist operation carried out by SF personnel in Dantewada District. They were identified as Baman Podiyami (30), Mani Poyam (27) and Budhu Barsa (25). A joint squad of DRG and a team of local Police from Barsoor Police Station arrested the Maoists based on intelligence inputs, Dantewada SP Kamlochan Kashyap said. They were active as 'military platoon members' in Indravati 'area committee' of Abhujmad region.

17 Maoists, including a woman, surrendered before Police in Kondagaon District. "The 17 cadres, all lower-rung members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), turned themselves in before senior police officials in Kondagaon District," Kondagaon SP JS Watti said.

March 10

Questioning Bastar IGP S.R.P. Kalluri's claim of "eliminating" more than 40 Maoists in the first two months of 2016, Maoist leader Ganesh Uike said only eight of those killed belonged to his outfit. In a press statement, Uike, who is the 'secretary' of the South Regional Committee of CPI-Maoist, claimed the Bastar Police killed 40 people including seven women, in the name of anti-Maoist operations. He said, "Seventeen people were killed in Bijapur district, 12 in Sukma district, three in Dantewada, five in Kondagaon, and three in Bastar. Out of these 40, only eight were members of our People's Liberation Guerrilla Army. Rest of them were innocent villagers."

Maoists triggered a landmine blast killing a CRPF head Constable and leaving 11 personnel injured in Morli forest area near Kunta town of Sukma District. The incident took place as CRPF personnel, deputed to ensure security to road works from Kunta to Gollapalli, were patrolling the area. Talking about the incident, Bastar IGP S.R.P. Kalluri said though they were taking all precautions, Maoists were able to strike back.

Maoists set ablaze a private bus after asking its passengers to get down near Bandepara village under Kutru Police Station limits in Bijapur District. The bus was on its way to Bedre from Bijapur. A group of 15-20 Maoists, some of them armed stopped the bus and set it on fire.

A major tragedy was averted when SF personnel recovered powerful explosives, including a 10-kg pipe bomb, from a dense forest pocket in Kondagaon District while returning from patrolling operations. "The explosives were kept in a big empty plastic water tank which was hidden beneath earth near Totar village under Mardapal Police Station limits," a senior Police official said. They found two IEDs of 5kg each, a pipe bomb of 10 kg, five bundles of wire kept in a 500 litres plastic water tank placed beneath the earth.

March 12

Two BSF troopers, identified as Vijay Kumar and Rakesh, were killed and four others were critically wounded in an encounter with CPI-Maoist cadres in Becha forests of Kanker District. A special operation was launched from Chotibetia BSF camp at 1.45 pm on March 11 by the parties of 170, 122 and 165 battalions of the BSF. The BSF parties had an exchange of fire with the Maoists at around 2.25 am on March 12 near Becha village.

Fifty-three people were executed by the CPI-Maoist after 'kangaroo courts' found them 'guilty' in the five worst Naxal-hit states of the country in the last three years. According to UMHA statistics, 18 civilians were killed following the directives of 'kangaroo courts' or 'Jan Adalats' in 2015 for being alleged 'Police informers' or "for not believing in Maoist ideology". During 2015, 41 'Jan Adalats' were held by Naxal cadres in five LWE affected states, Andhra Pradesh (1), Bihar (6), Chhattisgarh (14), Jharkhand (14) and Odisha (6). Altogether 15 civilians were executed in 2014 following orders of 54 'Jan Adalats' and 20 civilians were killed in 2013 under the directives of 63 'Jan Adalats'

In 2016, till February 15, two 'Jan Adalats' have been held in Chhattisgarh. While nearly one lakh paramilitary personnel continued to be deployed in LWE-affected areas, the 10 Naxal-hit states; Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, saw 226 deaths in 1,088 incidents of violence perpetrated by Maoists in 2015. In 2015, of the 226 deaths, 168 were civilians and 58 were SF personnel. As many as 89 Maoists were also killed and 1,668 were arrested and 570 cadres surrendered before authorities during the year.

March 13

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs in a densely forested patch in Sukma District. "A joint team of District Reserve Group (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) had an encounter with Naxals [Left Wing Extremists, LWEs] in the forest near Misiguda and Bendre villages coming under Jagargunda police station limits," Sukma ASP Santosh Singh said. According to the Police, a team of SF while patrolling through Misiguda-Bendre forests spotted a group of Maoists following which an encounter broke out between both the sides. The intermittent firing lasted for several hours following which the insurgents fled from the spot, he said. Later during searching, body of a Maoist clad in 'uniform' besides two country made weapons, ammunition, bags, medicines and Naxal literature was recovered from the spot, Singh said.

Hit by intensive combat operations and encounters by the SF personnel, Naxalites are trying to rebuild their base, says an input sent by the UMHA to the Principal Secretaries (Home) of all the States affected by LWEs. "The MHA input was based on the interrogation of Gajrala Ashok alias Prasad by Chhattisgarh Police. Prasad was former member of Dandakaranya special zonal committee and in-charge of western regional unified command of CPI (Maoist). Gajrala revealed that the renegade groups have been preventing the Maoists from expanding their base in Bihar and Jharkhand despite major losses in recent encounters," a Police official said.

The Police source said after the recent casualty and arrests in Aurangabad, Jamui, Gaya, Jehanabad, Saran and other Districts, the Maoists have been on the defensive. "The outfit is now keen on protecting its senior leaders/central committee members. It has decided to keep only its state, regional and special committee members informed about its cadres' movement. It has also decided to set up camps away from water body in the forests while holding Jan Militia and arms training," said the source quoting the MHA input. The Maoists have decided not to get involved in small or medium encounters with the security forces as they are short of ammunition. Only if there is no way out then Maoists will get engaged in encounters. According to Police, the Naxalites have been holding meetings in deep forest areas since the announcement of 10-phase panchayat election in Bihar.

March 14

Chhattisgarh Government said 128 Naxals and 100 Policemen were killed in encounters over the last three years in the State. In a written reply to a question raised by Congress MLA Deepak Baij, Local-Self Government Minister Ajay Chandrakar, who is in-charge of the Home Department, said, "543 encounters took place between Police and Naxalites from 2013 till January 2016 in the Maoist-affected districts of Chhattisgarh". A maximum of 52 LWEs were gunned down in Bijapur, where 14 security personnel also lost their lives during this period. Also, 48 Policemen and 29 LWEs were killed in Sukma District, the Minister said. Moreover, a total of 852 LWEs cadres surrendered in the State in the last three years and a sum of INR 149.37 lakh was given to them as relief aid. Besides, 20 of them were also given government jobs, he said.

March 15

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested in Bastar District. "Piso Kadkami, 32, and Aayta Vetti, 33, were apprehended from the forests of the Darbha Police Station limits following a specific input," Bastar SP R.N. Dash said. The SP added a five kg IED, ten gelatine rods and five detonators were recovered from the Maoists.

Seven Maoists surrendered at the office of the CRPF's 226th battalion in the Sabrinagar area of Sukma District. Dudhi Hidma (23), Dudhi Ware (19), Kunjami Sanna (28), and Suresh Mandavi (19), were active as 'jan-militia' (people's militia) members of the CPI-Maoist while Hirma Kawasi (31), Ishwar Mandavi (27), and Muchaki Budhra (35), were active in its front unit Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan, said Sukma ASP Santosh Singh.

Two Maoists identified as Umesh Vedada (32) and Pradeep Sori (25) surrendered before BSF 122nd battalion officials and local Police in Kanker District. Umesh, who headed the public relations wing of the Partapur 'area committee' in north Bastar division of Maoists, carried a reward of INR 5,000 on his head.

17 people were abducted by the Naxals in the first two months of this year (2016) and they killed five of them, the UMHA informed the Lok Sabha. Of this, Jharkhand has the highest number of abductions and killings. While there were eight abductions in Jharkhand, two of them lost their lives at the hands of the CPI-Maoist. Chhattisgarh followed with four abductions and two killings. Last year (2015), there were 115 incidents of abduction by Maoists in which 62 people lost their lives. Chhattisgarh had the highest number of incidents at 39 followed by Jharkhand at 30.

53 people were executed by the Maoists after Jan Adalats found them "guilty" in the five worst LWE-hit States of the country in the last three years. Even as security agencies claim that the LWE spread in the country is shrinking, as per UMHA statistics, 18 people were killed following the directives of "kangaroo courts" in 2015 for being alleged Police informers or "for not believing in Maoist ideology." During 2015, 41 "Jan Adalats" were held by LWES in five LWE-affected States of Andhra Pradesh (1), Bihar (6), Chhattisgarh (14), Jharkhand (14) and Orissa (6). In 2014, Government statistics show that 15 people were executed following orders of 54 "Jan Adalats" and 20 people were killed in 2013 under the directives of 63 "Jan Adalats."

March 17

An eight-year-old girl was killed after she stepped on an IED planted by the CPI-Maoist in Sukma District.

The Maoists killed one of their former colleagues, identified as Manau Ram (38), at Mulle village under Amabeda Police Station limits in Kanker District. The deceased had surrendered in 2014.

March 18

Two troopers of CRPF were injured in two separate incidents of attack by CPI-Maoist cadres in Dantewada District.

A 55-year-old woman, identified as Muchaki Hidma, was killed after reportedly stepping on a pressure IED in Gorkha area of Sukma District. Commenting on the incident, D.M. Awasthi, Special DG, ANO, said the accident took place on Injeram Bhejji Road.

March 19

Five lower-rung CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before Police in Kondagaon District. Lal Singh Yadav (30), Phool Singh Yadav (40), Lakshman (27), Samdu Korram (40) and Ayatu (51), who were active as people's militia members turned themselves in at the district headquarters, citing disappointment with the ideology of the CPI-Maoist.

A 19-year-old youth, identified as Tankeshwar, was killed and his family reportedly evicted from the village allegedly by CPI-Maoist cadres in Narayanpur District. The deceased was brutally beaten to death by Maoists at his village Becha under Chhote Dongar Police Station limits, after they branded him as a 'police informer', Narayanpur SP Abhishek Meena said. His younger brother was also reported to be badly beaten up by the Maoists. Later, his family was threatened to leave the village, the SP said.

March 21

The Chhattisgarh Police have recovered 38 weapons, including sophisticated rifles, from Maoists during separate incidents in the past two years, the State Government informed the Chhattisgarh State Assembly. Replying to the question of Congress legislator Rajendra Kumar Rai during Question Hour, acting Home Minister Ajay Chandrakar informed the House that the Police have recovered as many as 16 firearms and 474 cartridges from insurgents during encounters, search operations and surrender (by Maoists) between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. Similarly, 22 weapons and 694 cartridges were recovered from the Maoists between April 1, 2015 and February 29, 2016, Chandrakar added.

Seven lower-rung CPI-Maoist cadres including a woman surrendered in Kondagaon District. They were identified as Dukaru Netam alias Rainu (43), Jamdhar (50), Phoolram (25), Phool Singh Netam (46), Jaisingh Korram (55), Tularam Mandavi (24) and the woman Dasmati (25), all residents of Mardapal and Bayanar regions.

Sona Muchaki (40) was axed to death by Maoists under Chhindgarh area in Sukma District. He was brutally axed to death in front of his wife and children at Rokel village under Chhindgarh Police outpost. According to pamphlets dropped by the Maoists, Sona allegedly helped SF personnel in setting up a Police camp in the village.

March 22

A civilian, identified as Kicche Mukka, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres on the charges of being a police informer under Polampalli Police Station area in Sukma District. As per preliminary information, a group of Maoists stormed into the house of Kichhe, after he returned from his fields. He was dragged out and killed with sharp weapons.

Eight suspected Maoists, including a woman, were arrested during a joint operation by SF personnel in Sukma District. They were arrested from Murki and Rampuram villages under Gadiras Police Station limits when the forces were carrying out 'area domination exercise' in the region, Sukma ASP Santosh Singh said. Those arrested were identified as Madavi Muya (35), Somaru (35), Padami Muya (28), Banjami Hidma (32), Madvi Veera (36), Kawasi Manga, Podiyami Bheema, and the woman Madkami Hidme.

Naxal activities continue to be a matter of concern with 35 Districts in seven states being badly-hit, according to the annual report of the UMHA for 2015-16. "Left Wing Extremism (LWE) remains an area of concern for internal security of the country," the report submitted to Parliament said. While 106 Districts in 10 States are affected by CPI-Maoist activities in varying degrees, 35 Districts in seven states are the most affected. "CPI (Maoist) continues to be the most potent among the various LWE outfits in the country and accounts for more than 80 per cent of total LWE violence incidents and resultant deaths," the report said.

March 24

The CPI-Maoist has revised its strategy by choosing blast attacks over guerrilla warfare to target SF personnel, intelligence sources said. "Maoists have upgraded their insurgency level by moving over to guerrilla warfare from blast attack nearly 5-6 years ago. They seem to have scaled down their insurgency level now by reverting back to the primary level of insurgency in which Security Forces are targeted with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks", a senior Police officer disclosed. "The key reason behind Maoists deciding to withdraw from guerrilla warfare, albeit temporarily, was neutralization of red cadres to a significant level by Security Forces by engineering mass surrender of Naxals, particularly in the core areas of CPI (Maoist) in south Bastar districts of Bijapur, Sukma and Narayanpur in the past eight months", he indicated.

March 25

A 30-year-old CPI-Maoist 'commander', carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, was killed in a Police encounter in Kondagaon District. The deceased, identified as Sudhram, a native of Sahpadarpara in Kudur, was a People's Militia commander, Police said. The skirmish took place early in the morning between a team of district force and Maoist in the dense forests of Kudur-Rakasmeta villages the under Mardapal Police Station limits, Kondagaon SP J.S. Watti said.

March 28

Six suspected CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested during a joint search operation in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh.

11 lower-rung CPI-Maoist cadres including two women surrendered in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. They were active as People's Militia members of CPI-Maoist in the region and are residents of Bayanar, Rajbeda and Choote Usari villages of the District.

The ITBP personnel found two IEDs weighing 2 Kilogram and 5 Kilogram near Jakke Post in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh.

March 29

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with the SF personnel in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. A joint operation, of the forces numbering around 700 comprising the DRG, the STF, the ITBP and the CAF, reached their target areas in Sulenga Tirkanar forest under Dhaurai Police Station limits, the Maoists opened heavy firing on them. After a heavy exchange of fire the ultras managed to run away taking advantage of thick forest. Three dead bodies of uniformed Maoists were found after searching the area. "It is estimated that four to five more Maoists have been injured in the encounter and our parties are still searching deep inside the forest for them. All our parties are safe. One INSAS rifle, one 315 rifle and three country-made weapons were also recovered from the spot of the encounter," Bastar range IGP, S.R.P. Kalluri said.

Four 'suspected' Maoists were arrested during a joint search operation by SF personnel in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Those arrested included Madvi Dewa (27), Madvi Ganga (25) - both people's militia heads - and members Kartami Nanda (23) and Madkami Lakhma (26).

March 30

Seven jawans of the CRPF were killed in a landmine explosion triggered by the CPI-Maoist in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. A vehicle carrying the CRPF's 230th battalion belonging to the Ghusaras CRPF camp in Dantewada were returning after leave for Holi was blown up by Maoists near the Malewara market on the Dantewada-Sukma road. The deceased troopers were identified as Sub-Inspector D. Vijay Raj, Constables Pradeep Tirkey, Rupnarayan Das, Devendra Chourasia, Ranjan Dash and Mritunjoy Mukharjee and driver Saindane Nana Usesing. Three troopers were also injured in the explosion.

March 31

The CPI-Maoist could have got information about the movement of the seven CRPF troopers, who were killed in an explosion in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on March 30, said CRPF DG K. Durga Prasad. He also said Maoists could have dug a secret tunnel to plant over 50 kg of explosives under the concrete road. "A surprise movement was under way and it was being done in a secret way. I don't know how the news got leaked [to Maoists]. The way the incident happened, it is clear that someone gave specific inputs [to Maoists]. We will investigate to find out what went wrong," he said after paying homage to the deceased. He further said "The blast took place on a well-connected road; a school is barely 100 metres away. It is unlikely that the explosives were put together in a hurry. It was a well-planned and deliberate explosion. We suspect that a tunnel could have been dug to plant the explosives as it is a populated area and the road is a concrete one."

April 2

A leader of the BJP's youth wing, BJYM, was shot at by CPI-Maoist in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. "A small action team of Maoists attacked Murlikrishna Reddy, the BJYM Bijapur district president, last night at Bairamgad town of Bijapur. He was attacked with a country-made gun and other traditional weapons," SP KL Dhruw said. Bastar range IGP, SRP Kalluri, claimed that Reddy was offering prayers at a temple in Bairamgad when the Maoists attacked him. "He suffered three bullet injuries. He was immediately rushed to Raipur in an IAF chopper," he added.

April 3

A CRPF trooper was injured in a pressure bomb blast triggered allegedly by Maoists, in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place at Dubba Kunna forests under Katekalyan Police Station limits while SFs were returning after an anti-Naxal operation in the region, Dantewada SP Kamlochan Kashyap said. When the SFs reached a forested patch of Dubba Kunna, the trooper inadvertently stepped over an (IED, which triggered the blast, the SP said. "Constable Gurwinder Singh belonging to the CRPF's 195th battalion sustained injuries in the explosion," he added.

Troops of the 230th CRPF battalion arrested six Maoists from Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Officials said a special squad from the unit arrested the Maoists, identified as Madvi Muka (22), Madkami Deva (24), Madkami Ganga (24), Chinga (25), Budram (30) and Sanna (28) from the Nelavaram and Chichor villages of Sukma District. They said all the six were wanted by the State Police for various crimes and had warrants pending against them.

April 4

A Police trooper and a civilian were injured in a pressure bomb blast triggered by CPI-Maoist near Maoulimor village under Rawghat Police Station limits in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. On getting information that Maoists had installed banners, posters and blocked Rawghat-Maoulimor road by felling trees, a joint team of District Force and BSF approached the spot. While SF personnel were trying to remove a banner, a pressure IED placed under it went off injuring the constable Preetam Singh, SP Jitendra Singh Meena said. Besides, a civilian who was present at the spot also sustained splinter injuries in the explosion, he added.

A team of District Force was carrying out a search operation in Badgaon Police Station area when they spotted four persons and arrested them in forests of Latamarka village in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. On interrogation, they admitted involvement in the Naxal movement. They were identified as Saten Ram Kumeti (26), Rati Ram Jade (23), Vimla Uike (23) and a 17-year-old girl, Police said. Kumeti was wanted in cases of abduction and attempt to murder in the region while three others, including Vimla and the minor, were allegedly involved in offences like rioting, loot and attempt to wage war, he said.

A joint squad of CRPF and the District Police Force arrested four Maoists from Nilavaram village under Gadiras Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Of the four, one Katti Guddi alias Madkam Ganga was carrying a reward of INR 2,000 on his head. All four were active members of DAKMS, a front of the CPI-Maoist, and were allegedly involved in various crimes including creating disturbance during panchayat election in 2015.

April 5

A 35-year-old villager was killed allegedly by Maoists for refusing to support them in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. Lalit Dugga was brutally beaten with sticks to death by the Maoists at his native place Kadgaon, Pakhanjore SDPO Jai Prakash Badhai said. As per the preliminary information, a group of Maoists had abducted Dugga from his house. The victim’s kin said in their statement that Maoists had also beaten up Dugga some time back. When the victim remained firm on his stand of not supporting the outlawed outfit, the Maoists killed him, the SDOP said.

April 6

Two villagers, who were abducted from a village in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh, were allegedly killed by Maoists after holding a ‘Jan Adalat’. “The victims, identified as Budhru and Manku, tribals from Kudur village under Mardapal police station limits, were brutally beaten to death,” Kondagaon SP JS Watti said. As per preliminary information, three villagers from Kudur area were abducted by Maoists on April 4, and two others picked up on April 5. Subsequently, the Maoists held a ‘Jan Adalat’ around 15 kilometres from Kudur in Tilam-Becha area, which falls in Narayanpur District, the SP said. “The Naxals executed two villagers and released three,” he said.

Four IEDs allegedly planted by Maoists to target SF personnel were recovered by SFs in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. A joint team of BSF and District Force recovered the explosives during a search operation in the forests of Bande Police Station area, Pakhanjore SDOP Jai Prakash Badhai said. While the SFs were cordoning-off Korenar village forests, they spotted an electric wire connection and subsequently found the IEDs, kept in different objects under the ground, Badhai said. “Two IEDs were kept in a pressure cooker and as many others were in form of pipe bombs. Of them, a pressure cooker bomb weighed 5 kg and others were of low intensity,” he said. According to a BSF official, the pipe bombs were connected to a wireless ‘walkie-talkie’ in a manner that if the wireless set receives a call, the bomb detonator catches the signal too and the IED explodes. The explosives were immediately destroyed by the bomb disposal squad of BSF and CTJW college, Kanker.

Based on inputs about presence of Maoists in Gadiras region in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh, a joint squad of CRPF and DF swung into action and arrested four Maoists, said Sukma ASP Santosh Singh. Those arrested were identified as Madvi Hunga (26), Madvi Lakma (22), Kawasi Mukka (35) and Podiyami Somaru (24), he said while elaborating that they were working as member of DAKMS, a frontal outfit of the CPI-Maoist.

Two Maoists were arrested by personnel of DRG in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. Those arrested were identified as member of Malangir LOS Bheema Podiyami and Dumam LOS member Deva alias Joga Padam, informed Police. According to the Police, during the course of investigation, it came to light that Bheema was inducted into the banned organization as CNM member in 2009 and elevated as member of Malangir LOS in 2015 whereas Joga was associated with the Maoist movement since 2007.  

April 7

The CPI-Maoist have given a call for 'Dandakaranya Bandh' on April 15, opposing the recent air-to-ground firing exercise carried out by the IAF in south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. "The pamphlets in which the outlawed CPI (Maoist) has opposed the aerial firing practice by IAF commandos have been recovered from the restive places of Bijapur, Sukma and Kanker districts," a senior Police official involved in anti-Maoist operations said. The IAF's Garuda commandos had conducted a special air-to- ground firing exercise in Sukma District of the state on April 1. A similar aerial firing practice was done in Bijapur last year. The pamphlets, released in Naxal's DKSZC official representative Vikalp's name, have appealed to make the bandh successful. DKSZC oversees Maoist activities in Bastar and some parts of Maharashtra and Telangana.

