Bihar Timeline 2016

Date

Incidents

TPC cadres assaulted two persons identified as Ramvilas Ram and Ramdeep Ram in Aurangabad District. The fear of TPC backlash is such that it forced the panchayat mukhiya Ramji Ram not to lodge a police complaint with Tandawa Police Station after his 70-year-old father and brother were assaulted. The mukhiya said TPC cadres demanded 20 per cent of the grant sanctioned by the government for welfare schemes in his panchayat.

Two powerful cane bombs were recovered by SFs from a forest in Chando village in Gaya District. During a combing operation against CPI-Maoist, the CoBRA unit and the District Police recovered two powerful cane bombs, weighing five kilograms each, from the forest area.

A team of STF and Saran District Police of Bihar arrested nine cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including a woman 'area commander' from Doriganj in Saran District. All of the arrested cadres were accused in the case for planting of explosives at the Ara-Chhapra Bridge on January 1. They had blasted the generator set used by the construction company engaged in the bridge construction work. Police have recovered three pamphlets of the Maoists from the construction site and three cane bombs were found fixed to three pillars of the under construction bridge.

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.

Aurangabad District Police launched a combing operation against the Maoists in different parts of the District to instill confidence among the people.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were killed while one trooper of the CoBRA received bullet injury in an encounter between SFs and Maoists at village Bandh Gorya under Dhibra Police Station area in Aurangabad District. SFs also recovered four weapons including one AK-47, one carbine and two pistols from possession of the Maoist.

Armed Maoists set ablaze two tractors of a contractor in a village in Lakhisarai District. of Bihar.

CPI-Maoist cadres have set ablaze four road construction equipments machines engaged in the construction of State Highway 69 linking the State capital Patna with Dumaria, Araria District, in Gaya District.

Two hardcore CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Amresh Kumar Sinha alias Kavi Ji alias K.V. and Sanjay Tiwari surrendered before Patna SSP Manu Maharaj in Patna District.

CPI-Maoist central zonal spokesman Pramjeet threatened to take revenge of the killing of the Maoists in Bihar in the encounter on January 8. He alleged that their four colleagues were arrested by security personnel, who killed them in fake encounter. Pramjeet said dedication of the comrades will never go in vain and they would take revenge from the cops.

The anti-CPI-Maoist operations in Bihar are set to be augmented with the State Police planning to purchase a chopper for the use of security personnel. ADGP, (law and order), Alok Raj said that modalities for purchase of the chopper were being finalised. He further said that "Technical issues like recruitment of pilot, hangar, maintenance and budget are being discussed before the purchase of the chopper. It will be stationed at Gaya hangar. The helicopter will also be helpful for Police personnel on law and order duty."

Police arrested a Maoist 'zonal commander' along with huge cache of arms and ammunition during a combing operation in Gaya District. Acting on the tip-off, Police and CRPF personnel conducted a combing operation in Gaya District. Police had recovered an AK-56 rifle, 102 live cartridges and other items from the arrested 'zonal commander'.

Ten days after the killing of four CPI-Maoist cadres on January 8 during an encounter with Police at Bandh Goryea forest under Dhibra Police Station limits in Aurangabad District of Bihar, Maoists pasted pamphlets in Deo and Dhibra localities threatening to take revenge of the killings of their colleagues in the encounter. Some of the pamphlets were pasted at small culverts in aforesaid localities. The pamphlets carried the message, "Char ka badla chalis se lenge, Operation Green Hunt band karo, comrade Bihari Yadav, Ratan Yadav, Devki Bhuiyan and Birendra Singh ko sat sat salaam."

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested with arms and ammunitions in a joint operation by CRPF troopers and District Police in Aurangabad District of Bihar. Aurangabad SP Babu Ram said, "The Maoists, identified as Awadhesh Yadav, Sanjay Yadav and Dukhi Singh Bhokta, were involved in several cases of Naxal violence and extortion. Two country-made pistols and six live cartridges were recovered from their possession," and added raids were being carried out at several places to arrest other Maoists in the District.

Four Naxalites were arrested with a cache of firearms from Gaya District in Bihar and adjoining Chatra District in Jharkhand. SP (City) Raviranjan Kumar told webindia123.com in Gaya that two dreaded Naxalites of PLFI, a breakaway group of the CPI-Maoist were arrested at Raniganj village under Imamganj Police Station area in the District. On their interrogation, Police conducted raids at Jori village in Chatra District of Jharkhand and arrested two Maoist cadres. A pistol, three mobile phones and other incriminating objects were recovered from their possession. The arrested cadres were identified as Upendra Vishwakarma, Sanjeet Yadav, Dilip Singh and Pravin Kumar.

Maoists killed one villager, identified as Nanhu Singh Bhokta in Gulab Bigha village under Madanpur Police station in Aurangabad District of Bihar suspecting him to be a Police informer. The Maoists also left a pamphlet at the spot threatening to eliminate SFs engaged in anti-Maoist operations. However, Police claimed that the victim never worked as their informer. "Police are probing the incident from different angles. Four special police teams have been formed to carry out raids and arrest those involved in the killing," the SDPO P N Sahu said.