The pamphlets carry messages that "since last six months aircraft (are) blasting bombs in the area of south Bastar, Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur Districts, it means Air Force planes may attack Maoists anywhere at any moment". "Security forces are conducting fake encounters and arresting innocent personnel in fake cases. They said helicopters are only being used for assistance work and firing on Maoists only in self-defence. But the fact is that as part of the Green Hunt operation, the government has given full authority to the air force to attack Maoists," the pamphlets read. Maoists have, however, announced relaxation for medical and educational institutions from the bandh.

April 8

A Police jawan was killed and another injured after CPI-Maoist cadres ambushed a team of SF personnel who were deployed on a helipad in the dense forests in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. A group of Maoists opened fire on jawans guarding the helipad in a restive pocket of Pamed Police Station area, SP KL Dhruv said. SFs were tasked with ensuring security to the helipad ahead of the landing of a helicopter meant to transport ration for them. After dropping the consignment, the chopper returned and SFs began marching back to its base, he said. “Meanwhile, a group of Maoists opened indiscriminate firing on them from behind leaving two constables --Baburam Markam belonging to the district force and Dinesh Ogre of CAF - injured. “While Markam succumbed to his injuries during the treatment, Ogre was airlifted to Raipur for treatment,” he said.

April 9

As many as 122 members of CPI-Maoist militia and its frontal organisations reportedly gave themselves up before the Police higher officials at Dornapal in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. According to sources, 11 women militia members were among those who surrendered en masse before the Police in Sukma District of south Bastar region.

April 10

SFs recovered two powerful IEDs, planted allegedly by the CPI-Maoist, in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. A joint team of CRPF and District Force recovered the explosives while patrolling the under-construction Aranpur-Jagargunda road under Aranpur Police Station limits, ASP Ramkrishna Sahu said. While cordoning off an area near Kondapara, where a CRPF camp is located, SFs spotted the explosives, weighing 10 kilograms each, kept in pressure cookers hidden beneath the earth, Sahu said. The IEDs were immediately destroyed by bomb disposal squad, the officer added.

A woman Maoist cadre, who is the mother of a four-month-old girl, surrendered in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh, saying she wanted a better life for her child. Sukaru Salaam (22), a native of Manpur area in Rajnandgaon District, surrendered before senior Police and ITBP officials at Narayanpur District headquarters, SP Abhishek Meena said. She was allegedly involved in several Maoist offences, including the attack on SFs in Aundhi area of Rajnandgaon during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he said, adding that she was carrying a reward of INR 100, 000 on her head. Sukaru was active in Aundhi LOS in Rajnandgaon where she fell in love with the squad’s ‘deputy commander’, Bharat. When the senior cadres objected to their relationship, the couple fled and shifted to Koyalibeda in Kanker District, Meena said. They were well aware of the Maoist ‘diktat’ that cadres are not allowed to have children. After giving birth to a baby girl, Sukaru decided to quit the movement to give a better life to her child, he said.

April 11

An injured CPI-Maoist cadre was arrested following an encounter between the Maoists and a Police team in a forested patch in Dantewada District. A joint team of STF and DF started on an anti-Maoist operation from Kuakonda Police Station limits and when the team was reached the forested patch near Kankipara village where they had a face-off with armed Maoists who opened indiscriminate firing on the Police team. Later on, while searching the spot an injured Maoist was found who was identified as Kartam Pandu. A muzzle gun and other items of daily use were also seized from the spot. Pandu was an active military platoon member of Maoists in the region. Pandu was allegedly involved in blowing up a vehicle of SFs near Malewada on March 30 in Kuakonda area wherein seven CRPF personnel had lost their lives.

April 12

At least 23 tribal people, believed to be relatives of two surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres, were allegedly forced out of their village in Kondagaon District, by Maoists, who branded them as 'Police informers'. "A case has been registered in this connection based on a complaint of the villagers, all natives of Padeli village under Mardapal police station limits (located around 300 km from Raipur)," Kondagaon SP JS Watti said. The tribal people, belonging to five families, are believed to be the relatives of two surrendered Maoists, Sampat and Rajman, both residents of Padeli, who of late joined the State Police. In their statement, the victims said that a group of Naxals stormed their village on April 9, and evicted them from their homes, following which they shifted to another village. They stated that the Maoists accused them of acting as 'Police informers'. Finally, they arrived at the Mardapal Police Station to lodge a report in this regard, the SP said.

Seven Maoists, allegedly involved in Malewada landmine attack last month in which seven CRPF personnel were killed, were arrested from Dantewada District, after an encounter with SFs. "The cadres were rounded up from Kankipara forests under Kuakonda police station area after the gun battle between a joint team of security forces and rebels yesterday in which a Maoist was injured," Dantewada SP Kamlochan Kashyap said. Those arrested were identified as Aaytu Podiyami (35), Hunga Kartam (30), Raju Madvi (38), Hunga Podiyami (30), Katti (40), Hunga Sori (35) and Kosa Podiyami (28), all residents of Kankipara village. They revealed that the Malewada attack was planned on the direction of Central Committee and DSZC of CPI-Maoist, 'military-command-in-chief' Darbha division Dewa Barse along with some senior leaders, the SP said.

A CRPF officer who had suffered severe IED splinter injuries during an anti-CPI-Maoist operation on March11 in Sukma District died on April 12 at a hospital in Hyderabad. The officer identified as Deputy Commandant BK Shyam Niwas had slipped into coma for a month.

April 13

As many as 61 CPI-Maoist cadres, including seven women, most of them lower rung members, surrendered in Bastar District, citing "disappointment" with the ideology of the CPI-Maoist. "The rebels turned themselves in before senior police and administrative officials at Jagdalpur district headquarters," Bastar SP R N Dash said. Of them, Phulo Madkami, who was carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on her head, was active as regional committee supply member of the Maoists and a prominent cadre in the region, the SP said. Another cadre, Jibo Kawadi, was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, while the rest belonged to different lower rank squads of the outfit including Janmilitia, Sangham and CNM, a cultural wing of the Maoists, Dash said. Police claimed that with this surrender, Katekalyan Area Committee of Darbha Division of the Maoists, which has allegedly been instrumental in executing several deadly attacks in south Bastar, has collapsed. At least 34 of the surrendered Maoists belong to Mudenar village which comes under Katekalyan area committee of the ultras. With the surrender, it appears that this area committee has completely vanished, the officer said. They all will be provided with facilities as per the surrender and rehabilitation policy, he said, adding 247 Naxals and their supporters have surrendered in Bastar district in the past three months. A Police trooper was injured in an encounter between SF personnel and Maoists in Narayanpur District. The face-off took place in a dense forest of Idwaya village under Orchha Police Station limits when a joint team of STF, DRG and district force carried out the combing operation near a drain in the region, a senior Police official said. Assistant Constable Gajendra Singh Dhruv was injured when the SF personnel reached Aader forests, and a group of armed Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on them. A gunbattle then broke out between the two sides that lasted for about an hour, following which the Maoists fled from the spot taking advantage of the darkness, he said. While cordoning-off the encounter spot, four muzzle loading guns and Maoist-related materials were recovered, the police official said. He said they suspect that ultras might have been either killed or injured in the gunbattle as blood stains were spotted in that area.

April 14

A Police Constable was killed in a pressure bomb blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres, in Bijapur District. The incident occurred in a forest between Matwada and Jangla villages under Jangla Police Station limits of the District, when a Road Opening Party was carrying out its task in the region, Bijapur ASP Indira Kalyan Elsela said. After the team covered a distance of around 1.5 kilometres, assistant Constable Ayitu Lekam accidentally came in contact with a pressure bomb planted by the Maoists that exploded, injuring him critically, the ASP said. "Lekam, who was posted at Jangla police station, succumbed to his injuries while being taken out from the forest," he said.

April 15

An encounter took place between Maoists and the 18th battalion of ITBP troops between Belgaun and Kaneli area in Rajnandgaon District. A Maoist camp was destroyed but the Maoists managed to flee taking advantage of darkness. The ITBP personnel recovered one radio, one camera flash to be used for IED blast, empty cases of AK-47 and other articles.

Maoists have set ablaze four vehicles, including two engaged in a road construction work, in Madanwada area of Rajnandgaon District. "A group of 15-20 armed Naxals torched four vehicles parked at an under-construction bridge between Baseli and Sahpal villages under Sitagaon Police Station limits late last evening," said Rajnandgaon SP Sundarraj P. He added the vehicles included a truck, a poclain machine, a SUV and a motorcycle.

The office bearers of Chhattisgarh's vigilante group Samajik Ekta Manch (Social Unity Forum) announced to dissolve the outfit. The decision came soon after a sting video went viral on April 14 in which the State Police was seen admitting that the police in Bastar and Forum people were working in close association with each other. However, the forum's notification, issued on the decision of dissolving of the outfit, stated that it has been done after some anti-social elements tried to take advantage of organization's reputation and attempted to ruin it.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including a 'Commander', were killed while planting bomb in Koyaliberda area in Kanker District during the Dandakaranya bandh called by the CPI-Maoist. Kanker Police confirmed the incident on April 17. "The bombs were planted by Maoists to target Security Forces, who were on patrol to avoid any untoward incident during the bandh. Locals, who reached the spot, on hearing the explosion, saw Maoists, including a Local Organising Squad Commander Arjun, lying in a crater formed due to blast," said Kanker Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Meena. Maoists had given a call for 'Dandakaranya Bandh' on April 15, opposing the recent air-to-ground firing exercise carried out by the IAF in Bastar region. The IAF's Garuda Commandos had conducted a special air-to-ground firing exercise in Sukma District on April 1. A similar aerial firing practice was carried out in Bijapur in 2015.

April 16

Calling the CPI-Maoist a 'serious challenge' to the Indian democracy, the UMH Rajnath Singh said the Centre was committed to extend every possible help to the LWE-affected states to root out the menace. The Minister made the assurance while chairing a high-level meeting of Chhattisgarh Police and paramilitary officials at the New Circuit House, a state public relations department official said. Chief Minister Raman Singh was also present at the meeting. "Naxalism is a serious challenge to the democracy. To root out the Maoist menace, the Centre is committed to extend every possible support to Naxal-hit states including Chhattisgarh," the officer quoted the Minister as saying in the meeting.

April 17

A Maoist, identified as Khatiya Korcha (25), was arrested during a search operation in Kanker District. Korcha, a Gatta LOS member of the CPI-Maoist, was arrested from Madpakhanjore village under Bande Police Station area, Kanker SP Jitendra Singh Meena said.

The CPI-Maoist also placed a banner in Pevari village under Antagarh tehsil of Kanker District. They urged the people to support them to protest against the recent hike in price of tendupatta/bidi leaves.

April 18

Three personnel were injured in an IED blast during an anti- CPI-Maoist operation in Sukma District. Officials said the incident took place near the Chintagufa-Burkapal axis when troops of 74th battalion were sanitising a track.

SF personnel recovered IEDs weighing about 10 kilograms which were concealed beneath a dirt track at Ranapal in Kondagaon District.

April 19 SFs have arrested a 50-year-old woman Maoist, carrying a reward of INR 110,000, from Narayanpur District.
April 20

A Police trooper was killed and another sustained critical injuries during an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres that took place in the dense forests of Sukma District. "The face-off took place in the forests of Marjoom village that falls under Tongpal Police Station limits, when a joint squad of Security Forces was carrying out an anti-Naxal operation in the bordering region of Sukma-Dantewada districts," a senior Police official said. The dead trooper was identified as Constable Shyamlal Atami and the injured was Constable Rajesh Satam. Both belonged to the DRG.

Seven CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women, were arrested during a joint search operation by SF personnel in Dantewada District. "The cadres were rounded up from Badebedma Palnar village under Kuakonda Police Station limits when a composite squad of CRPF and District Force was carrying out a combing exercise in the region yesterday," Dantewada SP Kamlochan Kashayp said. The women Maoists were identified as Madvi Deve (19), who was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on her head, and Madkam Bhime (20) while others are--Sannaram Madkam (23), Bandee Ram Mandavi (24), Sukkaram Mandavi (22), Sukka (35) Hungaram Mandavi (23).

SF personnel arrested three suspected Maoists along with some arms and explosives from Rajnandgaon District. Officials said the three Maoists, identified as Bissu, Manish and Maun, were arrested by a joint squad of forces led by paramilitary ITBP along with State Police from Kohkatola area of the said District. Three tiffin bombs, two small rifles, an IED and few other electric triggers and wires were recovered after the operation led by ITBP's 18th battalion deployed in the area.

The CPI-Maoist has claimed responsibility for the killing of seven CRPF personnel in an IED explosion in Dantewada District on March 30, 2016. "The Malewara attack on the CRPF was a fitting reply to the exploitative Modi-Raman Singh regime and revenge for our party's martyrs. The attack was a part of our PLGA's (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) response to the government of Chhattisgarh's mission 2016 against us," said a statement issued by the south sub-zonal bureau of the CPI-Maoist.

April 21

More than two dozen Maoists, including three women, surrendered before SFs in Narayanpur District. "A total of 27 Naxal cadres, including three women, surrendered today. They will be given rehabilitation grants as per government schemes," officials said.

April 22

A 'commander' and an 'area committee member' of the CPI-Maoist were killed in an encounter in Bastar District. Commenting on the incident R.N. Dash, SP, Bastar District said "An encounter took place in Salfijodi forest of Bastar district on Friday. Two top Maoist cadres in Bastar were killed in the encounter. The police team recovered one 315 bore pistol with live rounds, improvised explosive devices (IED) and grenades from the spot of the encounter." The deceased Maoists were identified as Machkot Local Guerrilla Squad (LGS) 'commander' Munna and 'area committee member' Baman. Both carried a reward of INR 500,000 each on their heads.

April 23

A former sarpanch was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The Maoists slit the throat of Elam Narayan, the former sarpanch of Vadala village under Bhopalpatnam block of Bijapur and also left a handwritten letter on his dead body claiming the responsibility of the killing.

A CPI-Maoist cadre carrying a cash reward of INR 100,000 on his head was killed in an encounter with SFs in the forests of Kistaram in Sukma District of Bastar division. The Maoist was identified as 'militia commander' Sodi Pandu of Kumudtong village, wanted in many blasts and attacks on SFs. Security personnel also recovered a country-made weapon, electric wire, few rounds and Maoist literature. Pandu was a member of 'Jantana Sarkar and Kumudtong 'militia commander'.

April 24

Seven powerful IEDs, allegedly planted by Maoists, were recovered in Dantewada District. A team of CRPF's 111th and 230th battalions and the local Police recovered the explosives in a forest between Aranpur and Kondapara, a senior Police said. Based on inputs provided by Sukka Ram Mandavi, a Maoist cadre arrested last week, SFs launched a de-mining exercise on the route and spotted IEDs planted at various locations.

CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly killed a tribal youth, identified as Kichhe Dewa, and looted his relatives at a village in Sukma District. The victim was murdered for not complying with their diktat, Sukma ASP, Santosh Singh said. His relatives reached Polampalli Police Station on April 25 along with the body of Dewa and lodged a complaint. Maoists had picked up Dewa on April 23 and beaten him to death before a Jan Adalat on April 24. The deceased was vocal against the diktat of Maoists and often refuse to obey their orders. It appears that he incurred the wrath of Maoists for the same, the ASP added. Besides, Maoists also looted valuables from five-six houses belonging to the relatives of Dewa.

April 26

A CoBRA trooper was injured in an exchange of fire with Maoists in Bijapur District. The skirmish took place early this morning when a team of CoBRA troopers were conducting an anti-Maoist operation in the interiors of Basaguda Police Station limits. While cordoning off the region when SF personnel reached Puvarti village forests, Maoists opened indiscriminate firing leaving a Constable Deepu Das injured.

April 27

A member of CPI-Maoist military Company number-6, identified as Gandru (20) alias Jagdish Korram, carrying reward of INR 800,000 on his head was arrested during a search operation carried out by the joint Force of District Police and 41st battalion of ITBP in the jungle of Mandoda under Mardapal Police Station in Kondagaon District.

At least 11 Maoists surrendered in Kondagaon District."The surrendering ultras were dissatisfied with the discrimination meted out at the hands of senior Naxal leaders of Andhra Pradesh origin," SP JS Watti said.

April 28

A Chhattisgarh Armed Force personnel was killed in an IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist in Bijapur District. The incident occurred near Phulgatta village forest when a team of security personnel was patrolling the region, a senior Police official said. While the security men were cordoning-off a forest patch near Phulgatta, Assistant Platoon Commander Panchram Bhagat inadvertently stepped over a landmine, triggering the explosion in which he was critically injured, he said. The injured personnel were immediately rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Bhagat, an Assistant Sub-Inspector rank official, belonged to CAF's 10th battalion.

May 1

A CPI-Maoist cadre who was allegedly involved in triggering an IED blast that injured a trooper in Kanker District recently was arrested. The man, identified as Santuram Padda (35) was arrested from Salhepara forests under Badgaon Police Station limits of the district by a joint team of the BSF and district force, Kanker DSP Jayant Vaishnav said.

May 3

A joint squad of CRPF and DF arrested seven Maoists, including two female cadres, in Sukma District. The Maoists are identified as Podiyam Ayta, Rawa Bheema, Rawa Ayta and Rawa Ganga were arrested from village Durma-Baddesatti under limits of Gadiras Police Station while Madkam Hurra, Madvi Payke and Madkam Jogi were arrested from village Dabbakonta under Chintagufa Police limits, said Sukma ASP Santosh Singh.

May 4

A large number of CPI-Maoist cadres stormed the NMDC Bacheli iron ore mines under Bacheli Police Station limits in Dantewada District and set on fire its conveyor belt after triggering a blast. The incident took place in the forested hills between iron ore deposits number 11 and 5 and has hit the transportation of iron ore in the area, Kirandul SDOP M Z Baig said. As per the Police, the attack was executed by Maoists as a part of their two-day bandh call on May 4 and 5. The Maoists had earlier given the bandh call in the region appealing people to protect their 'Jal, Jungle, Zameen' (water, forest and land), according to the wall posters and pamphlets put up in different places of Bastar Division.

A hardcore woman Maoist who was involved in different Naxal activities that had claimed lives of several Police personnel was arrested from a place under Kirandul Police Station limits in Dantewada District. "A QAT (Quick Action Team) of CRPF nabbed the ultra from Kirandul police station limits while she was distributing pamphlets while appealing people to make successful the Dandakaranya bandh called by Naxals," SP Dantewada Kamlochan Kashyap said. According to the Police, the arrested female Maoist was identified as Bhume Mandavi (27) resident of Patelpara Hiroli. She had joined Naxal cadre in 2009 and was also a member of platoon number 26 of Naxal Katekalyan Area Committee.

May 5

In a bold initiative, the tribals of a village panchayat in Sukma District have decided to oppose Maoist atrocities carried out in the name of people's movement and devise their own efforts to prevent violence by the Maoists. Armed with bow and arrows and other traditional weapons, youth in the area can be seen patrolling the peripheral areas of their villages throughout the night to ban the entry of Maoists. The practice started two months ago in Kumakoleng and Nama villages that are under Kumakoleng gram panchayat located about 22 kms from Tongpal Police Station on the National Highway- 30 which connects Jagdalpur to Sukma. "We were disturbed with the Maoists' act of obstructing development which had resulted lack of power supply and no proper road connectivity in our villages. In the name of police informers, innocent villagers have been killed," Aayta Karma, a resident of Nama village, said. "Braving Naxal threats, the youth from these two villages have decided not to allow anymore violence in the area. Now we want development and peace," Karma added. "While patrolling, youth come face-to-face with Naxals twice, but on both the occasions the ultras fled after facing strong opposition from us," he said. "Villagers from Kumakoleng have requested us to set up a police camp in their area which is quite in the interior. We have assured them to think over it. As of now, we have stepped up patrolling in the region to ensure security to them," Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Santosh Singh said.

May 6

Four CPI-Maoist cadres, who were allegedly involved in setting vehicles afire at Chargaon-Metabodli iron ore mines last year, were arrested during a joint search operation by BSF and District Force from the forests of Siksod Police Station area in Kanker District. Acting on a tip off about the presence of rebels who were involved in setting ablaze vehicles at Chargaon-Metabodli mines on October 30, 2015, in the jungles of Masbaras and Bulawand, the SFs launched an operation in which four cadres identified as Rajendra Netam (30), Shobharam Nareti (42), Rajmu Nareti (32) and Maniram Usendi (26) were arrested, Kanker SP Jitendra Singh Meena said.

May 7

Bodies of two unidentified CPI-Maoist cadres were recovered after encounter with SFs near Marjum village under Katekalyan Police Station limits in Dantewada District. "Muzzle guns, pipe bombs and explosives in huge quantity were also recovered from the encounter spot," SP Dantewada, Kamlochan Kashyap said.

May 8

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from Bacheli town of Dantewada District. "The cadres were nabbed when they arrived in Bacheli for conducting a recce of the movement of police and procuring Maoist-related materials," Kirandul SDOP, M.Z. Baig said. Those arrested were identified as Budhram Madvi (35), head of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan, and Kunjam Bheema (28), head of Janatana Sarkar wing, the SDPO added. A Naxal LWE banner, pamphlets and other Maoist-related material were recovered from them.

May 9

A trooper of DRG was killed and a civilian injured in two separate IED blasts triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Sukma District. Police said that a composite team of CRPF and DRG was patrolling the region, ensuring security at Maraiguda construction site when Madakam Joga, an Assistant Constable stepped on a landmine laid by Maoists that triggered the blast leaving Joga severely injured. He later succumbed to injuries.

Sanjay, an operator of a concrete mixer excavator, sustained grievous injuries in a pressure bomb blast allegedly triggered by the Maoists in Maraigudem forest area in Sukma District.

A major incident was averted after the SFs recovered two IEDs laid by Maoists close to a school premises at a village in Bijapur District. The bombs weighing 2 kilograms each were planted by the Maoists at Basaguda route targeting SF personnel.

May 10

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, carrying cash rewards on their heads, have been arrested from two separate places in Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh. The two cadres, identified as Deva Muchaki (23) and Podiyami Gagru (25), were arrested by Dantewada Police from Marjoom forests under Tongpal Police Station limits of neighbouring Sukma District, according to Dantewada ASP Gorakhnath Baghel.

A Maoist cadre, identified as 'commander' Barsuram Jurri (38), was arrested from Tiralgarh village forests area under Bande Police Station limits in Kanker District.