The CPI-Maoist has given a call for 24-hour Bihar-Jharkhand bandh on Republic Day (from January 25 midnight) to protest killing of their colleagues in an encounter with SF personnel at Band Goreya village under Dhibra Police Station in Aurangabad District of Bihar on January 8. CPI-Maoist spokesperson Mannas said the bandh will start from January 25 midnight and will continue for the next 24 hours. He said emergency services have been exempted from the bandh. Mannas said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led-Grand Alliance government in Bihar has extended full support to 'Operation Greenhunt'.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a junior Police, identified as Girija Paswan, in Aurangabad District. The Maoists claimed that the 35-year-old was killed as he was suspected to have told his superiors about the whereabouts of Rajiv alias Bihari, a Maoist leader. Rajiv and his accomplices were killed by the Aurangabad Police earlier this month (January 2016).

A top CPI-Maoist leader, identified as Ram Chandra Mahto aka Pramod aka Chirag Da, was killed in an exchange of fire during a joint operation conducted by Bihar Police, CRPF, CoBRA and SSB at Charkapaththar area in Jamui District. Mahto was a 'member' of the East Bihar North-West Jharkhand 'special area committee' and was wanted in 20 cases in Bihar and over three dozen cases in Jharkhand. He carried a head money of INR 2.5 million in Jharkhand and INR 500,000 in Bihar. Mahto's body was recovered along with one Police rifle, one 303 regular weapon, one 8mm pistol and one country made pistol.

A Police official was killed in an encounter with alleged CPI-Maoist sympathisers in Munger District.

Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University proctor Prof. Bilakshan Ravidas and two others were detained by the Bhagalpur District Police for their suspected CPI-Maoist links. The other two detained were part-time teacher at Murarka College (a constituent unit of TMBU) in Sultanganj block, Kapildev Mandal, and a Grade IV employee of Welfare Hostel number-II of the TMBU, Arjun Paswan. However, after their interrogation for over three hours, they were released with the rider that they would cooperate with the Police in further interrogation. Police raided Ravidas's residence at Sarai in Bhagalpur after a youth from Belhar in Banka District, Ghanshyam alias Ghoghan Da, was arrested for alleged Maoist links on February 7 morning. A pistol, mobile phone and Maoist literature were allegedly seized from Ghanshyam's possession.

The CPI-Maoist cadres have set ablaze a tractor in Gaya District. At least five Maoists barged into a brick kiln and torched a tractor after its owner failed to pay INR 100,000 as "levy". The kiln owner said that INR 25, 000 was paid monthly to the Maoists until last two months when they started demanding INR 100,000.

A team of STF arrested one self-styled 'zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist from Samastipur District and two women cadres from a place on Muzaffarpur-Sheohar border. Sushil M Khopde, IG, Operations and STF, said the 'zonal commander', Lalbabu Sahni alias Bhaskarji, was arrested from his hideout in Samastipur District and on the basis of his tip-off, woman cadres - Soni Kumari and Chitra Lekha - were arrested. Bhaskarji was a Maoist 'zonal commander'.

The Maoists abducted two railway staff in during the bandh Jamui District of Bihar.

Maoists partially damaged the building of Barhat block office in Jamui District by exploding a cane bomb. The main door, gate and a pillar of the block office building were damaged while cracks appeared on some of the walls.

A group of CoBRA troopers had a miraculous escape when a bomb, planted by the Maoists exploded at Dhabi village under Dhibra Police Station limits in Aurangabad District.

A mobile phone tower of a private telecom operator was set ablaze by the Maoists at village Marwaro under Khaira Police Station area in Jamui District.

The two-day Bihar bandh called by the CPI-Maoist passed off peacefully in Bihar. The bandh was called in protest against the killing of Maoist 'commander' Chirag Da.

At Dighi Bazar area under Lakshmipur Police Station in Jamui District the Maoists left posters and pasted a few of them on the walls of a Durga temple and some abandoned shops in the market area.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a mobile tower in Jamui District, the second day of a two-day state-wide bandh. Nearly 40 armed cadres attacked the BSNL mobile tower at Mudwaro village and set it ablaze. The shutdown affected normal life in rural areas in Jamui, Banka, Munger, Lakhisarai and other neighbouring Districts.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested along with weapons from Jehanabad District. Acting on a tip off, the Police raided Timbalpur village and arrested the four Maoists and seized two country-made carbines, a country-made pistol, six live ammunition, two mobile phones and a haul of Maoist literature, SDPO Ashfaq Ansari said.

The 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.

The District Police arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres from Belaganj Police Station area in Gaya District and recovered two country made weapons and live cartridges from their possession. "The arrested men, identified as Munarik Yadav and Chandradip Yadav, hail from the Makhdumpur Police Station area of the neighbouring Jehanabad District. The duo has been charged with extorting money from local brick kiln owners," said Gaya SSP Garima Malik.