May 11

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an exchange of fire between the SF personnel and the Maoists in the Sukma District. A team comprising about 90 personnel, led by the DRG Commander Mudiraj and Sub-Inspector Amit Padamshali, had launched anti-Maoist operations in the interior region of Maraiguda, Sukma SP D. Shrawan said. The encounter took place near Kanaiguda village in which two Maoists were killed, the SP confirmed. Two country-made muzzle loading guns, 150-metre wire, detonators, battery and other articles were recovered from the spot. The deceased were identified as Tati Sukka (28), a Gangler village Revolutionary People's Council member, and Podiyami Deva (32), an RPC militia head. With this, the total number of Maoists killed in police encounter in Bastar this year (2016) reached 53, Police said.

May 13

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres have set ablaze the Kumharsarda Railway Station in Bastar District. According to reports, a lot of railway equipment was damaged in the fire. Railway traffic on the route was also affected.

May 14

The Chhattisgarh State Government extended the ban on the CPI-Maoist and its six frontal organisations for another year. "The ban on the CPI (Maoist) and its six frontal organisations has been extended for another one year," a State Home Department official said on May 15. The CPI-Maoist was first banned along with its affiliates in Chhattisgarh in April 2006 under section 3 of Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act-2005, and since then the State Government has been extending the ban every year. The six frontal organisations of the Maoists that have also been banned are -- Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangh, Krantikari Adivasi Balak Sangh, Krantikari Kisan Committee, Mahila Mukti Manch and Jantana Sarkar. The ban will be effective from April 12, 2016, for the next one year, the official added.

May 16

An ITBP trooper was injured in an IED blast during an anti-Maoist operation in Narayanpur District. Officials said the incident occurred on the Krushnar-Gumiabeda forest axis in the District when a patrol team of ITBP was hit by a twin IED blast in which Constable M Nilesh sustained splinter injuries. A suspected Maoist has also been arrested from the spot.

Two Maoists were arrested from Bijapur District. The cadres were arrested by a joint team of security personnel from the forests of Usoor Police Station limits, a senior police official said. They have been identified as Nuppo Lakhma (35) and Avlam Aaytu (28).

May 17

A CRPF trooper was killed after CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a force camp in Bijapur District. Officials said the incident occurred at about 3:00 am when a Maoist squad mounted sniper fire on a CRPF camp in the jungles of Rangareddy in Gangloor area of the District. In the ensuing gun-battle, Constable Satish Gaur (28) who was on sentry duty sustained bullet injuries and later succumbed to his injuries.

May 18

A DRG trooper was injured in an encounter with CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The skirmish took place during the wee hours in the forests of Munga village when a squad of the States DRG forces was carrying out anti-Maoist operation in the region. "Constable Gopal Rotel sustained injuries on his leg in the gun-fight following which he was airlifted to Jagdalpur for treatment this morning," Jagdalpur City Superintendent of Police Deepmala Kashyap said.

Balrampur District Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre who was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head. The arrested Maoist has been identified as Sujit Kumar Nage alias Shivlal alias Golimar alias Rajkumar. A country made long but 315 bore rifle, seven live cartridges of 315 bore and 14 live cartridges of 12 bore have been confiscated from his possession. SP Balrampur Sadanand Kumar informed that the accused is the last member of Bokha Prajapati gang of the CPI-Maoist. He had earned the nick name of 'Golimar' due to his extreme violent psyche. The hardcore LWE was active in Jashpur and Balrampur Districts. Bokha Prajapati had surrendered before Balrampur Police in November 2015.

A Maoist cadre - Ghasiram Padda - wanted in connection with attack on a BSF camp at Udanpur was arrested during an anti-insurgency operation carried out by SF personnel in Kanker District.

Three Maoists were arrested during a search operation by SF personnel in Sukma District. They are identified as Rawa Joga (25), Banjam Budra (22) and Sodhi Hunga (35).

A Policeman was injured in an IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Narayanpur District. The incident took place when SF personnel were patrolling near Amdai Ghati (valley) under Chhote Dongar Police Station where road construction work is underway, Narayanpur SP Abhishek Meena said.

A "suspected" Maoist, Markam Deva, who came to surrender at a Police Station in Bijapur District, fled with modern sophisticated weapons, senior officials said. According to Bijapur Police, Deva expressed his wish to surrender at the Basaguda Police Station and fled moments after being interrogated by officials. "During the break in the interrogation, that we usually do for any rebel ahead of their surrender process, Deva, who claimed himself as a Maoist, fled from the thana carrying one AK-47, 90 live cartridges, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) and around 10 grenades," Bijapur SP KL Dhruv said. There were at least 50 Policemen in the Police Station in the Maoist-affected area when the 23-year-old man escaped.

May 20

A woman CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SF personnel in Kanker District. "An exchange of fire took place near Matenga and Kudarwahi area of Kanker between the DRG (District Reserve Guard) and the Maoists at around 11 pm on Friday. During the search of the encounter spot today (Saturday) morning, a dead body of uniformed female Maoist was recovered," informed Bastar IGP S.R.P. Kalluri in a statement. However, the SFs managed to recover two Bharmars, one cooker filled with IED and some back packs from the spot of encounter.

May 21

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman were killed in a fierce encounter with SF personnel in a dense forest of Bijapur District. The encounter started at 2.50 am between a joint squad of SF and Maoists in the jungles of Kotter-Kerenar under Gangaloor Police Station limits, a senior Police official said. While combing operations were underway, Maoists opened fire on SF personnel. Two Maoists, including a female clad in "uniform", were found dead. Two country made weapons and items of daily use were recovered from the spot, he added.

May 23

A CPI-Maoist 'commander' was killed in an encounter in Modenar forest area of Dantewada District. A joint team of the DRG, the District Force and the CAF was involved in the encounter. Later, the SFs recovered the body of Sukhram, 'deputy commander' of the Maoists' Katekalyan LOS. According to the IGP, S.R.P. Kalluri, Sukhram had 18 Police cases registered against him of which four related to damaging railway track.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman, were arrested from Bijapur District and two Maoists each were arrested in Dantewada and Sukma Districts.

Nine Maoists surrendered in Kondagaon District. A statement issued by the Kondagaon District Police said eight members of the Maoist militia and one member of the Maoists' cultural wing, CNM, surrendered before SP J.S. Watti.

May 25

Two villagers were killed by CPI-Maoist cadres in two separate incidents in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The Police said while an 18-year-old youth identified as Kandru Patel was killed in Kondagaon District another villager Joga Madvi was killed in Dantewada District.

May 26

13 Maoists have been arrested in Sukma District. Some of them have been identified as Madavi Somda (25), Madvi Hadma (40), Madvi Budhra (27), Madkam Deva (25), Madvi Somda (27), Madvi Deva (22), Podiyami Budhu (30), Madvi Budhra (22) and Madvi Raja (30).

May 27 A woman CPI-Maoist 'commander', carrying INR 500, 000 cash reward on her head, surrendered with her two-month old newborn in Dantewada District after she was separated from her husband by Maoists as a punishment for getting pregnant. Senior leaders had transferred her husband to a far off camp whom she had secretly married. Kosi Madwi (24) who was a CNM 'commander' and Kanger valley area committee member joined Kistaram area committee in 2002 and was promoted in 2009 as area committee member to work at Malkangiri in Odisha. When there was a need of a Maoist, who could speak Odia in Darbha region, she was brought back as CNM commander.
May 28

Forty members of the CPI-Maoist surrendered to the Police in Bastar District. "Nineteen members of the Maoists' Katekalyan area committee in Darbha area, two members of Kanger valley area committee and 19 members of Mardapal and Barsoor area committee in Bastar surrendered on Saturday," claimed Bastar Police in a press statement. The surrendered included one LOS member, three Maoist 'militia commanders', one 'deputy commander', 19 'militia members', five CNM 'commanders', four CNM members, four village committee members and two Sangham members of the Maoist organisation in Bastar.

A woman Maoist cadre who was wanted in connection with the attack on the Police party in 2011 at Sulengi village wherein two Policemen had martyred in Kanker District was arrested. The State Government had declared a cash reward of INR 800,000 on her arrest, SDOP Nikolas Khalkho informed. According to Police, the arrested cadre was identified as Ganita alias Bajay Nureti (30) resident of Koylibeda. "Ganita was arrested from a weekly market in Koylibeda by a team of district police," the SDOP said while adding that she was a member of Maoist military number 5. Four warrants were issued against Ganita which were pending at Durgkondal and Koylibeda Police Stations.

June 4

A 22-year-old woman CPI-Maoist cadre who was carrying reward of INR 200,000 on her head was arrested by Kanker District Police. Anshila Padda alias Pandari, a member of Maoist military company No - 5 under North Bastar Division, was arrested in the forested Dodgejhora village during a joint search operation launched by Badgaon, Bande and Partapur Police.

June 5

A village sarpanch was killed by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres in Kanker District. Kunwar Singh Gota (40) sarpanch of Mura village under Korar Police Station limits was allegedly shot dead at his native place.

June 6

CPI-Maoist cadres fired rockets and opened heavy gunfire at a camp of ITBP in Kondagaon District. Officials said the attack was launched at the company base of the 41st battalion of the ITBP in Ranapal area after a large number of Maoists surrounded it from three sides. "The attack was launched at about 1240 hours and ended at 3 am today. Four rockets were fired inside the camp. Both the sides exchanged about 600 rounds of bullets," they said. Maoists later retreated in the jungles and no casualties were reported on the forces' side. "It is estimated that about 100 armed Naxals launched the attack," they said.

June 7

At least 76 Naxals were killed and 665 arrested by SF personnel in the LWE-hit areas in the first four months of 2016, Home Ministry officials said. SF have achieved greater success in tackling LWEs in recent times and there was 30 per cent decline in violence perpetrated by the Maoists this year (2016). Altogether, 76 CPI-Maoist cadres were killed between January and April this year in comparison to 15 killed in the corresponding period of 2015. As many as 665 Maoists were arrested and 639 surrendered in the first four months of 2016 whereas 435 LWEs were arrested and 134 surrendered in the corresponding period of 2015, a Home Ministry official said. In 2015, 226 people died in 1,088 incidents of violence perpetrated by the LWEs. Of the 226 deaths, 168 were civilians and 58 security personnel. As many as 89 Maoists were also killed and 1,668 were arrested and 570 cadres surrendered before authorities last year. "The decline in violence can be attributed to many reasons such as greater presence of security forces across the Left Wing Extremism-affected states, loss of cadres and leaders on account of killing, arrests, surrender and desertions, better monitoring of development schemes in affected areas and insurgency fatigue among the Maoist cadres," the official said. While 106 districts in 10 states are affected by Maoist activities in varying degrees, 35 districts in seven states are considered to be worst hit. According to a recent Parliamentary Standing Committee report, Naxal activities continue to be a matter of concern with 35 districts in seven states being badly-hit. "CPI (Maoist) continues to be the most potent among the various LWE outfits in the country and accounts for more than 80 per cent of total LWE violence incidents and resultant deaths," the report said.

June 10

CPI-Maoist cadres have killed a BJP leader and Bijapur Zila Panchayat member, Ramsai Majji, after dragging him out of his house in Bijapur District. Police said the incident took place when a group of Maoists made a forced entry into his house, which falls under Madded Police Station area, dragged him out and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. Later, the Maoists fled into the nearby forests. Majji, who was a headmaster at a high school in Madded, joined politics after his superannuation and was elected as a member of the Zila Panchayat.

June 11

Two Police Constables of the DF, identified as Virendra Mandavi and Akhilesh Chelam were injured when Maoists attacked a team of SFs personnel deployed to ensure security to a helicopter in the dense forests of Pamed in Bijapur District. "The police personnel sustained bullet injuries as the armed Maoists opened fire on them close to Pamed police station, located around 500 km away from the state capital Raipur," Special Director General of Police, Anti-Maoist Operations D M Awasthi said. SFs were given the task of ensuring security to the helipad ahead of the landing of a helicopter meant to drop some troopers from Bijapur to Pamed, who had returned after the vacation.

June 11

SFs personnel have recovered a powerful IED planted by the Maoists from Kondagaon District. The explosive, weighed 8 kg, was unearthed by a team of DRG from a bridge on a rivulet in the dense forests under Vishrampuri Police Station limits, Kondagaon SP Santosh Singh said.

June 12

Two Maoists were arrested and explosives recovered from their possession in Bastar District. "The cadres, identified as Kumma and Baman, were apprehended from the forests of Darbha Police Station limits while they were trying to flee along with a tiffin bomb and gelatin sticks to the core forest," Bastar ASP Vijay Pandey said. Kumma was active as a member of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan - a front outfit of the Maoists, while Baman was a jan (people's) militia member, the Additional SP added. A 5-kg tiffin bomb, seven gelatin sticks, wire and other materials were recovered from their possession.

June 13

A woman CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs personnel in a forest pocket of Sukma District. "The skirmish took place between the ultras and a joint team of Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Group (DRG) in a forest near Gorkha village under Konta police station limits," Sukma SP Indira Kalyan Elesela said. Later, during search, the body of a woman Maoist was found and a muzzle loading gun seized from the spot. The killed Maoist was identified as Madkam Hidme, a member of Kistaram area platoon number 8 of Maoists.

June 14

Three DRG personnel were injured in a fierce encounter with Maoists in the dense forests of Narayanpur District. The face-off took place during the wee hours in the forest of Kilam Becha village when a joint squad of the DRG and local Police was carrying out an anti-Maoist operation in the region, Special Director General of Police, Anti-Maoist operations, D.M. Awasthi said.

At least 10 CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with the Police in Narayanpur District, Police claimed. "An encounter took place between the Maoists and a Police team near Kilam Becha village early this morning. The encounter lasted about two-and-a-half hours," Narayanpur SP Abhishek Meena said. "Our estimate is that 10 to 12 Maoists were killed," he added. The officer said he could not say with certainty how many Maoists were killed. "We are saying 10 to 12 based on some Maoist communications we tracked. Of the three injured policemen, one was extremely critical and our team was trying to provide him medical help. Meanwhile, the Maoists managed to drag the bodies inside the forest. There were many blood marks at the spot of the encounter, but we did not follow them as there was the danger of being ambushed," he clarified.

As many as 47 Maoists surrendered in Bastar District citing disappointment with the "hollow" ideology of the CPI-Maoist. Most of the Maoists are lower-rung cadres and some of them were carrying rewards of varying amounts on their heads. Of them, Balku Mandavi, who was an active member of Military Company no. 6 of Maoists, was a prominent cadre of the region and was carrying a reward of INR 800,000 on his head. Besides, Hidme Podiyami, Hidma Madkami and Rani Kawasi, who headed the local frontal outfits of Maoists in the region, were carrying a reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads.

June 15

The driver of an ADM of Sukma District was allegedly killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres on the charges of being a 'police informer' in Sukma District. Srinivas Bisen (35), driver of Sukma ADM Mansingh Thakur, was attacked by armed cadres while he was heading to his native village Kerlapal, located around 16 km from Sukma District headquarters, after his duty on his motorcycle, Sukma SP Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

June 17

CPI-Maoist 'central committee' has given a call for celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Naxalbari armed uprising, centenary of the Russian revolution and the bicentenary of the birth of Karl Marx. In a 10-page statement, the 'general secretary' of the CPI-Maoist, Muppala Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathi, said that all the party units should make "preparations, put maximum efforts and issue calls to the vast masses to actively and energetically participate in these celebrations". He called upon his party cadre to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Naxalbari uprising from May 23 to 29, 2017, the centenary of the Bolshevik Revolution from November 7 to 13, 2017 and Karl Marx birth bicentenary from May 5 to 11, 2018. If, for any reason, it was not feasible to conduct these events on the above mentioned dates, Ganapathi said, they could be organised in other time of the years of the anniversaries. "It is to be expected that the enemy will try to create all kinds of hurdles everywhere to prevent us from organising these anniversaries, be it in the urban or rural areas. We should be prepared for this and make realistic and practicable plans to conduct these programmes successfully in spite of disruptionist efforts", the statement said. The Maoist party also said that efforts should be made to organise at least one international programme in any of the Indian cities on a date agreeable to all participants. As part of these celebrations, the party has also sought publication of books, booklets and collection of articles for enhancing the understanding of Marxism.

June 18

A CRPF trooper was injured in an IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The incident took place in the forests of Gangaloor Police Station area when a team of CRPF's elite CoBRA unit was carrying out a search-cum-area domination operation in the region, a CRPF official said.

June 21

Two Policemen were injured in a pipe bomb blast, triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres, in Narayanpur District. The incident took place in the forests near Kundla Police camp under Kurusnar Police Station limits when a team of security personnel was out on security duty at an under-construction bridge, said Narayanpur SP Abhishek Meena. The bridge is being constructed on Kukur River at Pikad village which will connect Narayanpur District headquarters to Abhujmaad region-considered as the Maoist bastion.

June 22

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman, who was carrying a cash reward of INR 5000 on her head, were arrested in Sukma District during a joint operation by the CRPF and local Police. A composite squad of CRPF and District Force arrested the cadres during a search operation in the interior forests under Gadiras Police Station area, a senior Police official said. Those arrested have been identified as Rawwa Nande (35), head of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan - a front organisation of the CPI-Maoist, and Kawasi Masa (28).

A two kg tiffin bomb, planted by the CPI-Maoist targetting security personnel, has been recovered from Dhamtari District. The IED was unearthed by a team of district force from a dirt track in the dense forest under Borai Police Station limits, Dhamtari ASP Ashok Pipre said.

June 23

Six Maoists, including a couple carrying a bounty of INR 100,000 each on their head, were arrested from separate places in Bastar division. "Four lower-rung rebels were apprehended from Jagargunda Police Station area of Sukma District while a team of Security Forces was carrying a search operation in the region," a senior Police official said. They were identified as Madvi Kosa (25), Uika Bheema (25), Podiyam Bheema (30) and Madkam Hurra (26).

June 25

A 'deputy sarpanch' was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District after the Maoists branded him as a 'Police informer'. Confirming the news a senior Police official said deputy sarpanch of Chinna Kodepal village identified as Anganpalli Lachhaiya was shot dead by armed Maoists near his home. "The rebels badly thrashed Lachhaiya with sticks in front of his family before pumping three bullets into him leaving him dead on the spot," the official added.

June 26

A Police informer was injured when Maoists opened fire at him at a weekly market in Sukma District. "Madvi Kosa, a gopniya sainik (informer), was attacked by armed Maoists at the weekly market of Gadiras this morning," a senior police official said. After being hit by the bullets, Kosa somehow managed to escape and reach Gadiras Police Station located close to the market.

June 27

A villager, identified as Bablu Das, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres in Kanker District for allegedly being a 'Police informer'. Kanker SP M.L. Kotwani said Das, a resident of Sanur village under Chote Betia Police Station, was killed by Maoists last night. "He was at home when Maoists surrounded it and shot him dead," SP Kotwani added.

As many as 10 Maoists including eight women surrendered in Bastar District citing increasing pressure of SFs and "atrocities" on them by senior Maoist cadres. "The rebels turned themselves in before senior police and administration officials at Jagdalpur district headquarter," Bastar SP R.N. Dash said. Among them was Asanti Kashyap, an active member of LGS, carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on her head. Seven other women cadres identified as Manisha Markam, Rekha Madkami, Sonadai Yadav, Ayte Madkami, Jajbo Podiyami, Hidme Podiyami and Sanko Podiyami surrendered along with two male Maoists -- Bheema Madkami and Hadkami.

Chhattisgarh's DGP, Anti-Naxal Operations, D.M. Awasthi condemned instances of Police atrocities and fake encounters in Bastar region of the State. DGP Awasthi, who took charge as the first ever DGP of the ANO five months ago, said that "These things should not have happened. I have issued written instructions also. The state is the protector of the people. If we catch a Maoist, he should be arrested. It is really inhuman to kill anybody even if he is guilty. The Constitution and the law do not provide us that power. But when there is fire from the Maoists, we should retaliate. "I condemn the misbehaviour with ladies and fake encounters. If it is propaganda, we should not worry but if it is true, guilty people should be punished. The police are not above the law. We have been given certain duties and responsibilities and I believe in honest police working - whether it is during operations in forests or city policing. Nobody is allowed to misbehave with the common man and even with criminals; we should not kill them in fake encounters."

June 28

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SFs personnel in Sukma District. "The operation was launched collectively by state's District Reserve Group (DRG), CRPF's Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and district force under Gadiras Police Station limits," Sukma SP Indira Kalyan Elesela said. The exercise was carried out on the basis of information about presence of Bhime, a Maoist 'commander' of Badesatti LOS, in the area. "We received inputs that Bhime was camping along with 15-20 armed cadres near Bandem since last night. We mobilised our composite force towards the region to nab him," the officer added. When the SFs reached the forests of Badesatti village armed insurgents opened indiscriminate fire on them, triggering a gun fight between the two sides. "So far, bodies of three Maoists, besides tiffin bombs and other Naxal-related items, have been found," the SP said.

June 29

A powerful IED planted by the CPI-Maoist was recovered by the SFs personnel in Gariyaband District. "The explosive, weighing 15-20 kg, was unearthed by a joint team of District Force and Central Reserve Police Force's 65th battalion from the forested Mainpur-Kulhadighat Road under Mainpur Police Station limits," Gariyaband ASP L David said. "When the security personnel were cordoning off the route, they spotted the IED placed in a steel container under the ground, about one km ahead of Kulhadighat village," the officer added.

July 1

Five CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from separate places in Bastar region. While three cadres belonging to DAKMS, a front organisation of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested from Dantewada District, two others were arrested from Sukma District.

July 2

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested during search operations carried out by SF personnel in several parts of Kondagaon District.

July 3

Three hardcore CPI-Maoist cadres, carrying cash rewards on their heads, were arrested by SFs personnel in Dantewada District. "One of the ultras was involved in Jheeram Ghati attack wherein 31 people including several Congress party senior members were killed," SP Dantewada Kamlochan Kashyap said. The Maoists were identified as Bandi alias Bandu (30), Pandru Podiyami (30) and Sukhram alias Sukhdev (38). Bandi and Sukhram carried reward money of INR 300,000 and INR 100,000 on their head respectively while Pandru was a 'section commander'.

July 4

An 'Assistance Constable' was abducted by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Sukma District. Maoists stopped vehicles running on Jagargunda-Donrapal road near Polampalli village. Incidentally, Assistant Constable Madkam Ganga, dressed in civilian clothes, was travelling in one of the vehicles. Sources said the Maoists tied his hands and took him along as they proceeded towards Arlampalli village of south Sukma. According to some Police sources, around 40 "armed Maoists" were present at the abduction spot when Madkam Ganga was taken away.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Jugdhar Salam (30), was arrested by SF personnel near Perampal Police Station in Kondagaon District. Kondagaon SP Santosh Singh said "Jugdhar was involved in incidents like planting bombs and also killing surrendered Naxals at Rajbeda village in year 2014."