Bihar and Jharkhand Police have decided in Patna to launch joint anti-Naxal operations in Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui in Bihar and Palamu, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih and Deoghar in Jharkhand. This was decided during a meeting of top brass of Bihar and Jharkhand Police. The meeting was attended by Jharkhand DGP D.K. Pandey, ADGP (Operations) S.N. Pradhan, Bihar DGP P.K. Thakur, ADG (Law and Order) Alok Raj, ADG (Headquarters) Sunil Kumar, IGP CRPF Shailendra Kumar along with officers from Special Branch, CID and SPs of bordering Districts. Commenting on the activities of PLFI in Bihar ADG Headquarters said "Looking at the increasing activities of the PLFI, a splinter group of CPI (Maoist) in Bihar, the officials of both the states have decided to share information. Earlier, PLFI was more active in Jharkhand. So, their input will be valuable for us." PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

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.

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.

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."

The Bihar STF arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres with weapons from a village under Baruraj Police Station area in Muzaffarpur District. Acting on a tip off, a STF team raided Andaul village and arrested three Maoists, identified as Md Wasim Akram, Umesh Mahto and Raja Babu, all said to be members of the CPI-Maoist, while they were taking part in a closed-door meeting with fellow ultras, said SSP Ranjeet Kumar Mishra. About a dozen other Maoists managed to escape, he added. Four country-made pistols, 12 live cartridges, three mobile phones, besides a haul of Maoist literature have been seized from the spot.

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.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze 14 vehicles and equipment of a construction company engaged in a track-doubling project near Turki railway station in Muzaffarpur District. A group of about 50 Maoists stormed into the project office of M/S Hari Construction Company around 2 a.m., SSP Ranjeet Kumar Mishra said. The Maoists also assaulted three security guards. The arson was allegedly due to non-payment of 'levy' by the company, SSP Mishra added.

The Police recovered six landmines from a village under Madanpur Police Station area in Aurangabad District of Bihar. Acting on a tip off, the Police detected six landmines planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres underneath Madanpur Ajan road in Purnadih village and safely recovered all of them. The landmines were connected to six bombs weighing five kilograms each, which were later on defused by the bomb disposal squad.

Police arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres in two separate incidents from Saran and Muzaffarpur Districts of Bihar. SP Pankaj Kumar Raj said a person from the CPI-Maoist - had demanded a levy of INR 2.5 million from Govardhan Sah, a goldsmith in Parsa, on March 27. Sah had informed the Police and a special team was formed which arrested Mukesh Sahni from Dadanpur and Sanjay Sahni from Sahila village in Muzaffarpur.

CPI-Maoist cadres in the hinterlands of east Bihar are not boycotting the coming Panchayat elections in a break from "tradition", instead the Maoists, usually referred to as "partymen" in the interiors of the Districts, have propped up candidates of their choice across Panchayats in Banka, Lakhisarai and Munger Districts of Bihar. Candidates who are contesting those handpicked by the Maoists have been threatened as well. The 10-phase Panchayat polls begin April 24 and end on May 30. Bhim Singh, who is contesting for Basmatta Panchayat mukhiya in Belhar, Banka, was among the candidates threatened. Former Banka SP Satya Prakash said fighting against Bhim was Kamli Devi, mother of Maoist Balgovind Yadav. "After being threatened by the "partymen", I decided to withdraw from the polls," said Bhim. "But then Police officers in the District assured me of security and assigned men for me so I will contest." Prakash, who recently handed over charge to Rajeev Ranjan, added: "We have intelligence information that several candidates in Basmatta were frightened after Kamli Devi jumped into the poll fray. Some of them filed their nominations after the police assured them of security." Police sources said at least five rebels' close relatives are contesting the polls from the region.

April 13

Police arrested suspected CPI-Maoist cadre, Sanjay Yadav from Sheikhbigha village under Khizersarai Police Station in Gaya District. Sanjay is accused of attacking Police in 2005.

Three women, wives/widow of prominent Maoist leaders are contesting Bihar Panchayat elections to make their Maoist husbands Mukhiya Pati (MP) (Husband of the village head) as they are called by the villagers.

Aurangabad Police of Bihar arrested three wanted CPI-Maoist cadres from different localities under Daudnagar Sub-Division of the same district. Daudnagar SDPO Sanjay Kumar said on the basis of intelligence inputs, a Police team from Goh, Khudowa and Uphara Police Stations carried out raids at several hideouts and arrested three Maoists who have been identified as Sambhu Yadav, Dharmdeo Yadav and Raja Uadav.

April 19

The Gaya Airport Director has received a letter asking him to quit his job and leave Gaya within a fortnight failing which the Airport would be blown off and the Director will be responsible for the damage to life and property caused by the threatened blast. The handwritten threat purportedly issued by the Jharkhand unit of the CPI-Maoist was posted from Giridih District of Jharkhand on April 18 and delivered the next day at the Gaya airport through an ordinary post. Confirming the receipt of the threat, Gaya Airport Director Dilip Kumar said that it carried names of three Giridih residents as senders of the letter. The Police have been informed and a case has been registered in this connection in the Magadh Medical College Police Station.

The Naxalites have threatened to blow up Gaya Junction railway station in Bihar. As per a report, LWEs have sent a letter to the authorities threatening to blast the busy railway station.

Naxals blew up part of a school in Jamui District where voting for the panchayat elections was scheduled to take place on April 24.

The STF constituted by Saran District Police arrested four CPI-Maoist cadres from Baarhichak Dihee village under Maker Police Station. The Police also seized arms and explosives from the possession of the arrested Maoists. The arrested Maoists have been identified as Anil Sahney, 'area commander' of the outfit, Ambika Mahto, Dipak Ram and Shambhu Singh. The Police also seized two rifles, a double barrel gun, a country-made rifle, 205 pieces of cartridges of 7.62 bore SLR with charge clip, two pressure cooker bombs with explosive materials, six pieces of magazine of SLR rifle, 22 pieces of charger, two detonators, handbills asking people not to participate in panchayat election and INR 250000 in cash.

In Gaya District, a self-styled 'supreme commander' of an LWE outfit - Revolutionary Communist Centre - Vinod Marandi alias Babulal, who was wanted in Jharkhand and Bihar, was arrested from Uperdih locality under Vishnupad Police Station limits. SSP Garima Malik confirmed the arrest of Vinod Marandi who is a resident of Diha village under Gurua Police Station of the District. Marandi was earlier a 'zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist but he later formed his own outfit, RCC, a decade ago, Police said.

Achchutanand, former BJP MLA, from Mahnar, was attacked, allegedly by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres, near Ishopur village in Vaishali District. The former MLA was returning to his native place from a marriage ceremony when he was attacked.

LWEs owing allegiance to the RCC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, raided the camp office of a private road construction company located in Belaganj Police Station area of Gaya District. The Maoists numbering more than a dozen made the company staff captive at gun-point. The Maoists, according to sources, torched several machines including four heavy duty material carriers, two pay loaders, a diesel tanker and three bikes. "The rebels demanded Rs 5 crore as protection money from the company engaged in road construction in the region. Refusal of the company to pay protection money to the Maoists apparently angered them," said sources. However, the captive employees were released after the equipment set ablaze.

The STF has arrested two hardcore CPI-Maoist cadres from Bhanekhaf village in Nawada District. Two of them have been identified as Mansoor and Vinod Manjhi.

The STF in a joint operation with the local Police arrested two more Maoists from Karnaul Chandi village under Charpokhri Police Station area in Bhojpur District, the DGP control room said in a press release. The arrested Maoists have been identified as Ramkumar Ram and Ram Brajesh Paswan. Five weapons including .303 rifle, .315 regular rifle and DBBL gun and two country-made pistols beside eleven ammunition have been seized from them.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed three villagers in Jamui District, bordering Jharkhand, claiming the men were 'Police informers' who facilitated the encounter of Maoist leader Chirag in January, 2016. The victims were killed at Gadi village in Chakai area of the District. Their bodies were recovered by the Police on May 22. While one of the victims - Tipan Mandal (30) - was picked up from his house in Gadi, one Mukesh Kumar Rai (25) was from Chowki, and another Yogendra Turi (35) was brought from Garanga, both villages located in Giridih District of Jharkhand. According to sources, a group of armed men reached Gadi village around midnight and carried out the executions. Police found Maoist posters at the crime scene which stated that the information provided by the victims led to the killing of a front ranking Maoist leader, Chirag, in a Police encounter this January. The Maoists also claimed two of the men killed were SPOs. Meanwhile, Police rejected their claim.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres killed two persons, including Sudesh Paswan, Dumaria LJP block President and husband of Maya Devi, the outgoing mukhiya of Kachar panchayat under Dumaria Police Station area in Gaya District. The other killed man has been identified as Sunil Paswan, cousin of the slain LJP leader. Paswan was killed during campaigning in favour of his wife Maya, who is seeking re-election to the post. The election is scheduled on May 30. Sunil, too, was a candidate for the post of panchayat samiti member, a block-level position in the panchayati raj system. The marauders also torched at least two campaign vehicles. According to sources, bike-borne killers stopped the two during campaigning and pumped bullets in the bodies of Paswan cousins. The two died on the spot. Confirming the twin killings, Gaya SSP Garima Malik said that prima facie it appeared to be the handiwork of Maoists, but nothing could be said with finality at this stage. Though on record the Maoists stand for poll boycott, spouses of several front-ranking Maoists, including Vinod Marandi, 'chief' of the RCC, a splinter group of Maoists, are contesting the ongoing panchayat elections.

Two close supporters of CPI-Maoist were arrested by Police in Aurangabad District. Police also seized Maoist pamphlets, posters and two cell phones from the arrested persons. Police sources said that a joint team of CRPF and District Armed Police arrested two persons during raids at separate places of Madanpur area on charge of providing cylinders to Maoists for use as cylinder bombs. They have been identified as Lal Babu Paswan and Surendra Bhuiya, both residents of village Azad Bigha under Madanpur Police Station area.

CPI-Maoist cadres attacked five employees of Ramiya constructions - run by suspended Janata Dal (United) Member of Legislative Council Manorama's husband Bindi Yadav - a Gaya strongman who had ties with the RJD and demanded INR 1.5 million as levy from them for a construction work that the firm is carrying out in Patna.