A Maoist, identified as Kamlu Aayta alias Payka (30), was arrested during a search operation carried out by Police personnel near Baddeshetti village under Gadiras Police Station limits in Sukma District.

An Assistant Constable of Chhattisgarh Police identified as Tirupati was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District while he was returning to the Police camp after having a meal in his house. Tirupati was shot at by the Maoists near Cherpal Police camp under Bijapur Police Station limits.

July 5

Five Maoists identified as Guddu (33), Soop Singh (40), Rajman (30), Santer Dugga (40), and Sobhi (38) surrendered before the CRPF personnel in Kondagaon District.

July 6

Chhattisgarh Police demolished a CPI-Maoist camp and seized pipe bombs and other explosives after a fierce gunfight with the Maoists in Bijapur District. The encounter took place in the Erumgunda forests when the force, which is engaged in search operation in the forested area since July 2, came under fire, SP K.L. Dhruv said. A trooper reportedly sustained minor injuries.

Two women CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Ramvati (25) and Shyamvati (26), were arrested from Baramkela Police Station area of Raigarh District.

July 7

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Dukaal Singh Watti, was arrested in Kanker District.

July 8

Two suspected CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested during a search operation carried out by SFs in Bijapur District. "A team of district police nabbed two persons from Belchar village under Bhairamgarh police station," SP, Bijapur, KL Dhruv said.

July 10

Four suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in an encounter with the Police in Bijapur District. "An encounter took place near Tumnar village of Bijapur district late last night. The spot of the encounter is around five kilometers from Bijapur. Four dead bodies of Maoists have been recovered so far from the spot. The number of Maoists killed is likely to go up," said S.R.P. Kalluri, IGP, Bastar range, in a statement. One 9 mm pistol was also recovered from the spot of the encounter. Two out of four dead Maoists were identified as Ukesh, the LGS 'commander' in Gangaloor area and Raju, the 'section commander' of Company no.2 of the CPI-Maoist.

The 'Sarva Adivasi Samaj', an umbrella organisation of tribals, has called for Bastar bandh (shutdown strike) on July 16 to protest the increasing atrocities by SFs in the Maoist insurgency-hit region of Chhattisgarh. Samaj President Prashant Thakur, said, "The tribals in Bastar, especially tribal women, are being subjected to atrocities, eve teasing, and harassment by the security forces posted in Bastar. What is the need of these forces in Bastar if they indulge in harassment of tribals whom they are supposed to protect? " The Samaj protest has been triggered by the death of a 23-year-old tribal woman in Sukma last month in a fake encounter. "There has been a series of such instances in Bastar in the past few months. In Gumpad, Madkam Hidme was raped, killed and declared a Maoist," Thakur added.

July 11

The Central Government approved the formation of a unique 'Bastariya Battalion' in the CRPF, comprised solely of local men from ST, to bolster the fight against CPI-Maoist in Chhattisgarh. The move could dull the appeal of Maoists among disaffected, unemployed youth of the state. A special recruitment drive will be started in four districts of the region - Sukma, Dantewada, Narayanpur and Bijapur - in a few days with an aim to find 744 recruits. To give aspirants a fair chance, the government has decided to relax the physical standards for induction, since the locals, who are shorter, have been known to lose out to taller and better-built candidates from other states in similar recruitment exercises. "It was proposed to tweak the physical standards so that the locals can have jobs, and do not get attracted towards Naxalism," said a senior government official.

July 13

The Chhattisgarh Police claimed to have killed more than two CPI-Maoist cadres in an encounter on the bank of the Indravati River in Bastar District. "Many Maoists were killed during the gun battle on the bank of river Indravati. It was raining heavily when the encounter was going on and the Maoists were seen dragging the bodies inside the forest," Bastar Range IGP S.R.P. Kalluri said in a statement.

July 14

Several BJP local body representatives and workers have resigned in Bijapur District of BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh in the recent past allegedly due to threats and pressure from Maoists. "I have received 27 resignations of local body representatives and party workers from various blocks of Bijapur district in the last one month. Some said they were resigning due to personal reasons while others claimed that the unstable situation in the region forced them to submit resignations. However, we know the resignations are due to pressure and threats from Maoists," said G. Venkat, Bijapur District President of BJP.

July 16

At least four CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SF personnel in the forests of Bijapur District. The SFs have recovered four bodies of the Maoists along with rifles, pipe bombs and other supplies during area search. Bastar IGP S.R.P. Kalluri said that a joint force led by Laxman Kewat, Inspector in Charge Awapalli and CoBRA Commander Ashok Kumar carried out the encounter in the forests of Pamed in Bijapur District.

Five CPI-Maoist militia members surrendered before the Police in Kondagaon District.

July 20

Senior CPI-Maoist cadre Ganesh Uike has accused the SF personnel of killing over 90 people in fake and staged encounters in the first six months of 2016 in Bastar region. A member of the Maoist DKSZC and the head of its Bastar Sub Zonal Bureau, Uike alleged in a press statement "Over 90 people have been killed in the last six months in the name of 'Mission 2016' by security forces in Bastar. Over 50 women have been sexually assaulted and hundreds of tribals have been declared 'warrantee Maoists' and are being tortured in jail.

July 22

SFs recovered a powerful IED, planted allegedly by CPI-Maoist cadres in Rajnandgaon District. The device, weighing five kilograms, was found buried near a bridge on Kohka River.

July 23

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in a gun-battle with SFs in Sukma District. The operation was launched by the State's DRG and a team of local Police in co-ordination with Andhra Pradesh Police under Konta Police Station limits, Sukma SP Indira Kalyan Elesela said. After receiving inputs about movement of lower-rung cadre in the forests of Konta bordering East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh, SFs were mobilized towards the region, he said. When the SFs were cordoning off Pusguda forests on Gangraj hills, armed insurgents opened fire on them, triggering a gun-fight between the two sides, the SP said. "During searches, bodies of two Naxals (Left Wing Extremists, LWEs) besides as many muzzle loading guns were recovered from the spot," he said. "The identity of the killed rebels is being ascertained," the SP added.

The Government at the Centre is set to reduce the number of CPI-Maoist affected Districts in the country by about a fifth. A senior UMHA official has said that approximately 20 of the 106 Districts which have been described as being Maoist-affected and are part of the 'Red Corridor' may soon no longer be part of the list. This exercise, under way now for two years, is being done for the first time since 2006, when the Maoist-affected Districts were identified and graded on the basis of their violence profile. The names of the Districts and the reasons for being considered to be taken off the list have been communicated to the States and a response is awaited. Of these, 44 Districts are said to be the worst-affected. India has a total of 683 districts.

July 24

A Policeman who was abducted by the CPI-Maoist cadres on July 4 in Sukma District was released on July 24. The Policeman, Madkam, was abducted while he was on the way to Dornapal from Polampalli on his motorcycle under Polampalli Police Station area on July 4. The Policeman was posted with Polampalli Police Station.

The CCS, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved 12 IRB for LWE-affected States. While four of these IRB will be raised in Chhattisgarh, three each will be raised in Jharkhand and Odisha, and two in Maharashtra. The CCS has also decided that 75 per cent of the Constabulary level posts will be drawn from the 27 Districts that are worst affected by the LWE. To recruit local youths, the government will relax age and educational criteria. The CCS has also allowed the CRPF to raise a 'Bastariya' battalion by recruiting youths from undivided Bastar District. Moreover, two already sanctioned India Reserve battalions will be converted into auxiliary battalions through recruitment of youths from 15 severely Maoist-hit districts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Odisha.

July 25

Twelve CPI-Maoist cadres including two women surrendered before Bastar District Police. They include Bastar area Jan Militia 'commander' and CNM 'commander' of the CPI-Maoist. "All of them were inspired to surrender after learning about the State Government's surrender and rehabilitation policy," said Bastar Police in a press statement. "Monday's surrenders indicate a vanishing Maoist presence in Bastanar and Barsoor areas. All 12 Maoists have serious criminal offences registered against them in different Police Stations of Bastar. Today's surrender has taken the total number of Maoist surrenders to 362 in Bastar District this year," Police said.

July 26

Four CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman, surrendered in Bijapur District. Bijapur SP K.L. Dhruv said that "Of the surrendered members, Jaimati Benjam (24), who was active as special platoon member, was a prominent cadre. She worked in South Bastar and Sunabeda (Odisha) for the banned outfit and was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on her head." Besides, Hemla Sonu (30), a 'militia commander' in Gangaloor 'area committee' of the CPI-Maoist and Lalu Ram Kadti, the deputy head of student unit of Maoists, were also key cadres of the region, he said adding that they were carrying a reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads. The fourth surrendered Maoist was identified as jan militia (people's militia) member Madvi Somdu (32).

July 27

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in a fierce encounter with SF personnel in Sukma District on the eve of "Martyr's week". "The skirmish took place in forests under Polampalli Police Station limits (in south Bastar) between a joint team of security forces and ultras," SP Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

Two CRPF troopers were injured in a pressure bomb blast triggered by the Maoists on an under-construction road in Dantewada District. The incident took place when a team of CRPF personnel was patrolling to ensure security of the under-construction Aranpur (Dantewada)-Jagargunda (Sukma) road which passes through the restive dense forests, under Aranpur Police Station limits, a CRPF official said. When the security men were cordoning-off a patch near Kondapara village, two personnel inadvertently stepped over a pressure IED, triggering the blast. Constables Umashankar and Aman, belonging to CRPF's 231st battalion, were injured in the blast.

July 29

The Chhattisgarh Police arrested two suspects and recovered a massive haul of explosives from them in Bastar District. The recoveries included 1,250 electronic detonators, 1,838 gelatin sticks and 150 kg of ammonium nitrate. Chhattisgarh is on high alert owing to 'Martyrs week'. Commenting on the recovery, S.R.P. Kalluri, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar Range said, "We recovered these items near Nagarnar Police Station area on Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. We received information about the presence of two people with a consignment near the Dhanpunji railway crossing after which forces rushed to the spot." The arrested individuals were identified as Niranjan Das and Durjati Mahangkodo, both residents of Koraput District of Odisha. Senior Police officers said that interrogations have revealed that the explosives were meant for Maoist 'commander' Vinod, who operates in Chandameta area.

July 30

A CoBRA trooper was killed and another injured in an encounter with CPI-Maoist cadres in a dense forest pocket of Sukma District. SFs had undertaken the operation based on specific inputs about the movement of dreaded Maoist 'commander' Hidma with his group in the region. When the CoBRA troopers were patrolling the forest between Ettrajpad and Gachonpally villages, a group of Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on them leading to a heavy gun-battle, Police said. A constable-rank trooper was killed and another injured, a Police official said, adding reinforcement was immediately rushed to the spot.

July 31

SFs recovered powerful 40-kilograms IED, planted by Maoists eight years back in Bastar District on National Highway 63. Acting on input provided by a surrendered Maoist, the explosive, packed in a big steel container, was unearthed from Bastanar valley under Kodenar Police Station limits of the District, Bastar SP R.N. Dash said. Cadre Ramesh, who recently surrendered in Narayanpur District, during interrogation, revealed that a powerful landmine was planted around 1.5 kilometres away from Bastanar Chowk towards Geedam on the highway that connects Jagdalpur to Dantewada and Bijapur District headquarters, he said.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a young man and threw his body on the Gangaloor road in Bijapur District. "The youth was killed with sharp weapons and his body was thrown a km away from a CRPF camp on Gangaloor road. The Maoists also left an envelope near the body," Bastar Range IGP S.R.P. Kalluri said. In a pamphlet recovered from the envelope, the Maoists identified the man as Navin Das Baghel from Nagarnar area of Bastar and accused him of being a "Police agent."

Maoists killed a Sarpanch in Kanker District. The incident took place in Karekarma village under Partapur Police limits. The Sarpanch was murdered in a "peoples' court".

August 1

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SF personnel in the dense forests of Bastar District. "The skirmish took place in the evening restive Chandometa village forests, bordering Odisha, under Darbha Police Station limits of the District when a joint team of security forces was carrying out an anti-naxal operation," IGP, Bastar Range, S.R.P. Kalluri said. Based on specific inputs, composite forces of DRG, STF and District Force had launched the operation on July 27 towards Chandometa forests bordering Odisha's Tulsi village which is considered as a Maoist den, he added.

August 3

Seven CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women, were arrested and explosives recovered from them in Bastar District. The 'Martyrs' week' of the Maoists also came to an end. Based on inputs provided by state intelligence wing and local informers, Police arrested the Maoists from the peripheral area of Chandometa forests under Darbha Police Station limits, Bastar SP R.N. Dash said. The arrested Maoists were identified as Maglal (21), Lakhma (20), Hidma (30), Lakhmuram (25), Rama (35), Lakhmi (20) and Hungi (22). They admitted to being part of Darbha division committee of the Maoists, the SP said, adding three IEDs, about two dozen gelatin rods, detonators, batteries, among other things, were seized from them.

August 4

A group of security personnel had a close shave as CPI-Maoist cadres detonated a powerful IED blast on a densely-forested route in Bijapur District. They exploded landmine between Tarrem-Sarkeguda under Basaguda Police Station limits when a joint team of CRPF and CoBRA team were patrolling the region, a senior Police official said. "The explosion occurred near the patrolling team. However, no injuries or causalities were reported," he added.

A team of CRPF's 222nd battalion recovered two powerful IEDs from Jangla Police Station limits in Bijapur District. A ROP of paramilitary forces was carrying out its operation on Bijapur-Dantewada route, that heads through restive forests, during which they spotted the IEDs near Matwada village, the official said. The explosive weighing 5 kg each were planted to harm SFs.

August 5

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including a woman, were killed during an encounter with the DRG of Chhattisgarh Police under Faraspal Police Station limits in Dantewada District. The exchange of fire took place at around 6 am near Kachegat area on the border of Dantewada and Bijapur District, said Bastar Police in a statement. Two 315 bore revolvers and one country made weapon were found from the encounter spot.

A SHO and four other Policemen came under attack by CPI-Maoist cadres while passing through a dense forest in Sukma District. SHO of Konta Police Station Eman Sahu and four Police troopers were heading for Konta from Sukma when their SUV came under fire near Manikonta village, a senior Police officer said.

A wanted CPI-Maoist cadre, carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on his head, was arrested in Bijapur District. "Padam Mangu, a member of Indravati National Park Area Committee of ultras, was nabbed from his native place Palnar village under Gangaloor Police Station limits," Bijapur SP K.L. Dhruv said. Mangu had arrived at his village to carry out farming activities in the ongoing monsoon season, he added. "He was wanted in as many as 21 cases of criminal offences, including loot, arson, murder and attacks on police party," the officer said.

August 6

CPI-Maoist has called for Bastar bandh on August 6 to protest alleged atrocities committed by the SFs on tribal women and girls. The bandh call has been given by the South Sub-Zonal Bureau of the CPI-Maoist.

August 9

A woman CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with SF personnel in Rajnandgaon District. The skirmish took place on a hill under Kohka Police Station area when a joint team of SFs was carrying out anti-Maoist operation, Rajnandgaon SP Prashant Agrawal said.

August 11

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed during an exchange of fire with SFs personnel in the dense forest of Bastar District. The skirmish took place while a joint team of DRG and STF was conducting anti-Maoist operation in the core jungle of Mardoom Police Station area, Bastar SP R.N. Dash said.

August 12

A group of SF personnel had a narrow escape from a powerful IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. However, no one was injured in the explosion, Police said. The Maoists blew the landmine in the forests under Basaguda Police Station area when a joint team of CRPF, STF and District Force was returning after carrying out a search operation in the region, Police informed.

A separate joint team of SF personnel recovered two powerful IEDs from the under-construction Basaguda (Bijapur) - Jagargunda (Sukma) road. While the SFs were patrolling the route that passes through forest areas, they spotted the IEDs, planted in the ground, between Sarkeguda and Tarrem, a Police official said.

August 13

Two CAF personnel were injured when Naxals attacked them in Narayanpur District. "The Naxals carried out an attack near the 9th battalion of the Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) at Kurrajohar village in Narayanpur District in which two assistant platoon commanders, Vinod Mishra and Narayan Kushawaha, sustained injuries," Chhattisgarh's Special DG for Naxal Operations D. M. Awasthi said.

41 CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the Police in the Narayanpur District. "In a major success of the consistent anti-Maoist campaign, which is underway in Bastar, 41 Maoists including three women from Benur area of Narayanpur decided to leave the path of violence and join the social mainstream on Saturday," said Narayanpur District SP Abhishek Meena.

August 14

Lal Sai (24), a Police Constable, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres at Konde-Markeli village under Manpur Police Station limits in Rajnandgaon District. Sai had joined the Police force after quitting Naxalism and was posted at Manpur Police Station, a senior Police official said. Sai, who was an active cadre of the CPI-Maoist, had surrendered before Police two years back and since then was working as an Assistant Constable with Rajnandgaon Police. He was elevated as Constable in March this year because of his dedication and good work, the official said.

August 15

SFs recovered a powerful IED planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres from Bijapur District while carrying out an area domination exercise in view of the Independence Day celebrations on August 15. The explosive, weighing around 5 kg, was unearthed by a team of CoBRA troopers between Sarkeguda-Tarrem villages under Sarkeguda Police Station limits.

August 16

A hardcore Maoist, who was allegedly involved in blowing up an ambulance killing five CRPF personnel and two civilians during the 2014 Lok Sabha Poll in Bastar District, was killed in an encounter with SFs in the forests of Chandometa under Darbha Police Station limits in Bastar District. He was identified as People's Militia 'commander' Arjun. He was also a member of the Machhkot Local Organisation Squad.

August 17

Four CPI-Maoist cadres including a 'commander-rank' woman cadre were killed while a trooper was injured in an encounter between security personnel and the Maoists in Dantewada District. The skirmish took place in the wee hours in the restive Dabba-Kunna hills when a joint team of CRPF, DRG and STF was out on an anti-Maoist operation.

August 18

A Police Constable, Adityasharan Pratap Singh, who had suffered injuries during an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres in Dantewada District on August 17, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Raipur.

Trucks parked in the outskirts of Bacheli town in Dantewada District were set ablaze by a group of CPI-Maoist cadres.

August 19

A powerful IED was found in Narayanpur District ahead of Lok Sabha Member Dinesh Kashyap's visit to the region. A joint ROP of ITBP and Police was on a patrol to sanitise the road which connects Kondagaon and Narayanpur District headquarters in view of the visit of Kashyap, the BJP MP from Bastar constituency, a senior Police official said.

Nine people, said to be the sympathisers of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Police in Kondagaon District. According to Kondagaon District SP Santosh Singh, all nine surrendered Maoist supporters had warrants issued against them for serious offences of Maoist violence. The surrendered Maoist supporters include Shanti Retma, Sanjay Yadav, Bharat Mansay, Fuldhar Kande, Sanjay Halami, Lachchuram Yadav, Gagara Netam, Kunti Netam and Sukhdev Pakhalu.

August 20

A railway line in Dantewada District was damaged by the CPI-Maoist cadres following which two engines and 14 wagons of a goods train derailed, Police said. "The Naxals damaged railway line near Pujapara Dhurli village following which two engines and 14 wagons of a goods train which was on its way to Kirandul from Visakhapatnam derailed," Police officials said.

August 21

A CPI-Maoist 'people's militia commander' identified as Kudiam Pandu carrying cash reward of INR 10,000 on his head was injured in an exchange of fire with SFs personnel in Nukanpal forests under Basaguda Police Station limits of Bijapur District. Pandu sustained bullet injuries on his shoulder in the exchange of fire, PRO of CRPF, V V N Prasanna, said.

August 23

Two Maoists, identified as Jagat (30) and Ramnath Sodi (30), were arrested from Kudur and Nahkanar areas of Kondagaon District respectively. While Jagat was active as the head of Janatana Sarkar wing of the CPI-Maoist in Kudur, Sodhi belonged to people's militia.

August 24

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with SF personnel in Sukma District. The skirmish took place near Ponga Bhejji village when a joint team of STF and District Force was out on an anti-Maoist operation in Dornapal Police Station area, SP Indira Kalyan Elesela said. "During searches, the body of a male Maoist clad in a 'uniform' was recovered along with one automatic pistol and one muzzle loading gun," the SP added. The identity of the Maoist is yet to be established.

August 25

Chhattisgarh Police said they have arrested a senior CPI-Maoist cadre who had abducted the IAS officer Alex Paul Menon from Sukma District in 2012. "Bheema alias Akash, a DVC leader of Maoists who was carrying a reward of Rs. 8 lakh on his head, was yesterday nabbed by a special wing of the state intelligence branch," Special DGP (anti-Maoist operations) D. M. Awasthi said. A covert counter-insurgency operation by SIB in Bastar District led to arrest of Bheema. During the interrogation Bheema revealed that he was directed by the Maoist leader 'Erra' to abduct Menon from Manjhipara where the Collector was to meet villagers on April 21, 2012. "A 16-member team of Naxals led by Bheema was camping close to Manjhipara from April 19. They had decided that if seven or eight gunmen accompanied the collector, then the abduction plan would be dropped," added the officer.

Two women Maoists carrying cash rewards of INR 900,000 on their heads were arrested in Narayanpur District. "Those arrested were identified as Sonay Potai, 32, associated with military wing of Maoists and Soni Potai, an area committee member," Narayanpur ASP Anil Soni said.

A woman Maoist 'deputy commander', carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on her head, surrendered before Narayanpur District Police. Phulo Salaam turned herself in citing disillusionment with the "hollow" ideology of the CPI-Maoist and their wrong policies.

August 26

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed one of their supporters after producing him before a jan adalat in Sukma District. The Maoists were unhappy with the victim, Sandeep Kumar Rathore, for abandoning their cause, a Police officer said. "Rathore was this evening shot dead by armed rebels in the forests near Mukram nullah under Chintalnar Police Station limits," S.R.P. Kalluri, IGP (Bastar Range) said. "As per records, he was a staunch supporter of Maoists but for the last few months he had started distancing himself from the banned outfit. He had joined the mainstream and was leading a normal life," the IGP added.

One CRPF trooper was injured in a pressure bomb blast triggered by the Maoists in the dense forest in Sukma District. "The incident took place at around 1 pm when a team of paramilitary was out on an anti-Maoist operation in Chintagufa Police Station area," SP Indira Kalyan Elesela said. "Constable Sachin belonging to CRPF's 150th battalion sustained serious injuries on his legs," the officer said.

August 28

A joint team of SF personnel killed a CPI-Maoist cadre during an encounter in Chandometa forest of Bastar District. Acting on a specific input about the presence of Maoist commanders Vinod and Sanju along with 20 cadres in the area, an operation was launched last evening by the composite squad of DRG and STF, IGP, Bastar Range, S.R.P. Kalluri said.

Four Maoists, two of them allegedly involved in the recent attack on the vehicle of a SHO, were arrested from separate places in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh. While three Maoists were arrested by a joint team of SFs from Sukma District, another was arrested from Kondagaon District, Police said. The composite squad of CRPF, STF and DRG arrested the Maoists Madkam Deva (33), Madvi Ganga (36) and Muchaki Kosa (39) while carrying out a search operation in south Sukma, ASP Jitendra Shukla said. Of them, Deva and Kosa, natives of Errabor Police Station area, were allegedly involved in the attack on the vehicle of the SHO of Konta Police Station in Sukma on August 5, he said. Ganga was active as the head of DAKMS- a frontal outfit of the CPI-Maoist, in the region whereas Deva was a member of this outfit, the ASP said, adding Kosa was wanted in Maoist-related incidents, including attacks on Police party and abduction. In a separate incident, a Janmilitia cadre Pilaji (35) was arrested from Tumdiwal village forests under Mardapal Police Station limits of Kondagaon by a joint team of DRG and local Police, officials said. A hardcore member of Bedma Janmilitia group, Pilaji was allegedly involved in several Maoists incidents in the region, Police said.

August 30

A top CPI-Maoist who was LOS member of Maoist Rowghat Area Committee and carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on his head, surrendered before SIB in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh. "The ultra identified as Satter alias Mangel alias Bharat Gavde who in past was the platoon commander of Naxal platoon number 23 was impressed with the surrender policy adopted by the Chhattisgarh Government and hence decided to join the mainstream of development," SP, SIB, Sundarraj P said. According to the Police, Satter (32), a resident of Alanar village under Amabeda Police Station of Kanker District had joined Naxal cadre in 2003. He had also worked as the member of 'Bal Sangham' the children unit of Maoists in 2002. Satter was involved in blowing up of a CISF vehicle in 2008 at Balod wherein three SF personnel were killed and their weapons were also looted, the SP said.

Disillusioned with the Maoist ideology, two Maoists -- a reward-carrying senior cadre who was involved in a major attack on Policemen in 2007, and a minor girl cadre -- surrendered in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The cadres, one of them a 'commander'-rank cadre, turned themselves in before Bijapur ASP at the district headquarters, Mohit Garg. Sukhram Gota (24) was a hardcore Maoist and active as militia 'platoon commander' of Edapalli national park area unit of the CPI-Maoist, he said. Gota was allegedly involved in several deadly Maoist-related incidents, including the attack on Ranibodli Police outpost in Bijapur in 2007 in which 55 Policemen were killed, Garg said, adding that he was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head. The other cadre - a 17-year-old girl -- worked as a member of CNM, cultural wing of the Maoists, in Gangaloor area of the District, he added.

September 1

One CRPF constable, who got severely injured during an anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh few days back, succumbed to his injuries at AIIMS in New Delhi. Constable Sachin Kumar (27) of the Paramilitary Force was airlifted to the AIIMS trauma centre after he was injured in an IED blast in the Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on August 26. "Kumar succumbed to his IED splinter injuries at about 8:40 AM today. He was brought to AIIMS on August 29 on an air ambulance from state capital Raipur. In AIIMS, his right leg was amputated but his condition kept deteriorating," a senior official said.

September 2

Three alleged cadres of the CPI-Maoist surrendered to the Police in Bijapur District of south Chhattisgarh. "After being fed up with the Maoist lifestyle and the hollow ideology, three Maoists - Sannu Lekam, Bomda Kunjam and Chaitu Udka - decided to join the mainstream today in the presence of Bijapur district SP K. L. Dhruv. Sannu Lekam was a 'Jan Militia commander' of the Maoists in Nemed area and carried a reward of one lakh rupees on his head," the Bijapur Police said in a statement. Bomda Kunjam was a 'militia member' and Chaitu Udka was a member of the Maoists' small action team, the Police added.

September 3

As many as seventeen Naxal including two women cadres, surrendered before Police in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. "One of the female surrendering ultras was a CNM member which is banned outfit. She carried a cash reward of ` 1 lakh on her head," SP Bastar, RN Dash said. A Naxal LOS 'commander' who was operating in the Niyamgiri region of neighboring Odisha District was also among the persons surrendering, the SP added. "They were deeply unsatisfied with the dual standards adopted by Naxals and also were under the pressure of anti-Naxal operations being carried out by police forces'', he added. He informed the cadres who surrendered were residents of Bodavada, Badhanpal, Govindpal, Badhrimau villages which are located near Darbha valley of Bastar region. According to the SP, they were involved in different kinds of Naxal activities. The rebels who have given up arms will be provided with benefits provisioned under the surrender policy adopted by the state government, he mentioned.

September 4

As many as 38 Naxals, including seven women cadres, surrendered in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh, citing 'empty' CPI-Maoist ideology and 'wrong policies'. "Citing frustration with empty Maoist ideology and their wrong policies, the ultras turned up before senior Police and ITBP officials at Narayanpur District headquarters," said Narayanpur SP, Abhishek Meena. Among the cadres was Punaye Bai (40), who was active as the head of DAKMS in the region and was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on her head, he said. Most of the surrendered Naxals are lower rung ultras allegedly involved in murder, loot and attacks on the Police. "In their statement, the ultras said they decided to quit the movement due to growing pressure on Naxals from security personnel, wrong policies and empty ideology of the Maoists," the SP said.

September 6

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in the dense forests of the Sukma District. The skirmish took place when a team of the DRG led by Dornapal SHO, Ajay Sonkar, was out an anti-Maoist operation in Dornapal Police Station area, Sukma SP, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. A group of Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the team near Koyabekur village following which an encounter broke out between both the sides, he said. Meda Benjami alias Kukkal Mada, head of Janatana Sarkar of Maoists in Kerlapal area, was killed in the encounter, Elesela said, adding the deceased was looking after Naxal activities in about 10 villages of the region. A muzzle loading gun and some ammunition was recovered from the spot, he said.

September 7

A former deputy sarpanch was killed by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres on the suspicion of being a 'Police informer' in Mahasamund District. Khejan Sonwani (45) was shot dead late last night at his house in Khairat Kala village under Komakhan Police Station limits, Mahasamund ASP, Rakesh Bhatt said. Three armed ultras stormed into his house in Khairat Kala and pumped bullets into Sonwani, he said. The assailants had dropped some pamphlets in which they claimed Sonwani was acting as a mediator in tendu leaf procurement in forests of Chhattisgarh-Odisha border and siphoned off money in the deals, the ASP said. Besides, they also claimed that the victim was acting as a 'Police informer', he added.

Two Maoists were killed in an encounter with Police in the dense forests in the Bijapur District. "The encounter took place this afternoon near Telmendri village under Farsegarh Police Station limits between a joint team of Police personnel and the ultras," IGP, Bastar Range, SRP Kalluri said. A team comprising personnel from Kutru and Farsegarh Police Stations were conducting an anti-Maoist operation in the core forest of the region, located around 450 kilometres away from Raipur, the IG said.

September 8

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from forests in the Bijapur District. The rebels were arrested during a search operation by a joint team of CRPF's 168th battalion and District Police in forests of Basaguda. According to Police, the SFs reached near Putkel when they spotted three Maoists and were caught under suspicion. They admitted that they were involved in several violent activities, including loot, extortion and other incidents, in the region. The arrested rebels were identified as Venkteshwar Pujari, Erragola Laxmaiyya and Balram, natives of Putkel village.

SFs defused a tiffin bomb recovered near Tongpal region in Bastar District. The bomb disposal squad diffused the bomb while SF personnel recovered one detonator, one set of tool box, Maoist literature and other stuff from the spot.

72 Maoist cadres and their sympathisers surrendered before the Police in Narayanpur District in the tribal Bastar region. Among them were 62 Maoists and their 10 grass root level supporters, belonging to remote villages of Abujmarh, surrendered before Police and ITBP. Three of them were active LGS members, eight are members of Maoists' cultural wing CNM and four are Janatana Sarkar group members. Besides, 45 others were associated with the outlawed movement as Jan militia members. Narayanpur ASP, Anil Soni said the rebels themselves turned up at Kurushnar Police Station to surrender claiming being fed up with the Maoist way of life and violence and want to return to mainstream. He said one of the main reasons for Maoists surrendering was the pressure being mounted by the SFs coupled with the attractive surrender and rehabilitation policy of the State Government. He also said those surrendered would be entitled for rehabilitation as per the policy. Soni also told that some of them were involved in several incidents of murder, arson and attacks on SFs.

September 9

Four IEDs planted by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres were recovered by the SFs from Sukma District. A joint team of CRPF's 217 battalion and District Force recovered the explosives under Maraiguda Police Station limits while patrolling to ensure security to the under construction Maraiguda-Golapalli road, Sukma SP, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. SFs had launched the operation from Maraiguda towards Golapalli, and about six-kilometres away from Maraiguda, they spotted the first explosive placed in a steel container, hidden about 20 metres beneath the ground on the under-construction road in the forests. Subsequently, three more IEDs recovered close to the spot, he said. The explosives were weighed between five to 10 kilograms, he added. Later, the IEDs were destroyed by the bomb disposal squad.

September 12 Five CPI-Maoist cadres, who were allegedly involved in setting fire on vehicles engaged in a road construction last year, were arrested from Bijapur District. Acting on specific inputs, the Maoists were arrested from the forests of Rampuram village under the Bhopalpatnam Police Station area by a team of local Police, SP of Bijapur, K.L. Dhruv said. The arrested cadres, Ramesh Durgam (22), Ishtari Durgam (25), Santosh Jhadi (27), Rapur Mahesh (34) and Jhadi Satyanarayan (26), are lower rung members of the CPI-Maoist, he said. On October 25, 2015, at least 37 vehicles and machines engaged in the construction of the Bhopalpatnam-Bhadrakali-Tarlaguda road, were set ablaze by the Maoists at three different locations. The accused were allegedly part of Maoists' squad that set afire the vehicles at a location in Bhopalpatnam, the SP said.
September 15

A CPI-Maoist cadre, carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, was arrested from Bijapur District. Midiam Raja (28) was arrested by a joint team of SFs during a search operation in the forest under Basaguda Police Station limits, Bijapur, ASP, Mohit Garg said. SF personnel had launched the operation in Basaguda region, since September 14. While cordoning-off the forest close to Polampalli village, they arrested the rebel who was trying to escape, he said. Raja was allegedly involved in cases of attempt to murder.

A joint team of ITBP and District Police detected a pipe bomb that was planted by Maoists in Khandgaon Police Station limits in Rajnandgaon District. According to the Police, the joint team of ITBP and District Police had started from Khandgaon Police Station on a search operation. The team detected a pipe bomb planted by Maoists on the way leading to Godavari mine from Dorba. The bomb weighing about 10 kilograms was planted by Maoists was defused by BDS team, Police said.

September 16

A CoBRA trooper was injured during an encounter with CPI-Maoist in a dense forest of Sukma District. The skirmish took place in Karigundam forests under Chintagufa Police Station limits while a team of CoBRA 206th battalion was returning after carrying out an area domination operation in the region, SP of Sukma, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. SFs had launched the operation from its Timilwada camp to the interiors of Chintagufa. The trooper, identified as head constable Uday Narayan, sustained bullet injury on his stomach, the SP said.

September 17

The District Police arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres, including the head of a local outfit, during a search in Kuinar village in Narayanpur District. One of the arrested Maoists had a reward of INR 100,000 on him. According to Police, a team of officers did a search operation in Akabeda, Kastoormeta, Kodkanar and Kuinar jungles, in Abujhmaad. While returning, the soldiers found two suspects hidden in Kuinar jungle. They surrounded and captured them. The Maoists were identified as Nani Kunjam (40), president of local Maoist group Nana Koram, and Motu Koram (37). A large haul of guns, a two kilograms tiffin bomb and 200 meters of electrical wire was also confiscated from the Maoists.

To protest against the killings of innocent by the Maoists, students, activists, local organizations and Bastar residents took part in 'Lalkar rally' organised in Jagdalpur city in Bastar District. The protest march started from Hata ground and after passing through prominent streets culminated at the same place with large number of people joining in from neighbouring Districts. The march was convened by AGNI - an organisation spearheading anti-Maoists protest in the region for past few months.

September 18

A female Maoist, carrying a cash reward of INR 500,000 on her head, was arrested by Police from Dantewada District. "The ultra identified as Lakke alias Lakkhe (28) resident of Permapara Burgum under Aranpur police station, was rounded up on the basis of information provided by intelligence agencies," ASP of Dantewada (Naxal operations) Gorakhnath Baghel said. According to Baghel, the arrested female Maoist was associated with the CPI-Maoist for past 14 years and had served at various Maoist key posts like 'area committee member'/ 'Jantana Sarkar President' and similar other. "She was part of Naxal area committee in Malangir region and was involved in executing various major Naxal incidents and executing tribal civilians after holding 'Jan Adalat'," the APS said. Lakke used to provide ground support to senior Naxal leaders like members of DKSZC. She used to keep the information about the movement of Police Forces in her region and used to pass the Intel to Naxal leaders, the ASP mentioned.

September 19

Five Maoists including those involved in murder of scribe Sai Reddy in Bijapur District of Bastar region were arrested during an operation carried out by SFs. The Maoists arrested from the District were identified as Punem Gandhi (28), Dodi Chaitu (32), Kakem Lakhmu (28), Punem Lachhu (28) and Dodi Aytu (40), ASP of Bijapur, Mohit Garg, said, while adding that they were arrested by a joint team of CRPF's 168th battalion and District Force from the forests of Basaguda Police Station. According to the ASP, they all are natives of Korsaguda village of Basaguda. "Gandhi, Lakhmu, Lachhu and Chaitu were involved in the murder of the journalist Sai Reddy that had happened on December 6, 2013, near Taliperu of Basaguda," the ASP said. Another cadre Aytu, who was a Janmilitia member, was wanted in two Maoist related cases, the ASP said. Besides, they were involved in multiple offences, including murder, attempt to murder, attacks on Police party and others, he added.

Six Maoists were arrested from Narayanpur District of Bastar region. The six Maoist militia members identified as Bhagtu Ram, Sonu Korram, Ramlal Yadav, Bulku Korram, Pohlu Korram and Raju Korram were arrested from Chhotedongar Police Station area of the District. These rebels tried to scare a composite squad of STF and District Force while it was patrolling in Toyameta forests of the region by bursting crackers. They then tried to escape from the spot but Police personnel arrested them, ASP of Narayanpur, Anil Soni, said. They were members of Kilam Janmilitia group of the CPI-Maoist and were allegedly involved in arranging meetings for their senior leader, providing meals and extending other kinds of assistance to them, he added.

September 20

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including a couple who were allegedly involved in 2010 Tadmetla incident in which 76 SF personnel were killed, surrendered before Chhattisgarh's SIB in Raipur. "The Naxals turned themselves in expressing their desire to lead a normal family life and at the same time cited disappointment with Maoist policy," SDGP (Anti-Naxal operations/ SIB) DM Awasthi said. Of them, a 'section Commander' of Naxal Military Battalion number 1, Jhitru alias Jittu (27) and his wife Sapka Pojje (23) who was also a member of the same military battalion, were key cadres of the CPI-Maoist in south Bastar, he said.

Jittu was allegedly involved in the tragic Tadmetla (now in Sukma district) ambush attack which Maoists had orchestrated in April 2010, in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed, the SDGP said. He was also the part of Naxal team that had ambushed a CRPF searching party at Kasalpada in Chintagufa area in December 2014, killing 14 paramilitary jawans. Likewise, Sapka was allegedly involved in Tadmetla incident and other Maoist attacks, he said, adding the duo carried a cash reward of INR 800,000 each on their heads. A native of Bijapur District, Jittu had joined Naxal organisation in 2005, while he was a student of class 8th in a tribal ashram school. He had worked as a bodyguard of prominent Naxal leaders Ramanna, a 'Central Committee Member' of Maoists, and Hidma, a Special Zonal Committee Member.

One woman Maoist, Shyam Bati alias Laxmi (28), who was active as Sitanadi Area Committee member, was another among surrendered before Chhattisgarh's SIB in Raipur. Laxmi's husband, who was also a Maoist cadre, had recently surrendered before SIB. They all will be ensured facilities under Surrender and Rehabilitation policy of the State Government, the SDGP added.

A Maoist couple, involved in major incidents of Naxal violence in tribal Bastar region, surrendered before Chhattisgarh Police, claiming that they were fed up with rebel way of life. SDGP (Anti-Naxal operations) Durgesh Madhav Awasthy said that Shayamvati alias Laxmi Usendi and her husband Sariyyu alias Sanjay (28), who were active in Mainpur-Nuapara region close to State's inter-State border with Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, gave up arms to return to mainstream of the society. He said the woman Maoist was the CPI-Maoist Saitanadi 'area committee member' while her husband was also an 'area committee member' and 'commander' of the rebel outfit.

September 21

A DRG jawan was killed and two others were injured in an encounter with CPI-Maoist in the interior forests of Kondagaon District. The encounter took place while a joint team of DRG and District Force was carrying out an anti-Naxal operation in the forests of Mardapal Police Station area, IGP (Bastar Range), SRP Kalluri said. SFs had been conducting the operation based on specific inputs about the movement of ultras in restive Ranapal and Kudur area of Mardapal. While they were cordoning off a forest pocket close to Kudur village, a group of armed rebels opened indiscriminate fire on them, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire, he said. According to the IGP, the Naxals are unhappy with the construction of a bridge on a river near Kudur that connects Kondagaon to Abhujmarh region (considered a Maoist bastion) and therefore they often target SFs in this area.

A CoBRA jawan, who was critically injured in an encounter with the Maoists in Sukma District last week, succumbs to his injuries in Raipur. Head Constable Uday Narayan Goud (41), belonging to CRPF's specialised unit CoBRA 206th battalion, succumbed this morning at Ramkrishna Care Hospital in Raipur, a CRPF official said. The jawan had sustained bullet injuries in his stomach during the gun-battle with ultras which took place in the restive Karigundam forests under Chintagufa Police Station limits of Sukma on September 16 while they were returning after an area domination operation in the region.

September 22

Two SF personnel were injured in an IED blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The incident took place when a joint team of STF and District Forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation in Madded Police Station area, ASP of Bijapur, Mohit Garg said. The composite squad had launched the operation from Madded. When they reached near Gorna rivulet, the rebels detonated an IED and opened indiscriminate fire on the SFs leading to a gun-battle, he said. However, rebels soon fled the spot on finding SF personnel zeroing on them, Garg said, adding, "Two jawans sustained injuries in the explosion and were airlifted to Raipur for treatment." Those injured were assistant constable Sadanandam Dhannur and secret trooper Abhaiyya Jabba. SFs have launched a combing operation in the region to arrest the attackers, he said.

Police recovered arms, ammunition and other items following an encounter with LWEs in Chhuikhadan region of Rajnandgaon District. "We had received intelligence inputs about the movement of Maoists in the area bordering Maharashtra. Accordingly, an anti-insurgency operation was launched from Chhuikhadan police station," SHO Chhuikhadan Inspector Santram Soni informed. According to the SHO, the operation was launched on September 20 and the Police force while covering Devarcha, Chatrela Kukripat villages was searching a forested hilly terrain between Budhanbhata and Kukripat villages on September 22. Around 1.30 pm, the Police party confronted Maoists in the forested patch and both sides engaged in gun battle. The intermittent firing from both sides lasted for about half-an-hour after which the rebels disappeared in the jungle, SHO Soni said. While searching the spot, Police found 315 bore rifle, 12 bore bullets, solar plates, 12 bolt battery, radio, camera flash, wireless chargers, wire, bag packs, multi-meter and other items of daily use, he said.

September 24

Two cadres of CPI-Maoist were gunned down in the Bastar District. "An exchange of fire with Maoists took place in the early hours of the day in the reserve forests near Sanguel village under the Burgam police station limits. It lasted for one hour, during which our forces, comprising the DRG, District force, the CAF, retaliated promptly. After the general search of the area, two bodies of male Maoists were recovered with one 12 bore and one SBML rifle," said a statement issued by SP of Bastar, R.N. Das and circulated by IGP of Bastar range, Shiv Ram Prasad Kalluri. The SFs also recovered explosives, detonators, pipe bombs, codex wire, backpacks, magazine pouch, battery and wires from the spot of the gunfight.

September 25

A top CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs in a forested patch of Bijapur District. "A joint team of police personnel from Kutru police station and DRG led by SHO Yugal Kishore Naag was undertaking an anti-Naxal operation in Bedre region, SP of Bijapur, KL Dhruv said. Suddenly, a group of armed Maoists that was hiding in the jungle opened indiscriminate fire on the Police team, he said. Police forces retaliated and soon the Naxals finding themselves losing the gunfight fled from the spot, he mentioned. Later on, while searching the encounter spot, the body of a Maoist along with one 12 bore gun, two muzzle loading guns, one hand-grenade, 25-30 live rounds of ammunition of 12 Bore gun, and a huge cache of explosives and daily uses items, was recovered, the SP said. Police said the deceased has been identified as Kitta Majji alias Aaytu (26), resident of Farsegarh and member of Moist military platoon number 2 active in National Park area and the Government had declared a cash reward of INR 200,000 on his head.

September 26

Two Maoists 'commanders' were killed in a separate encounter in Narayanpur District. "In a stunning blow to the Naxal organisation, two commanders - Tirupati and Lokesh of the PLGA (CPI-Maoists' military wing) Company No.6 - were killed in an encounter with the DRG in the forest of Banspal-Toinar of Narayanpur district," said SP of Narayanpur, Abhishek Meena in a statement. The deceased Maoists were identified as Tirupati alias Akash, a resident of Madded area in Bijapur District, and Lokesh alias Ramesh, a resident of Tiraknar under Dhaurai Police Station. Drag marks and blood spots near the encounter site indicated that more than six Naxals were killed or injured in the encounter but other Naxals managed to flee with dead bodies in the forest. Weapons and other Naxal items were also recovered during the search.

September 27

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SFs in Sukma District. "The encounter took place early this morning in the dense forest of Fulbagdi Police Station area while a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation," SP of Sukma, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. Composite squad of DRG, CAF and local Police had launched the operation in the interiors of Fulbagdi, based on specific inputs, he said. About 8 kilometres away from the Police Station, an exchange of fire broke out between both the sides after rebels opened fire on SFs, the SP said, adding, rebels soon managed to flee the spot taking the cover of dense forest. "During search of the area, bodies of two male Maoists, beside a muzzle loading gun and one 315 bore gun were recovered from the spot," he added. The identity of the ultras will be ascertained once the patrol party will return to its camp, the SP said.