Police arrested three LWEs, including state in charge of PLFI and recovered a cache of firearms from Patulka jungle under Barachatti Police Station area in Gaya District. Gaya SSP Garima Mallik said a joint team of SSB, CRPF and local Police arrested the cadres of PLFI from their hideout in Patulka jungle. The arrested cadres were identified as PLFI Bihar in charge Arun Yadav alias Singham, Santosh Yadav and Jeetu Yadav alias Jitendra Yadav. Two pistols, mobile phones and motorcycles each and live cartridges were recovered from the spot. The PLFI cadres were involved in a large number of unlawful activities in Bihar and Jharkhand.

Claiming responsibility for the killing of LJP leader Sudesh Paswan in Dumaria Block Headquarters in Gaya District last month, Maoists have justified their dastardly act by holding him responsible for the 'killing of the banned outfit's revolutionaries' and have gone on to describe him as 'ring leader of Police informers'. A hand-written pamphlet, which appeared in Imamganj area of Gaya, warned those colluding with the Police and being their informers. It also lashed out at LJP leader Chirag Paswan and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi for shedding 'crocodile tears' over the incident. The LJP had earlier condemned the killing of Sudesh and demanded President's Rule in the state in view of rising crime. Chirag had also slammed the ruling 'grand alliance' for prevailing lawlessness in the state, and said those raising their voices are being murdered. Sudesh was campaigning for panchayat (village level local self government institution) elections near Dumaria when he was shot dead.

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.

A villager, identified as Awadhesh Singh Bhokta, a resident of Chilmi village in Aurangabad District, was shot dead by suspected Maoists at close to canal in Dalelbigha village under Madanpur Police Station in Aurangabad District. According to Police sources, Maoists caught Bhokta on June 8 night from Panchrukhiya village, took him near the canal and killed him by opening fire on him by an AK-47. The deceased's wife, Kranti Devi, said two top Maoists, Prasadji and Nawalji used to sexually abuse her on gunpoint for the past few months, which her husband always resisted. "Maoists had threatened my husband with dire consequences," she said.

Aurangabad Police claimed to have averted a major tragedy in the District by recovering huge cache of explosives from Bhura hills under Deo Police Station of the District. According to Police sources, a joint team of DAP and CRPF headed by SP Babu Ram had gone for a search operation in dense hilly area under Deo Police Station, when they came across the cane bombs and other explosives stored. The SP said, during the search operation, 25 cane bombs, one cylinder bomb and key parts of rocket launcher were recovered from the same hill. He said it cannot be denied that explosives were stocked targeting security personnel engaged in anti-Maoist operation in the District.

SF personnel arrested two suspected CPI-Maoist cadres and recovered arms and over 100 rounds of ammunition in Banka District. Officials said the two Maoists, identified as Sikander K. and Arjun K., were arrested around 3 AM during an anti-Maoist operation at Pilua-Suiya area of the District. The security personnel also recovered an INSAS rifle with two magazines, 120 rounds of bullet and a hand grenade.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Jitendra Rikiyasan alias Gora and Raju Nut, were arrested over their alleged involvement in the Tandwa blast in which eight policemen were killed. While Jitendra was arrested from Sahiyar village in Aurangabad District on June 16, the Aurangabad Police arrested Raju from Chandigarh a few days ago with the help of Punjab Police.

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.

CPI-Maoist cadres opened fire and exploded bombs at a brick kiln near Mahishaur village under Jandaha Police Station area in Vaishali District after the owner refused to pay extortion money. Police said around 15 CPI-Maoist cadres attacked the brick kiln, fired in the air and exploded bombs to create fear among those present at the spot. They also thrashed the employees and labourers and set aflame three tractors to protest refusal of brick kiln owner Bindeshwar Rai to pay extortion money to them. Before fleeing, the Maoists left behind some pamphlets at the spot threatening the kiln owner with dire consequences if he did not cough up the money immediately.

A CRPF Commando, identified as A. Deka was killed and his two other colleagues, A.K. Yadav and K. Kakoti were injured in an IED blast carried out by the CPI-Maoist cadres in the forest area of Aurangabad District. The Maoists triggered the blast near Bandhu Bigaha village when three Commandos of CRPF's elite 205th CoBRA unit were riding on two bikes on way to their camp from Bali Pahari locality, DySP P.N. Sahu said.

The CPI-Maoist cadres claimed responsibility for the June 19, 2016, blast at Khadiha canal under Deo Police Station area of Aurangabad District. A CRPF 'commando' was killed and two others were injured in the attack. In a statement, central zone committee 'spokesman' of the CPI-Maoist Pranjeet said the blast was a revenge of Bandh-Goreya "fake encounter" in which four of their colleagues were killed by the security personnel.

Officials of NIA, who are probing arms smuggling in north-eastern states, have come across evidence that suggests the CPI-Maoist cadres operating in Jharkhand have been supplied with sophisticated M-16 rifles. Official sources said that the sophisticated weapons are sourced from Nagaland and get transported to Maoists in Jharkhand by arm syndicates. The NIA is now in talks with ATS and STF of Nagaland, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand to chalk out a strategy from stopping the highly-sophisticated weaponry from reaching the Maoists in Jharkhand. According to official sources, NIA sleuths have managed to identify individuals allegedly involved in the smuggling of M-16 rifle.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres, who were involved in a recent landmine blast in Aurangabad, were arrested from different villages in Aurangabad District. The arrested Maoists have been identified as Krishna Yadav, Indrajit Yadav, Guruji alias Rajbali Bhuia, Inder Yadav alias Maruti, Aurangabad SP Babu Ram said. He said seven mobile phones, 400 metre wire, wire tester and pieces of cylinder were recovered from the possession of these Maoists.

The Centre asked four Naxal-hit States-Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal-to frequently hold Unified Command meetings for formulating a strategy to tackle the issue effectively. The UMH Rajnath Singh conveyed this at the Eastern Zonal Council meeting held in Ranchi, official sources said. Singh also cited the example of Jharkhand where splinter groups of the CPI-Maoist have been active and tackling them required coordination among forces and better strategy. The Zonal Council meeting took stock of various development schemes carried out in LWE-affected areas and found that Bihar lagged in construction of fortified Police Stations. Out of the 45 sanctioned fortified Police Stations in Bihar, 40 are yet to be constructed. In Jharkhand, out of 73 sanctioned fortified Police Stations, only two are yet to be completed, in Odisha, out of 52 sanctioned fortified Police Stations, 18 are yet to be constructed and in West Bengal, out of the 17 fortified Police Stations, one is yet to be completed. In 2011, the Centre had announced that it would fund construction of 400 fortified Police Stations in 83 worst Maoist-hit Districts in the country at a cost of INR 20 million each.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested with an AK-56 rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition from a village under Saraiya Police Station area of Muzaffarpur District. Acting on a tip-off, the Police raided Gorigawan village and arrested three Maoists, SSP Vinay Kumar said. One of the arrested Maoists was identified as Amit Sahni alias Kamleshji. The identity of the other two was yet to be ascertained.

Police arrested Madan Paswan (32), self-styled 'area commander' of the CPI-Maoist for Muzaffarpur and Vaishali Districts, from Repura Rampur village under Saraiya Police Station limits in Muzaffarpur District. Live cartridges of AK-47 and self-loading rifles, a country-made pistol and several money receipts were recovered from the possession of the arrested Maoists. Police also arrested one Shankar Paswan on the charge of helping Madan collect levy from several brick kilns of the District.

SF personnel arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre with arms and ammunition from Besratand forest near Dulampur village in Jamui District after an encounter with them, Police said. Following a tip-off about the presence of some Maoists in the forest, the CRPF 215th battalion troopers reached the spot in wee hours and started sealing the area before they came under fire from the Maoists, SP Jayant Kant said. The troopers fired 20 rounds to quell the Maoists, most of whom escaped from the spot, he said, adding the security personnel, arrested an Maoist Sanjay Marandi alias Motilal Marandi, said to be a former 'area commander' of the CPI-Maoist. Two rifles with 67 ammunition and a pistol with one ammunition, police uniform, Maoist literature, papers related to levy collection, and levy receipts among other things were seized from him.

The Jamui District Police claimed to have busted a CPI-Maoist den and recovered a huge cache of arms in an operation by SF personnel, close to the Jharkhand border. Two Maoists have been arrested.

SF personnel arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre with arms and ammunition from Besratand forest near Dulampur village in Jamui District after an encounter with the Maoists.

At least 10 CRPF Commandos - belonging to the CoBRA battalion - were killed and five others injured in a CPI-Maoist orchestrated IED blast in the forests of Aurangabad District. Initially, the troopers of the CoBRA unit were ambushed in an IED blast after which an encounter started between the two sides resulting in the killing of three Maoists. The incident was reported from Chakarbanda-Dumarinala forests of Aurangabad District. Some arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle, INSAS rifle and UBGL were also recovered from the encounter site.

The CPI-Maoist owned up responsibility for the Aurangabad blast and encounter on July 18 at Dumaria Nala forest area in Aurangabad District, in which 10 CRPF personnel and three Maoists were killed. Paramjeet, spokesperson of the 'central zonal committee' of the outfit, in a press statement admitted three members of the organization lost their lives. He said "The three cadres who died in the encounter are Prince alias Jitender, Harinder alias Uday and Bipin alias Kisan. Our brave cadres killed 10 CoBRA jawans of the CRPF. We laid the trap by giving them misleading information over the telephone which was under their surveillance. The fourth body is of a villager, not of our cadre." He said the operation was carried out to shake the confidence of the SF.

Admitting that the Naxal movement has received serious setbacks in recent times in the form of encounter deaths and surrender of leaders, East Division 'secretary' Pratap Reddy alias Ram Chandra Reddy alias Appa Rao alias Chalapati said SFs personnel have made quite a few strikes but claimed that the 'people's movement' has not been suppressed and will bounce back. While giving an interview in the interiors of the AOB on the eve of the Martyr's Week Chalapati said like their comrades elsewhere in the country, the LWEs of the East Division too need to change the strategy to match the changing socio-economic, political and global scenario.