One Maoist was killed in Kondagaon District of Bastar region. "An encounter took place somewhere near Khodesanar and Ahkali forest under Mardapal police station limits today morning. A joint anti-Maoist operation involving the DRG and district force led by inspector Jai Sahu and the ITBP was on in the area. The composite party had gone (to the area) on some specific input about the presence of a small group of Naxals. The group of armed Naxals opened indiscriminate fire on the security forces which retaliated in self-defence. During the search of the encounter site, a dead body of a male Maoist in the black uniform was recovered along with a 12 bore SBML rifle. Efforts are on to identify the dead Naxal," said Santosh Singh, SP of Kondagaon, in a statement made available to media.

A jawan of STF was stabbed by CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The injured jawan was admitted to a hospital and provided medical treatment.

Two Maoists, identified as Hemla (35) and Mangal Punem (25), were arrested by a joint team of CRPF and District Force from the forest of Duwalipara village under Gangaloor Police Station limits of Bijapur District. The two were allegedly involved in multiple offences, including attempt to murder, triggering blast on Police party, loot and others, a Police official said.

September 28

Three women CPI-Maoist cadres, including a 'commander', were killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in Sukma District. The face-off took place between a joint team of SF personnel and rebels in the forests of Gadiras Police Station area, SP of Sukma, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. "We had specific inputs about presence of an armed group of Maoists near village Bade Satti in Gadiras area. So, along with CRPF's 195th battalion and CoBRA's 206th battalion, a team of local Police led by SHO, Gadiras Police Station Mohsin Khan besides two assistant commandants of paramilitaries launched a search operation in the area," he said. The SFs were approaching the interior village, when it came under heavy fire from a squad of the Maoists. The Police retaliated, killing the three extremists while the others fled following an hour long skirmish, Elesela said. During the search, bodies of the three women Maoists along with one muzzle loading gun, one country made revolver, pipe bombs, detonators and several other items were recovered from the spot, he added. "One of the killed ultras has been identified as Bade Satti LOS Commander Anju while the identity of the others is being ascertained," the SP said. Five Maoists, who were allegedly involved in setting fire on vehicles engaged in a road construction last year, were arrested from the jungles of Kuchnur under Bhopalpatnam Police Station area in Bijapur District. Masa Ram Michha (29), Wasam Suresh (30), Kola Mutta (38), Ramaiyya Pottam (36) and Sanjay Mandal (26), all lower-rung members of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested from the limits of Bhopalpatnam Police Station, he said. On October 25, 2015, at least 37 vehicles and machines engaged in the construction of Bhopalpatnam Bhadrakali Tarlaguda road, were set ablaze by ultras at three different locations, the official said, adding that all the five were allegedly involved in the incident.

September 29

A DRG jawan was killed and two others were injured in an IED blast triggered by Maoists in Narayanpur District. The incident took place when a ROP of DRG was crossing the Karel Valley in Narayanpur Police Station area, a senior Police official said. The patrolling was being conducted to ensure security in the region ahead of a public grievances redressal camp to be held at Akabeda village fall in Abujhmadh area. Scheduled as per the demand of villagers, the redressal camp was to be attended by Narayanpur Collector and SP to hear the grievances of villagers, the official said. The SF personnel proceeded for the operation from Narayanpur District headquarters and when they reached the Karel Valley close, Maoists triggered the blast following which an exchange of fire broke out, the official said, adding that rebels soon fled into dense forest. "Assistant constable Puran Potai was killed in the blast while two others sustained minor injuries," he added. Another Police officer said Maoist had been opposing the public grievances redressal camp.

A lower rung CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in a dense forest of Sukma District. The skirmish took place when a joint team of SFs was out on a search operation in Konta Police Station area, SP of Sukma, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. Acting on specific input about the presence of armed Maoists in the forests near Neelamadgu and Velpochha villages, a composite team of personnel, comprising DRG, STF and local Police, launched a combing operation in the region, located around 500 kilometres from Raipur, he said. The SF personnel were advancing into Neelamadgu village, when they came under heavy fire from a squad of the Maoists. The Police retaliated, killing a Maoist while the others fled using forest as cover following an hour-long gun battle, he added. During search, the body of a Maoist, a muzzle loading gun and several other items were recovered from the spot, Elsela said. "The killed Maoist has been identified as Madkam Hunga, a member of Konta LOS," he said.

September 30

A CPI-Maoist cadre, who was an expert in planting IEDs, was killed by SFs in Sukma District. The encounter took place when a joint team of SF personnel was conducting an anti-Maoist operation in a forest under Maraiguda Police Station limits, SP of Sukma, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. "The Maoist was identified as Sodi Ganga, a jan militia commander, who was a key person for planting IEDs on Maraiguda-Gollapalli road which had caused harm to our security forces several times in the past," he said.

A CoBRA jawan was injured in a pressure bomb blast, laid by Maoists, in Bijapur District. The incident took place while a team of CoBRA's 204th battalion was carrying out patrolling under Basaguda Police Station limits, a CRPF official said. SFs were out on the operation to ensure security to Basaguda-Tarrem under-construction road, located around 450 kilometres from Raipur. While they were cordoning off a forested patch near Tarrem, a jawan inadvertently stepped over the pressure IED connection, triggering the blast that left him injured, he said.

October 1

Suspecting three villagers to be acting as 'Police informers', cadres of the CPI-Maoist abducted them from their home, took them to the forest and later slit their throats in Kanker District of Bastar division. A group of nearly 20-25 armed Maoists entered Hurrapinjori village in Amabeda region and knocked on the doors of three tribal villagers. The rebels dragged them out of the house, thrashed and kicked them and took them to neighbouring village while the families pleaded Maoists to show mercy. Later, in the morning, the bodies of three villagers were found with their throats slit on the road and locals informed the Police. Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kanker, ML Motwani said that the three innocent tribals were killed as they were suspected to be 'Police informers'. They were identified as Jain Kumar (22), Anturam Hurra (24) and Manakram Hurra (24). According to the statement given by locals, the rebels who led the group of Maoists were 'divisional committee member' Ramesh and Charagaon LOS 'commander' Sonu.

As many as 13 lower rung Maoists were arrested from Narayanpur District in Bastar division. The cadres were rounded up from forest of Keelam village under Chhote Dongar Police Station, said a senior Police official. Acting on specific inputs that Maoists had convened a meeting in Keelam area, joint team of STF and District Forces had launched a search operation, he said. While cordoning off the interior forests, SFs arrested 13 suspects, who later admitted to their involvement with the CPI-Maoist as lower rank cadres, he claimed. Those arrested were identified as Manher Mandavi, Manaru Mandavi, Manku Mandavi, Patturam Bhori, Mander Kashyap, Bhaniram Kashyap, Jhagdu Ram Korram, Fulder Kashyap, Ramsingh Kashyap, Sukman Korram, Budhuram Watti, Motiram Korram and Bogaram Mandavi, all militia and Jantana Sarkar-rank members. Of them, Patturam was also heading DAKMS, a frontal wing of Maoists in Keelam area, the official said, adding that he was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head. They all were involved in incidents like attempt to murder, loot, arson and torching vehicles in the region, he added.

October 2

One cadre of the CPI-Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in Kondagaon District. The face-off between rebels and a joint team of SFs took place near the jungles of Chheri village, SP of Kondagaon, Santosh Singh said. A small party of Forces comprising CAF and local Police was undertaking a search operation in the interiors of Bayanar. While they were advancing into jungles of Chheri, SFs came under heavy fire from a group of Maoists to which they retaliated in self-defence, he said. However, the rebels soon escaped from the place. During search, the body of a Maoist clad in 'uniform', a pistol with loaded magazine and many other items were recovered from the spot, the SP said. The patrol parties have safely reached back to camps, he said adding that identity of the killed Maoist was being ascertained.

Chhattisgarh Police arrested six Maoists in a raid in Bijapur District, while 25 Maoists, including six women, surrendered before the Police and the Forests Minister in the District. The Police, in a search operation, arrested six Maoists after chasing them in a forest close to Chillamraka village in Bijapur District. Upon interrogation, it was found that they were involved in several crimes. In another incident, 25 Maoists, including six women, influenced by the state-run surrender and rehabilitation policy for Maoists, surrendered before Forests Minister Mahesh Gagda. The 25 Maoists were members of the Jan Militia group.

One Maoist carrying an INR 500,000 reward on his head surrendered before the Police in Rajnandgaon District. The cadre identified as Suresh Kumar Minj (27), who functioned as an 'area committee member' under Kutul area committee of Maoists turned himself in citing disappointment with the Maoist ideology and their violent activities, SP of Rajnandgaon, Prashant Agrawal said. Minj also used to look after Janatana Sarkar school wing of Maoists, he added. According to the SP, a native of Sendawadih village under Sitagaon Police Station area of Rajnandgaon, Minj had studied till Class 7 in Raigarh District of the State at his maternal grandfather's place.

October 4

Three cadres of the CPI-Maoist, one of them carrying a cash reward on his head, were arrested in Bijapur District. The cadres were arrested by a joint team of CoBRA and local Police from Kottaguda forest under Basaguda Police Station limits, SP of Bijapur, KL Dhruv, said. SFs had on October 3, launched an anti-Maoist operation to the interior villages- Pakela, Gaganpalli, Gundam, Kottaguda, Chinnagelur and Peddageular of Basaguda region of the District, he said. While they were approaching towards Kottaguda forests, three suspects who were trying to escape from the place were arrested after a short chase, he said. Those arrested were identified as Kadti Laxmaiya alias Samaiya (35), Punem Manglu (35), and Semla Pojja (21). Of them, Laxmaiya who was active as the head of DAKMS was a prominent cadre in the region, Dhruv said adding that he was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head. Similarly, Manglu was tasked to collect ration from villagers for Maoists while Pojja was excel in planting IEDs, he added. Moreover, all were allegedly involved in incidents of attempt to murder and loot in the region, the SP said.

As many as 57 Maoists and 297 sympathisers surrendered before the Police in Sukma District. "Altogether 57 Maoist cadres and 297 sympathisers turned themselves in before the government, police and CRPF officials at Sukma district headquarters. Seventeen of these 57 Maoists were carrying a cash reward on their heads," SP of Sukma, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. Seventeen Maoists surrendered along with firearms, he said. "Cadres are getting increasingly fed up with violent Maoist activities and want to see development in their area," the SP said. He described the move as a good indicator in the conflict-ridden Bastar region. The Maoist supporters belong to Kerlapal, Manjhipara, Patelpara, Potampara, Borguda, Gondpalli Mosalpara, Jeerampal, Badesatti, Pandupara and other villages of the region, the SP said. According to the official, the cadres in their statements said that they decided to move away from the Maoists as they were frustrated with continuous exploitation, atrocities and violence by them. According to the figures provided by the Police, with this development, about 1,400 Maoists and their supporters have surrendered before Police in separate Districts of Bastar division so far this year.

October 5

A CPI-Maoist 'commander' was killed by SFs in an encounter in Kanker District. The encounter started in the forests close to Aalparas village under Koyalibeda Police Station limits when a team of a DRG was out on an anti-Maoist operation in the region, IGP (Bastar Range) SRP Kalluri said. SFs had stepped up operations in the forests on the border of Kanker and Narayanpur Districts after three villagers were killed by Maoists at Hurrapinjori village in Amabeda Police Station area of Kanker on September 30, he said. On receiving inputs about the presence of a 'commander'-rank cadre Raju Salaam in Koyalibeda area, a squad of DRG along with local Police was dispatched from Narayanpur, the IG said. While the Police party was advancing into Aalparas forests, they were confronted by a group of Maoists leading to an encounter, Kalluri said, adding that Maoists were caught by surprise as SFs had entered inaccessible areas. The body of a Maoist, one INSAS rifle and one 315 bore rifle besides other items were recovered from the spot during searching after the gun-fight, he said. "As per preliminary reports, the dead Maoist had an olive green cap with three stars. This indicates he was a commander- rank Maoist," the IG said. SFs suspect that either the dead Maoist could be Raju Salaam, the 'area committee secretary' in Raoghat area, or Deepak, the 'commander' of company number five, he said, adding his identity is yet to be ascertained.

October 7

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed by the SFs in Bijapur District. The encounter took place this evening close to Dubaiguda jungle under Awapalli Police Station limits, when a joint team of SF personnel was on an anti-Maoist operation, Bijapur SP, K L Dhruv said. Acting on specific inputs about the movement of the rebels in forest axis between Awapalli and Bijapur, a squad consisting of DRG, STF and local Police led by SHO of Awapalli Police Station, Laxman Kewat launched an operation to track them, he said. When SFs were advancing into Dubaiguda forests, they came under heavy fire from a group of Maoists that led to a gun-battle between both sides, he said. However, the rebels soon escaped from the spot on finding security the personnel zeroing in on them. During a search of the area, the body of a Naxal armed with a .303 rifle was recovered, the SP said. The Maoist was yet to be identified, Dhruv said, adding further details will be known once the Police party reaches its camp.

Six hardcore Maoists surrendered before the SFs in the Naxal-affected Bijapur District. The Maoists surrendered before CRPF's 229th Batallion commandant T Vishvanath. They were wanted by Police since 2005 for being engaged in various anti-national activities including planting of landmines and obstructing communication networks.

October 9

Fourteen CPI-Maoist cadres, including four hardcore Maoists, carrying cash rewards of various amounts on their heads, surrendered before the Police in Bijapur District. "Two hardcore Naxals that carried cash rewards of Rs 3 lakh (INR 300,000) on their arrest along with two others carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh (INR 100,000) each on their heads were among the Naxals giving up arms," SP of Bijapur, KL Dhruv said. According to the Police, Maoists were impressed by the public relations drive being carried out by SFs in the Naxal-hit region. Kursum Bodi (36) resident of Rengavaya who was President of Jantana Sarkar and carried reward of INR 300,000 on her head gave up arms. Likewise, Kamlesh Poyam (26) 'commander' of CNM, an outfit of the CPI-Maoist who too carried reward of INR 300,000 on his arrest turned up before the Police. In the same way, Nagesh Gota (20) and Kursam Sayabi (25) both Janmilita 'commanders' carrying reward of INR 100,000 each gave up arms, Police said. All of them were involved in various kinds of Naxal related incidents like, murder, attempt to murder, damaging roads, firing on Police camps, arson and similar others. Cases were registered against them with Kutru, Farsegarh and Bedre Police Stations, the SP added. They were all provided with instant financial support of INR 10,000 each.

October 11

A Police jawan was killed - hacked to death - by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. According to information, a group of four-five unidentified ultras attacked assistant constable Lakhmu Telam (35), killing him on the spot, Bijapur ASP, Mohit Garg said. The incident took place at Nemed village market under Jangla Police Station limits, he said. A native of Vijay Nagar in Bijapur district, Telam was posted with the DRG of Police. He was on leave since October 7, the ASP said.

October 12

The 85th Battalion of the CRPF recovered an IED weighing two kilograms in Bijapur District. The explosive is said to be planted by CPI-Maoist rebels. Later, bomb detection and disposal squad defused the IED.

October 15

A senior CPI-Maoist leader was arrested from a weekly market of Kondagaon District. According to Police, a team of DRG and District Police had started from Dhanora Police on an anti-Naxal operation. "Based on specific information received, the Police team reached a weekly market in Dhanora Police Station," SP of Kondagaon, Santosh Singh said. While searching the market, Police rounded up Ghasia Ram Netam, who had tried to run away after seeing the Police, the SP said. Netam (26) is a resident of Chikpal, Kadenar, Kondagaon. A dagger, Naxal banner posters, medicines and other items of daily use were seized from his possession. A member of Kiskod area committee of the Naxals, Ghasia Ram had reached weekly market to procure daily use items for Naxal as well as to do recce of SFs, the SP mentioned.

October 17

A Police jawan, who was injured in a blast triggered by CPI-Maoist in Bijapur District in September, succumbs to his injuries. The Gopniya Sainik, identified as Abhaiyya Jabba (23), belonging to State Police, succumbed last evening at Ramkrishna Care Hospital in Raipur, a Police official said. Abhaiyya and another jawan had sustained injuries in an IED blast detonated by Maoists while a joint team of SFs was out on an anti-Maoist operation in the forest of Madded Police Station area on September 22.

A Maoist carrying a reward on his head was arrested in Dantewada District. "Bhadru Podiyami (25) was nabbed from a local market coming under Geedam police station area while he was procuring items of daily use for Maoists," SP of Dantewada, Kamlochan Kashyap said. Podiyami, allegedly active as the Area Head (President) of DAKMS, a frontal outfit of Maoists, was looking after the supply of commodities of daily use and other general items to rebels in Geedam, Tumnar and Barsoor area of Dantewada. Earlier, he was arrested in 2009 when he was working as a Jan Militia Member for the CPI-Maoist, but was released after a year, the official said, adding that Podiyami was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head.

Two Maoists, carrying reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads, surrendered before Dantewada SP, Kamlochan Kashyap and other Police officials at the District headquarters of Dantewada. They have been identified as Madkam Deva (30), a member of Kerlapal (Sukma) LOS and Ganga Muchaki (30), head of DAKMS. The duo will be provided with facilities under the "Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy" of state government, the official added.

October 18

One cadre of the CPI-Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in the outskirts of a town in Sukma District. "The skirmish took place in the wee hours close to Pota Cabin School under Konta police station limits leaving one Maoist dead," SP of Sukma, Indira Kalyan Elesela said. Villagers had informed Police that five to six armed men were spotted near the school in Konta town, located around 500 Kilometres away from Raipur, he said. Acting on inputs, a joint team of DF and CRPF's 217 battalion launched a search operation in the region. While they were cordoning off a patch close to the school, a gun battle broke out between the two sides, the SP said, adding that the rebels, however, fled from the spot taking the advantage of darkness and forest. During search, the body of a male Maoist beside a country- made pistol and a muzzle loading gun was recovered from the spot, Elesela said. A search is still underway. The identity of the killed ultra is yet to be ascertained, he added.

October 19

A villager was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres on the suspicion of being a 'Police informer' in Sukma District. Joga Kawashi (26) hailing from Kolabkota under Tongpal Police Station limits, was done to death at Maoists' "Jan Adalat" four days after he was abducted by a group of Maoists from his house on October 15. The body of the deceased was found by villagers lying under a tree. The Maoists claimed responsibility for the killing of Kawashi through a pamphlet dropped on the spot. They warned villagers not to support SF personnel in the region.

A 20-year-old man, allegedly working as "urban supplier" for Maoists, was arrested from a market place in Kondagaon District. The cadre, identified as Sukhram Korram, was picked up when he was procuring items of general use for Maoists from the market in Kondagaon town, SP Santosh Singh said. The arrest came as SFs have been directed in all seven Districts of Bastar division to keep a close watch on the movement of suspects in local weekly and daily markets that serve as a good source for rebels to procure items of daily use. Korram was arrested by a team of DRG and local Police, based on a tip-off given by some surrendered rebels. "During interrogation, Korram, a native of Barsoor area in Dantewada district, confessed that he was acting as the urban supplier for rebels and had also served as member of CNM, a cultural wing of Maoists, in Maad area," the officer said. Police recovered a big knife, Maoist banners and posters, medicines and other related literature from Korram.

October 24

A CPI-Maoist couple, disappointed with the 'empty' Maoist ideology, surrendered before intelligence wing of Chhattisgarh Police at SIB headquarters in Raipur District. The duo was identified as Berta Bheema alias Bhimaal and his wife Sito alias Jamli, natives of Bijapur District. While Bheema was active as 'deputy commander' of military platoon 2 in the National Park Area committee of Maoists, Sito was working as 'section deputy commander' in the same wing, ASP (SIB), Lal Umed Singh said. After getting associated with the CPI-Maoist in 2005 as a member of Bhairamgarh (Bijapur) LOS, Bheema worked in different capacities with the banned outfit. He was instrumental in executing several deadly attacks on SFs in the region, the ASP said. According to the officer, he was allegedly involved in the 2010 attack in Dhaudai area of Narayanpur District, wherein 26 Police personnel were killed. He also admitted to his involvement in the 2008 Maoist ambush in Badgaon area of Kanker District that claimed the life of a Policeman. Similarly, Sito was an important cadre of the wing as she was providing medical treatment to injured Maoist cadres, Singh said.

October 26

A female CPI-Maoist cadre carrying reward of INR 100,000 on her head was killed during an encounter between Maoists and SFs in Narayanpur District. "The deceased woman Naxal was identified as Rukmi, a member of Bodhghat LOS of Maoists. She was gunned down in the exchange of fire with a joint team of security forces in a forested patch of Chhote Dongar police station area," SP of Narayanpur, Abhishek Meena, said. Based on a tip-off, separate joint teams of STF, DRG and District Force from Narayanpur and its neighbouring Kondagaon District had launched an anti-Maoist operation in Chhote Dongar area of the District, he said. While SFs were advancing through forests between Kilam and Becha villages, a group of Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on them following which they retaliated leading to the death of a female Maoist cadre, he added. During searching of the spot, body of the female cadre clad in 'uniform', along with a 12 bore gun and its live cartridges were recovered, he said.

The CPI-Maoist is reportedly working on a plan to create a new 'guerrilla zone' along the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border region as an "extension" to its current stronghold of Bastar, Naxal documents seized by SFs in a rebel camp have disclosed. The proposed new 'red zone' would support Maoists' twin strategy of providing escape route to rebels in the face of intensifying counterinsurgency measures in Bastar in Chhattisgarh and reclaim it by engaging the troopers in the proposed "extended" 'guerrilla zone', the seized Naxal documents have revealed. "The Naxal documents detailing the strategy on forming a new 'guerrilla zone' as extended 'red zone' of Bastar along border regions of three adjoining states has been recovered along with explosives during a raid on a Maoist camp in Chhuikhadan forest along the border region of Rajnandgaon District in Chhattisgarh and Balaghat District in MP," sources in SIB said. The proposed new 'guerrilla zone', nestled in Satpura hill range, is spread over eight Districts in three States of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and MP. It will facilitate CPI-Maoist to expand its base towards north and east of Bastar. Of the eight Districts, Maoists have already established their base in Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, Balaghat in MP and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. The reds are on their way to expand to other border Districts of Kawardha and Mungeli in Chhattisgarh, Mandla and Dindori in MP and Gondia in Maharashtra. The new 'guerrilla zone' would function under the DKSZC, the most powerful entity of CPI-Maoist in India, an unnamed counterinsurgency officer said quoting the Naxal documents.