The CPI-Maoist cadres raided a solar power plant site and torched 14 vehicles including tractors and JCB machines in Aurangabad District. Police said the Maoists also set a mixing plant on fire and raised anti-Police slogans at Bakshi Bigha village under Kasma Police Station limits of the District. "About 50-60 members of the outlawed outfit raided the solar power plant site at around midnight. They torched eight tractors, two JCB machines and some other vehicles parked there. The Maoists then set ablaze the main mixing plant by throwing fireballs. The fire soon spread to other installations," a Police officer said. Police said the Maoists had earlier demanded a huge amount as "levy" from contractors engaged in setting up the solar power plant and threatened them with dire consequences if they did not meet the demand. The site of the incident is just 30 km away from Saundaha forests on Aurangabad-Gaya border where CoBRA troopers were killed in an IED blast triggered by the Maoists.

Police arrested two Maoists - Nagendra Yadav and Upendra - in connection with the July 18 Aurangabad encounter. Nagendra Yadav alias Virendra, was the 'platoon commander' of the CPI-Maoist in Aurangabad District. He was arrested from a village on the outskirts of Aurangabad town during a combing operation against the rebels. Upendra, on the other hand, was arrested from Gaya.

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.

Bihar State Government raised the reward for arrest of wanted LWEs, including CPI-Maoist cadres and chief of PLFI. The highest reward of INR 500, 000 was announced on the head of Ganesh Shanker, who is allegedly the PLFI chief in Bihar. DGP P K Thakur had recommended to the home department to increase the reward on the heads of some wanted LWEs. The reward on CPI-Maoist cadres Nageshwar Koda, Gopal Das and Suresh Koda of Munger District was INR 50,000 each. Now, it has been increased to INR 100, 000 each. Another CPI-Maoist cadre Arvind Yadav alias Avinash da alias Ashok Yadav, who was wanted in Jamui District and carried a reward of INR 50,000 on his head, will now have INR 100, 000 reward for his arrest.

CPI-Maoist exhorted former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi to acknowledge his class/caste interest and review ties with organizations like BJP, RSS and VHP. Handwritten wall posters in this regard were found pasted in the Imamganj area of Gaya District, Bihar. Accusing the saffron brigade of perpetuating atrocities on dalits and minorities across the country, the Maoists alleged that instead of being true to his own oppressed identity, the HAM-S leader has developed a typically feudal mentality akin to those of the oppressors. The Maoists have sought an answer from Manjhi for the perceived betrayal of the dalit cause. It advises him not to be misled by people like former MLC Anuj Singh and acknowledge his own class interest and work for the furtherance of this very class interest.

Following posters pasted on August 3 in his constituency by the CPI-Maoist which threatened him for undermining them, former Bihar CM and leader of HAM-S, Jitan Ram Manjhi, called Maoists "protectors of poor." He also supported Maoists in taking levies from contractors. "I supported Maoists as they have been protecting poor people from being exploited by the rich and affluent… in 1984, when I was a minister, there were allegations levelled against me that I was a supporter of Naxals…I've often been saying that to save the honour of women and daughters belonging to poor [sections of] society, and to protect them from various kinds of atrocities, if someone supports them and is called a Naxalite, then yes, I am the first Naxalite," said Manjhi. He also added that Maoists, whether in Bihar or any other part of the country, were fighting for the cause of the poor and, "if they use force to protect the poor, there is nothing wrong in this". He also defended the Maoist act of extorting levies from contractors engaged in the construction of roads and buildings in Maoist-affected areas. "The contractors make lot of money by over-estimating the project cost and there is no harm if the Maoists take levy from them, former Chief Minister Manjhi said while speaking to journalists in Patna. "We all know that an estimate scam is going on in the State and a work that can be done for Rs. 1 crore is being done at Rs. 5 crore. Contractors are not doing their work honestly and say that they have to pay money to public representatives and officers. If Naxals extort levy from such contractors, what wrong do they do?" asked the former Bihar CM. He also said that the July 19, 2016 encounter in which 10 CRPF CoBRA commandos were killed was not the handiwork of the Maoists but criminals.

Six cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including a self-styled 'commander', were arrested from different places in Aurangabad District. Acting on a tip-off, Police arrested self-styled 'commander' Veera Das and another Maoist from Kasma Police Station area, SP Babu Ram said, adding that Das was wanted in several other cases. During their interrogation, they admitted their involvement in the attack on the base camp of a private company after it failed to pay them 'levy' a few days ago, he said. On their information, Police arrested four others.

An STF trooper was killed during an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres at Kanimoi hill located under Kajra Police Station area in Lakhisarai District. Lakhisarai SP Ashok Kumar Sinha confirmed the casualty and said when the SFs, comprising the STF, CRPF and District Police, were proceeding towards a Maoist hideout in the hilly area, the Maoists started indiscriminate firing. The STF trooper, Ajay Kumar Mandal (32), belonged to Naugachhia village in Bhagalpur District.

The Aurangabad District Police arrested a suspected cadre of the CPI-Maoist for his involvement in blowing up a small bridge near Ketaki village under Deo Police Station seven years back. The Maoist identified as Kamat Yadav was arrested from Kusaha village under the same Police Station in Aurangabad District.