October 28

Two jawans of the CoBRA battalion were injured in a pressure bomb blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The incident occurred when a team of CoBRA's 204th battalion was carrying out a search operation in Basaguda Police Station area, said a CRPF official. "Security forces were out for the operation since morning to the interiors of Basaguda, located around 450 kms away from here (Raipur). While they were cordoning off a forested patch near Sankanpalli, about 8 kms away from Basaguda, two jawans inadvertently stepped over a pressure IED connection, triggering the blast that left them injured," he said. Constable Kishore Behera is critically injured whereas the other constable Nandan of the battalion has sustained minor injuries, the official said.

October 29

The CPI-Maoist has called for bandh in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra on November 3 to protest against the Malkangiri encounter in which 30 Maoists were killed. In a statement issued by Maoist's Central Committee, Pratap, a self-styled spokesperson, has given the bandh call in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. The Maoist organisation also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government, along with Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Government's, were favouring Bauxite mining in the tribal area against the will of the locals. Yesterday, in an audio tape, CPI-Maoist East Division Committee 'secretary' Kailash held the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh responsible for the encounter.

November 1

A Constable of District Police has been allegedly abducted by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Sukma District. "Constable Kalmu Hidma was abducted near Puswada village while he was on way to CRPF camp at Puswada," ASP of Sukma, Jitendra Shukla, said. According to ASP, Shukla, Hidma was originally posted in Polampalli Police Station but later he was attached with CRPF camp at Puswada for operational purposes. Hidma had gone to Polampalli to celebrate Diwali along with his family. However, before leaving the camp, he had not informed officials, the ASP said. On October 31, while he was heading back to the camp on his bike, he was intercepted by Maoists about one-and-half kilometres before Puswada. Since then, he had been missing, Shukla said while adding that the Hidma's bike had been recovered.

November 3

As many as nine cadres of the CPI-Maoist surrendered in Bijapur District, in the midst of a bandh called by the LWEs to protest against the recent 'encounter' on the AOB. Fed-up with harsh forest life and hollow Maoist ideology, the rebels turned themselves in before Bijapur SP, KL Dhruv, Bijapur ASP, Mohit Garg, said. Those surrendered were identified as Wacham Biju (20), Sitaram Bhaskar (26), Lalu (30), Ashok Wacham (20), Ramendra Wacham (18), Tikedvar Wacham (20), Mangal (19), Munna Oyami (25), Bomda Poya (25), he said. Biju, who was active as 'deputy commander' in the military platoon number 13 under Bhairamgarh area committee of Maoists was involved in several deadly Maoist attacks, including killing of three Police jawans in Jappemarka in 2015, the ASP said. The equally dreaded Bhaskar, an LOS member in Mirtur area, was also instrumental in carrying out attacks on Police party, he said. While Biju was carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on his head, INR 100,000 was announced for the arrest of Bhaskar, he added.

November 4

Two powerful IEDs allegedly planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres were recovered in Bijapur District. The IEDs packed in steel containers were seized between Tarrem and Basaguda under Basaguda Police Station limits, a CRPF official said. The two IEDs weighed around seven kilograms and five kilograms, he said.

November 5

Armed CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly killed a man at Naamgaon village of the Sukma District. "The deceased was identified as Shyam Nath Baghel, a resident of Naamgaon village under Umakoli Panchayat at the border of Darbha and Tongpal police stations," ASP, Sukma, Jitendra Shukla, said. According to Police, the residents of Naamgaon were against the Naxal ideology and did not support the guerrillas. "It was the lone village in the region, which had its own local security group against the red-rebels," the ASP said while adding that in past residents of the village had actively taken part in the anti-naxal demonstrations. On the intervening night of Friday and Saturday around 8 pm an armed group of Naxals reached the village and stormed in the house of Shyam Lal Baghel, the ASP informed. They pulled out Baghel and killed him while warning the locals not to engage in anti-naxal movement.

UHM Rajnath Singh reiterated his commitment to strongly back up Chhattisgarh in its fight against Naxal menace and asserted that leftist militants have to give up violence. "Maoists have no future in India, they have to abandon the path of violence otherwise they will have to,'' the UHM Singh warned the Leftist insurgents while addressing the glittering the fife-day concluding ceremony of 'Rajyotsav-2016' at Naya Raipur. He felicitated 18 individuals and two institutions with `Rajya Alankaran' at the function. Singh lavished praise on CM Raman Singh for carrying out excellent development works in Chhattisgarh. Earlier, CM Raman Singh while remembering former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that formation of Chhattisgarh has ensured the speedy development of this region. "Today we are gaining success on Naxal front and we are able to develop the Naxal-hit areas. This has been made possible only with the greater help extended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh," the Chhattisgarh CM remarked in his speech. He also thanked the union home minister for sanctioning Bastar Battalion and assured that the battalion will be raised within a period of 6 months.

November 6

One Police official was killed by suspected Maoists in Rajnandgaon District. ASI, Narbad Boga (54), was killed near Chirchari village under Baghnadi Police Station limits on Raipur-Nagpur National Highway. Boga and two other Policemen had been sent there from Baghnadi after a report of road accident on the Highway was received. Two motorcycle-borne men fired on them and fled inside the forest. "While Boga sustained two bullet injuries in the incident, other two jawans escaped unhurt,", a senior Police official said.

A CRPF jawan was seriously injured in a pressure bomb explosion allegedly triggered by Maoists, in the dense forest of Sukma District. "The incident took place this afternoon (Sunday) when a team of paramilitary personnel was out on area domination operation in Jagargunda police station area," a senior Police official said. The blast occurred when a jawan stepped on the pressure IED connection while SFs were cordoning off a forested patch at Rajpenta between Narsapuram and Jagargunda villages, about 450 kilometres away from Raipur, the official said. "Head Constable Kamal Dev of CRPF's 74th battalion sustained serious injuries," he said.

November 7

Police in Chhattisgarh have booked DU Professor Nandini Sundar and 10 others in connection with the killing of a tribal villager, who was killed by suspected CPI-Maoist in Sukma District. "We have registered a case against Nandini Sundar and others under sections 120B, 302 of IPC and 147, 148, 149 of IPC at Tongpal Police Station based on the complaint of the wife of the victim," said Sukma ASP, Jitendra Shukla. Baghel, a resident of Nama village under Kumakoleng panchayat, was killed by a team of suspected Maoists on November 5. Police said Baghel, along with other villagers, had registered a complaint with police in May against Sundar, JNU professor Archana Prasad, Vineet Tiwari from Delhi's Joshi Adhikar Sansthan, Chhattisgarh CPI-M state secretary Sanjay Parate and an unidentified woman activist from Sukma for allegedly inciting tribals against Bastar Police. Youth of Nama and the neighbouring Kumakoleng village had launched a movement against Maoist activities this April. The villagers had formed a local security group against the rebels. According to Police, Sundar and others tried to persuade the villagers not to oppose the Maoists.

November 10

A Police jawan was hacked to death by suspected CPI-Maoist in Bijapur District. Assistant Constable Rahul Raidu (27), posted at Bhairamgarh Police Station, was attacked by suspected Maoists late last night close to his workplace, Bijapur, SP, K L Dhruv said. Raidu, who joined the Police Force in 2011, was also the nephew of former Congress (Bijapur) District President, Ajay Singh, a native of Bhairamgarh town, Police said. Raidu was reportedly playing cards with some villagers in Sanjay Para area, when a group of men armed with axes and knives arrived there and after an altercation with the jawan, they attacked him several times leaving him critically injured. The assailants fled into the forest after committing the crime, the SP said. Soon after, Raidu succumbed to his injuries during treatment, SP said.

A DRG jawan was killed in pressure bomb blasts triggered by Maoists in Bijapur District. "A team of security men was returning after carrying out an anti-Maoist operation when the jawan came under impact of the blast in Farsegarh police station area (Bijapur)," Bijapur SP, K. L. Dhruv said. The joint contingent of STF, DRG and Police personnel from local Police Stations was out on the operation since November 5 to the interior forest of southern Bijapur. On the way back, Constable Mudra Budhram inadvertently stepped over the pressure IED connection triggering the blast that killed him, he said.

A woman identified as Bhime Madkami (50) sustained serious injuries on legs in a blast near Kondapara village under Aranpur Police Station limits in Dantewada District. "The incident occurred while Madkami was in the nearby jungle to graze cattle," a Police official said. According to the officer, CRPF has its outpost close to Kondapara and SF personnel often carry out patrolling from the area where the blast took place.

November 11

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in Kanker District. The skirmish took place between a team of BSF and the rebels in a forest near Gome village under Koyalibeda Police Station limits, a senior Police official said. The killed Maoist cadre was identified as Shobhi Ram Kawachi (30), member of Panidobir LOS of Maoists, he said. Since November 9, eight BSF teams were carrying out anti-Naxal operations in the forests of Koyalibeda and adjoining Abhujmarh, a Maoist bastion, around 350 kilometres from Raipur. A group of Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on a patrolling party and fled when the SF personnel zeroed in on them, the officer added.

November 12

A CPI-Maoist 'deputy commander,' identified as Boti Kashyap, was killed in a gun-battle with SFs in Kondagaon District. Kashyap was gunned down in the skirmish at Kudoor village under Mardapal Police Station limits, SP of Kondagaon, Santosh Singh said. Police had received a tip off that the Maoists will be holding a 'jan adalat' where they were to penalize some villagers, the SP said. Following the alert, District Police teams from Narayanpur and Kondagaon were sent to Kudoor. As soon as the SFs arrived at the spot, the rebels opened fire to which they fired in retaliation. The Maoists fled from the spot. Kashyap's body was recovered during the search, while an INSAS rifle, a 12-bore gun, one radio set and few other items were recovered, he said.

CPI-Maoist activities are likely to suffer a major setback following the scrapping of INR 500 and INR 1,000 notes as the rebels may find it difficult to dispose of their cash, apparently in hundreds of crores, concealed in insurgency-hit regions of Chhattisgarh, Police have claimed. According to sources, Naxals have stashed over INR 70 billion at their dumps in Bastar region. Following the move, the State Police have beefed up security at banks, ATMs and other economic establishments in the insurgency-affected pockets, particularly Bastar. "As per intelligence inputs, the ban on higher currency has frustrated the Naxals and they may target ATMs, banks, post offices and other business establishments in near future in the areas of their presence," Special DGP, (anti-Maoist operations), D M Awasthi said. According to Awasthi, Maoists collect crores of rupees through levy and extortion and keep cash with them or in the dumps in forests for their activities and distribution among their cadres and supporters.

November 13

The CPI-Maoist cadres abducted a Class 9 student from the Kamkanaar weekly market in Bijapur District. Santosh Bodde, a resident of the pre-Matric hostel, had gone to his village Kamkanaar for some work. The reason behind the boy's abduction was not clear immediately. The boy's family, however, has appealed to the Maoists to free Santosh.

During the past two years, Police have seized 45 automatic weapons from the Naxals during various anti-Naxal operations that happened in the restive Bastar region, claimed IGP, (Bastar), SRP Kalluri. "Police and paramilitary forces have achieved commendable success in the fight against Naxals in North Bastar region. Similar kind of operations would be carried out in other parts of Bastar," IGP Kalluri said. He further said that joint operations are being carried out concurrently in all parts of Bastar region. Speaking on the backdrop of killing of Mundagaon Naxal LOS 'deputy commander' Boti Kashyap at Narayanpur wherein a 12 bore gun a SLR and other items were seized, the IGP said that whatever SFs get after encounter or searching are made public. He said that from June 2014 and by 2016, 45 automatic arms have been recovered from Left-Wing Insurgents. Notably, according to a report of the UMHA; during the same period 1,915 arms have been recovered from Left Wing Extremists from various parts of the country. The report further says that during the aforementioned period 1,120 Naxals incidents happened in Chhattisgarh wherein 306 people lost their lives.

November 14

A CPI-Maoist 'militia commander', Vanjam Nanda was killed in an exchange of fire between DRG and Maoists in the jungles of Dornapal Police Station limits in Sukma District. It is to be noted that Vanjam had served as the head of Janatana Sarkar group Maoists in Arlampalli, Medwahi, Tonguda and Toyapara villages. During the search, a country made rifle, some 12 bore live ammunition, wire and other items were recovered.

November 16

Six CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with SFs near Bugum-Perma forest in Dantewada District. Anti-Naxal Operations Special DGP, DM Awasthi said that the bodies of the six have been recovered, while many more may have been injured or even killed. "Of these six, three are men, all of them wore uniform and the weapons recovered include 3 303 rifles, 2 12 bore rifles and 1 single barrel weapon among other items.'' He said that two Naxals were captured alive. Chhattisgarh Police sources said that they had received intelligence inputs about the movement of 50 to 60 Maoists holding a meeting on the Dantewada-Sukma border four to five days ago.

November 17

One Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs in the forests of Bijapur District. The face-off took place in the morning when a joint team of CoBRA 204th battalion of the CRPF commandos and District Police Force was carrying out an anti-Maoist operation in Basaguda Police Station area, ASP Mohit Garg said. As the SFs advanced through the jungles of Kondpalli village, around 500 kilometres from Raipur, a group of Maoists opened fire on them leading to a gun-battle, he said. During a search of the area, body of a male Maoist was found, along with an IED and other items.

November 18

One Policeman was injured in a pipe bomb blast allegedly triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The incident occurred near a river under Mirtur Police Station area when a ROP of security personnel, deployed between Mirtur and Fulgatta villages, was out on duty, a senior Police official said. When SFs were on their way back to Mirtur, the rebels detonated the pipe bomb, causing splinter injuries to an assistant constable Veer Singh, he said. The Maoists fled to the forest after setting off the blast. A combing operation has been launched to trace the attackers, the official said.

November 19

SFs raided a CPI-Maoist camp and killed at least five Maoists following an encounter in the jungles of Tuspal and Becha Kilam villages in Abujhmaad under Chhotedongar Police Station limits in the Narayanpur District. In a joint operation involving SF personnel of Districts of Kondagaon and Narayanpur, SFs stormed the Maoist camp in the forested village of Becha located inside Abujhmaad area early on Saturday morning and busted it in an hour-long operation, Bastar Police said. "The counter-insurgency operation led to decimation of Military Company No. six of CPI (Maoist) and killing of at least half a dozen Naxals. However, we could recover bodies of five Maoists along with their weapons," Narayanpur, SP, Abhishek Meena who camped at Becha to provide a safe corridor to retreating parties engaged in the operation, said. "It was a joint operation carried out by the DRG and the STF of the police," Meena said, adding, "The gun battle lasted for over two hours". The Police seized three rifles of 12 bore, one rifle of 315 bore and articles of daily use from the spot.

The SFs detained a villager who was carrying INR 600,000 in cash to get the currency exchanged for the CPI-Maoist, near Muriyapada in Bijapur District. The villager identified as Madkam Bandi was carrying the money in INR 500 and INR 1,000 currency notes. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed that the money was given to him by Maoist rebels and he was going to Charla mandal in Khammam District of Telangana to convert the money from bank.

November 20

A top CPI-Maoist cadre carrying a cash reward of INR 500,000 on his head surrendered in Dantewada District. "Mangat alias Diwakar (35) resident of Maraskol village in Narayanpur district has given up arms," Dantewada, SP, Kamlochan Kashyap, said. Diwakar had joined Naxal cadre in 2006 and was actively involved in various Naxal incidents, the SP said while adding that seeing his activity he was made the President of Naxal Jantana Sarkar of Panchayat level. "After working as Jantana Sarkar President, he was promoted in 2009 as Area Committee Member. In 2014 he was shifted to DKAMS," the SP mentioned. Associated with Maoists for more than a decade, he was involved in several serious Naxal incidents like the attack on the party of 39th battalion CRPF near Maharabeda under Dhaudai Police Station in 2010, in which 27 jawans were killed, SP Kashyap said. In 2016, Diwakar also took part in the ambush attack on a Police party near Kilem Tetam in which a Sub-Inspector was killed.

November 21

Two CRPF personnel were injured when Maoists triggered a landmine blast at Narsapuram in Sukma District. The blast was carried out by Maoists at half a kilometre distance away from the CRPF camp. Head constables Parvinder and T Sagar were injured during the explosion. The jawans inadvertently stepped over the pressure IED set.

November 22

A SI of the CRPF was killed and a head constable injured in a pressure-bomb blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres in the dense forests in Sukma District. "The incident took place early this morning when a patrolling team of CRPF's 74th battalion was out on an area domination operation in Chintalnar police station area," a CRPF official said. While SFs were cordoning off a patch between Burkapal Police camp and Chintalnar, one of them inadvertently stepped on an IED set with a pressure trigger. The blast left SI, B.S. Bist and head constable Sudhakar, belonging to the 74th battalion, injured, the officer said.

The Chhattisgarh Government has ordered to block at least 40 bank accounts in Naxal-hit regions of Bastar District and Rajnandgaon District following "suspicious" transactions in these accounts in the aftermath of demonetisation of two high value currency notes. Officials told that they have been alerted by bank authorities following high transactions in these accounts during November 10-15. The bank accounts had deposits of INR 60 million during the period. He added that CPI-Maoist might have deposited the old notes in these accounts to redeem the defunct money.

More than 50 banks in Naxal-hit areas of Chhattisgarh have recorded deposits of nearly INR 200 million within two weeks till today. Based on an intelligence report, transactions in these accounts have been put on hold. Police suspect the money deposited belonged to the Naxals and that the latter is using the bank accounts of other people to escape the demonetisation drive.

Special DG, NOSIB, Durgesh Madhav Awasthi told: "We have issued an instruction that after demonetisation. The Naxals will bring out huge hoarded money buried in the ground for mobilisation in a bid to save it from becoming illegal tender. They are applying the two-way approach to save their money: first, they are returning old money to their contractors and asking them to provide new currencies after getting it converted; secondly, they are using their rural and urban networks to deposit their money in banks." "We are getting such information from all eight Naxal-hit districts. In the last three to four days, we have identified people in whose accounts money was deposited, and have sent their names to the SP, Collector and banks, asking them to stop transactions in such accounts till it is established that the deposited money belongs to account holders. The depositors will themselves speak about the source of money. It is also possible, in some cases, that money belongs to the depositors," he said. "However, as per information, Maoists have deposited big amounts in the accounts of people having very little transactions or having 'Jan Dhan' accounts. I have instructed Superintendents of Police and bank officials to inquire into such accounts. More than 50 accounts have been traced so far, but their numbers are increasing. We have information of Rs. 15-20 crore being deposited in such accounts," he added.

November 23

Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh said that the demonetization move of PM Narendra Modi is a historic step to eradicate black money in the country. The CM said that that it will also eliminate Naxalism LWE, terrorism and corruption. The economic condition of the country will improve drastically, he said. The CM inaugurated the 'Ujjawala' project, which aims to provide domestic gas connections to five thousand housewives under the BPL category and also laid foundation stones of 35 developmental works worth Rs 17.13 crore in the District.

November 25

A 22-year-old LWE Kartam Shankar alias Lacchu surrendered before the intelligence wing of Chhattisgarh Police. He was an active member of NIB, Company of the CPI-Maoist. He was involved in the 2007 Ranibodli Police outpost attack, in which over 55 Police Personnel were killed. He was carrying a reward of INR 800,000 on his head, turned himself in at SIB Headquarters in Raipur, citing disappointment with harsh forest life. He expressed his willingness to lead a normal life, told the SP of SIB, Sundarraj P. Lacchu, resident of Tekla village under Kutru Police Station (Bijapur), was forcibly inducted into the CPI-Maoist as 'Bal Sangham' member in 2005 after his mother was died. His younger brother, Ramesh, was also taken away by Maoists.

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed during an encounter with SFs in Kondagaon District. "The face-off between police and armed LWE occurred this morning in a forested patch under Kondagaon police station", SP, Kondagaon, Santosh Singh said. On receiving specific inputs, a small team of DRG had launched the counter-insurgency operation in the interior forest pockets during which they confronted a group of armed rebels near Bavadi village, under Kondagaon Police Station limits. The intermittent gun fight which broke out after the face-off soon ended as Naxals fled from the spot, he added. Later on, while searching the area, body of a rebel, clad in Naxal uniform, along with one 315 bore rifle and one 12 bore gun was recovered from the spot, the SP said. The identity of the killed cadre was yet to be ascertained, he added.

A Maoist cadre wanted in connection with an attempt to murder case was arrested from Antagarh region in Kanker District. "District Police during a search operation was tipped off about presence of Kaliram Anchal (30), a resident of Antagarh in Kasdand village" SP, Kanker, ML Kotwani said. Acting on the input, Police arrested the Maoist against whom an attempt to murder case was registered with Antagarh Police Station, he said.

Four Maoists, including two women, carrying cash rewards of INR 800,000 and INR 100,000 each on their heads respectively, were arrested from restive Dantewada District. The insurgents were arrested from Barsoor Police Station area of Dantewada District, a senior Police official said. They were identified as Neelaram Mandavi (25), Santuram Alami (30) and two women cadres - Raimoti alias Rame (25) and Budhri (21). "Based on intelligence input that the duo had arrived at the local market of Barsoor, a Police team swung into action and nabbed them," he said. Raimoti was active as a member of the Company-6 of the CPI-Maoist while Neelaram was a 'janmilitia commander', the official said.

November 26

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Joga Markam (28), a native of Dhanikarka Village, was arrested by a joint team of SFs from Kuakonda Police Station in Dantewada District. He was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head and allegedly involved in the Malewada landmine attack in which seven CRPF personnel were killed in March 30, 2016. The arrest came after a squad of District Force and CRPF launched a search operation in the interiors of Kuakonda, based on inputs about presence of the Naxal. Joga had been active with the CPI-Maoist for last three years during which he was involved in at least 10 Naxal attacks in the region, Police said.

A villager was injured in tiffin-box bomb blast near a Government school in Bhaisa village in Kanker District. The blast in which a villager was injured, took place at the entry point of the Government middle school Bhaisa under Rowghat Police Station limits of the District. Police had received information that Maoists had placed banner-poster in the Government school. Immediately security personnel were dispatched to the spot, the SP said. However, before the force could arrive at the spot, a man identified as Sonu Ram Dugga (35) tried to put away a suspected looking container with a stick which exploded and the man sustained serious injuries, SP, Kanker, ML Kotwani said.

Two suspected Maoists were arrested during a search operation carried out by SFs in jungles near Bechapal village under Mirtur Police Station in Dantewada District. They were identified as Somaru Oyam (25) and Mangu Oyam (47) who tried to run away after seeing Police party, a senior Police official said while adding that the duo was Jan Militia members.

November 27

Two women the Maoist cadres surrendered before Police in Narayanpur District. Sanno Korram and Ramoli Korram (both 25), natives of Permapal Village under Dhaudai Police station area of the District, allegedly belonging to CNM, the cultural wing of CPI-Maoist, wanted to join the mainstream as they were disillusioned with the Maoist ideology. Narayanpur, SP, Abhishek Meena, told that the cadres turned themselves in citing disappointment with the hollow Maoist ideology and their wrong policies. The surrendered Maoists were allegedly involved in various incidents of murder, attempt to murder and abduction in Dhaudai area, said the SP.

November 30

Two Maoists, identified as Payke Midiami (25) and Deve Madkami (27), were arrested from Dantewada District. The arrested cadres were carrying cash reward of INR 500,000 and INR 200,000 on their head, Police said. "While the women cadres were nabbed from Kuakonda police station area after an exchange of fire with police, two others were held from a weekly market in Katekalyan Police Station limits," told Dantewada, ASP, (anti-Maoist operations) Gorakhnath Baghel. A patrolling team of Police was on its way to Dantewada town from Sukma District in an SUV when they spotted a group of ultras heading to the other side of forest after crossing the road at Bhusaras Valley in Kuakonda area, he said. Sensing presence of SFs, the Maoists opened fire on them leading to a gunfight between the two sides. A 12 bore country-made gun, five live cartridges, Maoist uniforms and items of daily use were also seized from their possession. Payke, who was active as Katekalyan area committee member, was looking after the activities of KAMS, a frontal wing of Maoists, in Katekalyan and Darbha area, the ASP said, adding that she was carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on her head. Similarly, Deve who was a 'deputy commander' in Platoon no 24 under Darbha Division of Maoists since 2012 was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on her head.

Two Maoists, identified as Kosa (28) and Handa (30), were arrested while procuring commodities of daily use from a local weekly market in Katekalyan area in Dantewada District. ASP, Gorakhnath Baghel said that INR 200,000 cash reward was announced for the arrest of Kosa.

December 2

Two CoBRA personnel, including a SI were injured after they inadvertently stepped over a spike trap laid by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The incident took place when a team of CRPF's elite CoBRA 204th battalion was conducting an anti-Naxal operation in the interiors of Gangaloor Police Station limits, a CRPF official said. While returning, the two personnel inadvertently stepped over iron spikes placed in Kusnar village forests, causing them injuries on their legs, he said. Those injured were identified as SI, Munendra and head constable Tarun Gogoi belonging to CoBRA 204th battalion, the official said.

December 3

A former sarpanch of a village was seriously injured in a pressure bomb blast, allegedly planted by Maoists, at Polampalli village in Sukma District. "The Naxals had allegedly planted a pressure bomb on a road between Dornapal and Polampalli, and threw some propaganda material there," Police officials said. "When Vetti Ballu (40) went to collect the propaganda papers, the pressure bomb exploded, injuring him grievously," they said.

December 4

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly killed a 55-year-old man after accusing him of being a member of the erstwhile Salwa Judum in Bijapur District. "Budhram Mudma was killed this afternoon with sharp-edged weapons and sticks at his village Mandem under Farsegarh police station limits," a senior Police official said. Mudma's younger brother is the sarpanch of the village. A group of eight to ten Maoists attacked him when he and his family members were working in their vegetable garden outside the house. Later the Maoists fled into the forest. SFs were rushed to the spot and Mudma's body was brought to Farsegarh for autopsy, the official said. Maoist pamphlets recovered from the spot claimed that Mudma was killed because he was involved with Salwa Judum in the past and was responsible for the deaths of innocent tribals in the area. The pamphlets also accused him of being a 'Police informer', the official added. Salwa Judum was disbanded in 2011 after Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional.

The CPI-Maoist cadres detonated a powerful IED blast in a dense forest in Kanker District. The incident happened in the forest under Chhote Bethiya Police Station limits when a District Force was patrolling the region. However, no casualties were reported, a Police official said. The patrolling was launched based on inputs that Maoists had put up posters and banners in the interiors of Chhote Bethiya, as a part of PLGA week being observed from December 2 to 8 in honour of slain leaders of the CPI-Maoist's armed wing, he said. "When the police party reached Bechaghat Forest, the explosion occurred ahead of them, though no injuries or casualties were reported in the incident," he said. Soon after the explosion, a combing operation was launched in the region to trace the attackers, he said.

December 1

Maoists have called for an agitation against the move for disinvestment of NMDC steel plant at Nagarnar in Bastar saying the move was aimed at handing over the region's natural wealth to corporates. CPI-Maoist, DSZC, spokesman Vikalp sent an audio message to journalists alleging that it was an attempt to hand over NMDC project to powerful corporates, including those having base in Gujarat. The Maoist leader called upon people of Bastar, political parties and other peoples' organisations to strongly resist the move for privatization of the integrated steel plant, which is yet to be commissioned and start production. NMDC, country's largest iron ore miner, is setting up a three MTPA integrated steel plant at Nagarnar in Bastar. In June this year, an environment ministry panel gave clearance to a captive iron ore mine in Bastar for plant that is expected to start trial production by mid-2017.

December 5

SFs have discovered a CPI-Maoist dump and unearthed electronic items and medical equipment in Rajnandgaon District. The recovery was made from a densely forested area under Madanwada Police Station when a joint team of SFs was carrying out patrolling, a senior Police official said. A squad of District Force, STF and 27thbattalion of ITBP had launched the operation on December 3 keeping in view that Naxal cadres may create disturbance during PLGA week being observed by them from December 2 to 8, the official said. While cordoning off a forested hill between Edma and Murjhar Village, the patrolling team located the dump from where they recovered a fax machine, charger, lead wire, hand grenade, printer cartridge, ink bottles, three self-made stretchers to carry injured or sick members and water bottles, he added.

December 6

A CRPF jawan was killed and another one injured when CPI-Maoist cadres triggered an IED blast followed by firing in Dantewada District. The incident took place when a joint team of CRPF's 231st battalion and District Force was patrolling to ensure security to the under-construction Aranpur (Dantewada)-Jagargunda (Sukma) road which passes through the restive dense forests under Aranpur Police Station limits, a senior Police official said. When the SF personnel were cordoning-off a patch between Kondapara and Kondasawli villages, the Maoists detonated the IED and started firing in which two head constables were injured, he said. "Head constable Kamal Singh succumbed to his injuries while being airlifted to Raipur. Another head constable, Anil Kumar, was shifted to a hospital in the state capital," the official said, adding that both the personnel belong to CRPF's 231st battalion.

The Maoists triggered two IED blasts targetting the security personnel at a road construction site in Narayanpur District. There were no reports of injuries or casualties.

December 7

Three IEDs, weighing five kilograms each, planted by the CPI-Maoist, were recovered by SFs in Sukma District. The IEDs were unearthed by a team of CRPF coming under Tongpal Police Station limits while they were out on patrolling, a Police official informed. SFs spotted a suspicious wire connection and later discovered three IEDs, placed in steel containers, hidden beneath the earth in the forest pocket on a roadside, said Police official. Besides, 16 meter Electric Wire, a detonator and five gelatine rods were also recovered from the spot, the Police official added.

December 8

A powerful pressure IED planted by CPI-Maoist cadres, was found in Sukma District. The IED was unearthed by a team of CRPF's 74th battalion personnel from Chintalnar Police Station limits while they were out on road security operation toward Mukram Nullah, located around 450 kilometres from Raipur, a Police official said. They spotted the pressure bomb hidden by the roadside, which weighed around five kilograms, was immediately destroyed on the spot by the bomb disposal squad. The official said, the IED was possibly meant to harm the security men during their operation in the area.

A Maoist sympathiser, allegedly trying to illegally exchange over INR 100,000 in scrapped INR 1,000 currency notes for the new ones, was arrested in Dantewada District. Hemla Bheema (40) was arrested from Bhansi Police Station area, Dantewada, ASP, (anti-Maoist Operations), Gorakhnath Baghel said. As per preliminary information, Bheema, a native of Masapara in Bhansi area, was active as a 'range committee member' of Janatana Sarkar squad of the outlawed CPI-Maoist, the officer said. During interrogation, the accused revealed that Sanjay Kadti, a senior member of Bhairamgarh Area Committee of Maoists, had given him the cash to get it exchanged with new notes, either through banks or with support of local traders, Baghel said.

December 9

Four CPI-Maoist leaders, carrying cash rewards of various amounts on their heads, were arrested from Karkeli weekly market in Bedre area in Bijapur District. SDPO, Prashant Shukla said that, among the arrested Maoists, Waale Pallo (35) head of CNM, a cultural wing of the Maoists, was a prominent cadre and carried a reward of INR 300,000 on his head. Besides, three others - head of DAKMS of Maoists, Doli Majji (45), 'militia commander' Somdu Tati (28), another head of DAKMS, Karve Majji, the SDPO said, adding, that they all were carrying reward of INR 100,000 each. "During interrogation, they have admitted that they were conducting a recee in a bid to launch attack on Karkeli police camp. Earlier too they had been part of the Maoist squad that had attacked this camp," SDPO said. Besides, all four Maoists were allegedly involved in the incidents of attempt to murder, kidnapping, damaging roads, torching vehicles and attacks on Police party, he added.

December 10

A joint team of CRPF and District Police arrested three Maoist supporters, identified as Hemla Budhu (35), Aytu Kudiam (30) and Ursa Budhram (35) while carrying out an area domination operation to the interiors of Gangaloor Police Station limits in Bijapur District.

December 12

A villager was killed and another injured when they were reportedly caught in crossfire between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District. The incident took place when a joint team of CRPF's 168th Battalion and District Force was out on an anti-Maoist operation near Timmapur village under the Basaguda Police Station limits, Bijapur, SP, K.L. Dhruv said. Acting on inputs about the movement of rebels, SFs had launched the operation from its Timmapur camp, around 450 kilometres away from Raipur, to adjoining areas late last night, he said. On the way back close to the camp, they came under fire from ultras prompting them to retaliate. However, the exchange of fire soon stopped after the rebels escaped, he added. During searches, they spotted two men who had reportedly sustained injuries in the cross fire, in the forests. They rushed the injured to Basaguda hospital where one of them was declared brought dead, the SP said. "The deceased was identified as Punem Nandu, a native of Timmapur," he said adding that another injured man- Kaken Suklu- a resident of the same village, was undergoing treatment at Basaguda. However, a CRPF official claimed that the deceased and injured villager could be jan-militia members who handle the village level operations of the Maoists.

December 13

A Maoist was killed by SFs in forests near Peddagelur Village under Basaguda Police Station limits in Bijapur District. According to Bijapur, SP, K L Dhruv, a patrolling party comprising CoBRA's 204th battalion, DRG and STF was out on a search operation in the interiors of Basaguda, around 450 Kilometers away from Raipur. When the party reached close to Peddagelur, they came under heavy fire from Maoists that led to gun-battle between both the sides, the SP said. After the firing stopped, body of a Maoist clad in 'black uniform', a country-made gun, bag and other items were recovered while searching the spot, he said. The identity of all three killed Maoists was being ascertained.

Three Maoists were arrested from the forest of Cherli Nilavaya under Mirtur Police Station limits in Bijapur District. Those arrested were identified as Boda Kadti (30), Kumma Kadti (32) and Baisu Kunjam (28). The three were allegedly involved in the murder of an Assistant Constable who was posted in Mirtur, last year, SP, K L Dhruv said.

A top Maoist carrying a cash reward of INR 800,000 surrendered in Dantewada District. Kama alias Joga Sodi (27), who was active as 'secretary' of Kanger Ghati area committee of the CPI-Maoist, turned himself in before Dantewada SP, Kamlochan Kashyap, citing disappointment with "hollow" Naxal ideology, a senior Police official said. A native of Polampalli area in Sukma District, Joga joined the CPI-Maoist in 1996 as a member of 'Bal Sangham' of the banned outfit.

December 15

Two bodies of the Maoists were recovered after two separate encounters with the District Police in the Bijapur District. Senior Police officials said the operations were "a big success" for a number of reasons, with the body of Jagat alias Jagdish (40), a 'divisional commander' of the West Bastar area committee, being recovered. Jagat carried a reward of INR 800,000 against his name. The other dead body recovered was that of Indravati area committee's 'jan-militia commander' Badru (30). The gunfight took place in Bade Kakloor area when a joint team of SFs was on a counter-insurgency operation, SDGP (anti-Maoist operations) D M Awasthi said. Along with the bodies of two rebels, an INSAS rifle, one 12-bore gun and other items were recovered from the spot, Awasthi said. The officials said that massive operations involving six Districts and agencies including the State Police, DRG, STF, CRPF and others were launched on December 11. "There were intelligence inputs in different areas, and at least 3,000 personnel were deployed. We had information of Maoist movement in the border areas, so teams from Sukma and Bijapur police were sent in, while there were inputs from Kutul area at Abhujmaad in Narayanpur. Teams were sent from Dhamtari to the Odisha border in Nagri and Sihowa, while there was a similar operation in Rajnandgaon as well. Almost all these teams exchanged fire several times as they entered deep in the forests," said DM Awasthi.

The SFs from Narayanpur District recovered two dead bodies allegedly of the Maoists belonging to the Maoists' military company no 2 after the four-day-long anti-Maoist campaign. The SFs also recovered a large amount of arms and ammunition from the Narayanpur campaign. However, some Police officials claimed to have killed at least eight Maoists during the gun battle; however, the SFs could recover only five dead bodies of the uniformed Maoists in these encounters.

December 16

CPI-Maoist cadres hacked to death the husband of a village sarpanch on the suspicion of he being a 'Police informer' in Dantewada District. Dharmendra Kudami (33) was killed in Kurrempara area of Metapal village under Katekalyan Police Station area, a senior Police official said. Kudami's wife Ratna Kudami is the sarpanch of Metapal. "A group of Maoists, armed with bow and arrow, axes and knives stormed into victim's house and murdered Dharmendra in front of his family," the official said. "Though the exact reason for the attack is yet to be ascertained, preliminary investigation suggests the ultras accused him of being a police informer," he said.

Six Maoist cadres, including a 'commander' surrendered in Kanker District. The cadres, one of them a woman, turned up at the District Headquarters before Kanker, SP, ML Kotwani, citing disappointment with 'hollow' CPI-Maoist ideology and violence. Those surrendered were identified as Bislal alias Sukhdev Hidko (28), Shamlal alias Kara Komra, Dhaniram Dugga, Budhram Kowasi (24), Mahesh Kumar (35), and the woman cadre Pushpa Anchla (24), said Kotwani. Of them, Sukhdev, 'commander' of Section B under Military Platoon no 33, is a key CPI-Maoist member in the region carrying a reward of INR 300,000, he said. While Pushpa was active as member of CNM - the cultural wing of CPI-Maoist, three others were Jan-militia members, the SP added.

December 17

A Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs in Bijapur District. The skirmish took place this morning in forest of Metapal village under Gangaloor Police Station when a joint team of SFs was out on a counter-insurgency operation, said Bijapur, SP, KL Dhruv. "A composite squad of CRPF and DRG had launched the operation in the interiors of Gangaloor, around 450 kms away from the state capital," he said. When the party was advancing through Metapal forest, they came under heavy fire from Maoists that led to a gunbattle between both the sides, the SP said. However, the ultras soon fled from the spot. During the search conducted later, body of a rebel and a 12-bore gun were recovered from the spot, the SP said adding that the identity of the deceased Maoist was being ascertained.

December 18

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in Bijapur District. The skirmish took place when a joint team of security men from various Forces was out on a combing operation in the interiors of Mirtur Police Station limits, Bijapur ASP, Mohit Garg said. Acting on inputs about the presence of CPI-Maoist in Hakwa and Hallur Village areas of Mirtur, a composite squad of CAF, CRPF's 199th Battalion and District Force, had launched the operation on December 17 towards the target area, the ASP said. When the security personnel were cordoning-off a forested patch near Hakwa village, about 450 kilometres from Mirtur, the Maoists fired on them leading to a gun battle between the two sides, he said. However, the Maoists soon escaped from the spot. During search, the body of a male Maoist cadre in 'uniform', a muzzle loading gun and other CPI-Maoist-related material were recovered from the spot, he said adding that the identity of the killed Maoist was being ascertained. "The police team is reported to be safe and approaching back their camp," he added.

December 19-20

Nine CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from separate places in Bijapur District. Three of them were allegedly involved in the murder of a Police jawan in November 10. "While five insurgents were held from Kutru police station area last evening (December 19), four others were held today (December 20) from two different places under Bhairamgarh police station limits," according to Bijapur SP, KL Dhruv. According to the Police, Sonsai alias Boti Yadav (30), Baman Kunjami (26) and Banaru Mandavi (28) had allegedly hacked to death Assistant Constable Rahul Raidu in Bhairamgarh Town with the help of their four associates. The Bhairamgarh Police was on their trail for around a month, he said, adding the four CPI-Maoists who were also involved in the murder are yet to be arrested. Another CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Aaytu alias Doba (26), was arrested from a separate place in Bhairamgarh. In another incident, a joint team of CAF and District Force rounded up five CPI-Maoists from Hurrenar village under Kutru Police Station limits during a search operation. They were allegedly involved in crimes like murder, attempt to murder, abduction and loot in the region, the officer said.

December 23

Two Naxal aides were arrested from Dhamtari District and INR 350,000 cash in valid currencies and explosives were seized. "Naxal associates Tikeshwar and Bajrang were arrested from Gorgaon and Rs 3.50 lakh cash and explosives including a 10 kg tiffin bomb, two gelatin sticks and five detonators were seized," said Dhamtari SP, Manish Sharma. The officer said the money belonged to Maoists and the duo got it exchanged for valid currencies. The cash included bills of Rs 2000, Rs 500, Rs 100 and Rs 50.

The DC of Naxal-affected Kondagaon District had received a letter threatening to kill him. The Collector Samir Bishnoi received the letter by post and the Police were conducting a probe in this regard, added ASP, Kondagaon Maheshwar Nag. The letter mentions among other things drive against illegal constructions in Kondagaon city and had 'Maowadi-Kondagaon Committee' written at the end. However Police suspect that some mischievous persons might have send the letter in the name of Naxals, Nag added.

December 24

An alleged CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs in Sukma District. The District's SP, Indira Kalyan Elesela, claimed the incident occurred around 10 a.m. in an exchange of fire between SFs and Maoists near Masalmedgu village. The identity of the body is yet to be ascertained.

December 25

SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres in Sukma District. A joint team of District Police and CRPF arrested Handa Ram Mandavi, Kawasi Motu and Madkami Mangala in Tongpal Police Station limits following a tip-off, a senior Police official said. The arrested Naxals were suspected to be involved in murder and other offences, he said.

Raipur Police confiscated over INR 40 million that they suspect belongs to the CPI-Maoist. Police, IT and ED have been carrying out raids across India to unearth unaccounted money since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to ban high currency notes of INR 500 and 1,000.

December 26

The Bastar Police arrested seven people from Andhra Pradesh inside the Chhattisgarh border in Sukma District and claimed that they belonged to Intellectual Wings of the CPI-Maoist outfits. Police said they seized four motorcycles they were riding, demonetized currency with face value of INR 100,000, mobile phones and CPI-Maoist literature from their possession. "The accused were found with old currency notes and some important Naxal-related documents. They were arrested and booked and were produced in court," said Indira Kalyan Elesela, (SP of Sukma said. Elesela said those arrested included social activist Durga Prasad (36) of Hyderabad, R. Laxmaiyya (45), Secretary of Adivasi Tudem Dubba, Khammam, journalists B. Prabhakar Rao (52) and Rajendra Prasad (28) from Hyderabad, High Court advocates Ch Prabhakar Rao (48) and B. Ravindra Nath (42) Hyderabad and Mohammad Nazim (27), research scholar Osmania University. One of the arrested people - Ch. Prabhakar said the Police action was unwarranted because they were only civilians. Police claimed that both the journalists used to instigate the people while the advocates had enlarged support to the CPI-Maoists in encounters and the research scholar was propagating CPI-Maoist line of thinking. The seven men were booked under the CSPA.

December 27

One CRPF personnel was injured as CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a patrol party in Bijapur District. The Maoists detonated a pipe bomb when the CRPF 168 Battalion team was patrolling in Sarkeguda village, SP, KL Dhruv said.

December 28

As many as 12 Naxalites, allegedly involved in an attack on Ranibodli Police outpost which killed 55 Police personnel on the intervening night of March 14-15, 2007, have been arrested in Bijapur District. The Naxalites, against whom warrants were pending, were arrested from various villages under Farsegarh and Kutru Police Stations last evening, Bijapur SP, KL Dhruv said. A joint team of CAF and the District Police had launched a search-cum-area domination operation at Kuprel, Mukram, Kattur and Telmedri villages, during which the arrests were made acting on inputs from local informers, he added. Pandu Vejja (25), Samlu Podiami (25), Kursam Hiriya (22), Udde Chinna (35), Chinna Telam (26), Somlu Bedja (35), Lakhmu Venjam (30), Michha Chinna (30), Mahngu Tati (26), Mahadev Kartami (35), Baman Madvi (25) and Sukhram Tati (25) -- all active as platoon and jan-militia (lower-rung) members of the CPI-Maoist -- were arrested, said the SP. Among those arrested, Chinna Telam and Mahngu Tati were carrying a reward of INR 5,000 each on their heads while INR 3,000 was announced for the arrest of Mahadev, he added.

December 29

As many as six Naxalites, including a woman, surrendered in Bijapur District. Citing disappointment with "hollow" Maoist ideology, the Naxalites, two of them carrying cash reward on their heads, turned themselves in before police and CRPF officials at the District headquarters, a senior Police official said. Of them, the woman ultra - Hemla Munni alias Rambati (25) was a key member of military platoon number 16 of the CPI-Maoist and has been allegedly instrumental in executing several Naxal incidents in the region, he said, adding she was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on her head. Similarly, Awapalli LOS member Kakem Nagesh (23), who was among the surrendered, carried cash reward of INR 100,000 on his head, the official said. The four other Naxalites who turned themselves in were Shivram Hemla (25), Korsa Sannu (24), Ramesh Sodhi (25) and Raja Ram Kadati (40). The surrendered rebels were allegedly involved in various crimes including targeting security personnel, triggering blasts, damaging roads and others, he said.

Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

 

 

 

 

 
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