CPI-Maoist cadres in Bihar have given a call for one day Magadh Bandh on August 31, to protest the killing of six of their cadres in an encounter with the SFs in July this year. The bandh would begin 12 am on the intervening night of 30th and 31st August. Five Districts including Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Nawada and Arwal are likely to be affected by the bandh call. Encounter between SFs and Maoists took place in Dumaria Nala forest area in Aurangabad District on July 18. In this encounter, 10 commandos of the elite CoBRA battalion of CRPF were killed. Maoists had triggered a series of IED explosions during the encounter in which the 10 commandos lost their lives. The SFs also eliminated six Maoist cadres in the encounter. The SFs had also seized weapons like AK-47, INSAS rifle.

A heavily armed squad of the CPI-Maoist numbering between 30-35, attacked the construction site of a private company engaged in construction of Rail Bridge near Paimar River on Kiul-Gaya section of the Eastern railways in the Gaya District. The attackers set ablaze seven vehicles including one crane, one mixer and two pay loaders belonging to the construction company. The Maoist made nearly a dozen employees captive and snatched all their mobile phones. The workers were also robbed of their cash, which was around INR 30,000. Huddled together, the employees were dumped in a corner of the construction site. Two drum diesel stocked at the construction site were also used in the arson. Before leaving, the attackers asked the captives not to take the diktats of the organisation lightly. Confirming the incident, Magadh range, DIG, Saurabh Kumar disclosed, "I had visited the arson site. The Maoists have also left behind a hand written note attributing the attack to non-payment of 'levy' (extortion)."

Two CPI-Maoist cadres of Tumahawa Matiaria village under Matiaria Police Station area in the West Champaran District were arrested in Gaunaha Block in the District. SHO, Anil Kumar disclosed, Sheonarain Mahato and Manager Thakur were wanted in several cases of murder, loot and firing and had been evading arrest for almost a decade. They have been sent to the Bettiah District jail.

Maoist cadres have put up a poster with threat messages at Dadhpa village under Kutumba Police Station in Aurangabad District, which came to the notice of the villagers. The poster, carrying messages of Jitendra alias Prince and Haridwar reads, "Martyrdom of our brave members will not go futile and the organization will take up their unfinished task." In the message, the Maoists have even threatened SP Babu Ram and CAPF personnel for their participation in the ongoing anti-Maoist operation in the District. They have also threatened to avenge the Dumrinala encounter in July between SFs and rebels, in which four Maoists were killed. Targeting the SP, the Maoists have alleged that Police Forces are committing atrocities under his leadership and the organization will punish him in at 'jan adalat'. However, the SP said the Maoists are mainly engaged in extortion and have nothing to do with welfare of villagers.

Police seized a huge consignment of explosives being smuggled from Jharkhand under Barachatti Police Station area in the Gaya District. SSP, Gaya Garima Mallik said that one person was arrested from the spot while two others from Koderma District in Jharkhand. She said that 10,350 detonators and 6500 gelatin sticks were recovered from their possession. An intensive interrogation of arrested rebels is on to find out whether they had any links with extremists of the CPI-Maoist.

Police seized huge cache of arms and ammunition, including three magazines of AK-47 rifle, and arrested one person near Kurkuri Bridge under Beur Police Station in Patna District. The arrested person has been identified as Sanjay Kumar Rai, a resident of Beur. Police said the cache, which also included 214 pieces of 7.62mm bullets and 320 bullets of 8mm bore, was probably meant for supply either to CPI-Maoist or criminals. ASP Rakesh Kumar said Sanjay was carrying the ammunition in a shoulder bag and the bullets were packed in small packets. "He told us that the consignment was being brought to Patna from Gaya. It is not immediately known the consignment was meant for whom. Cartridges of AK-47 are usually not sold in the open market. It means that the consignment was meant either for Maoists or criminals," Kumar said, adding that ATS and STF officials would also interrogate the arrested arms smuggler.

A meeting of senior Police and CRPF officials took place in the camp headquarter of CRPF 190 battalion situated in Chatra District of Jharkhand headed by SP, Chatra, Anjani Kumar Jha. In this meeting the officers of Jharkhand-Bihar Police and CRPF and CoBRA Battalions discussed on various points regarding their new venture named 'Operation Safaya' going to be launched for complete eradication of Naxal groups operating in the border areas of both States. In this joint meeting the officials finalised the action plan to be executed during this operation. As per sources this operation will start in both sides of the border at a time so that the Naxal groups cannot feel safe in any of these two States. "This time the white collared people of the society who had been identified as the supporters of the Naxal groups will also be at the target. The aim of this operation is not only to eradicate the Naxal groups out of the states but also to seize the money they have made through their act of terror," said an official.

At least six CPI-Maoist cadres were suspected to be injured in a clash with Police in Hardiya Padariya jungles under Anandpur Police outpost in Banka District. The injured Maoists managed to escape but bloodstains found at several places indicated that they were injured during the encounter, SP, Rajiv Ranjan said. Around a hundred rounds were fired from both sides during the encounter, the SP said, adding that Police destroyed a bunker of the rebels. The Police seized half a dozen detonators, 100 cartridges, 12 mobile phone sets and Naxal literature from the site.

The Police in a joint operation with SSB arrested two hardcore Naxalites from Phulwaria reservoir under Rajauli Police Station in Nawada District. The two, identified as Ajay Paswan and Jitendra Yadav, were cadres of the MCC, SSB Commandant Prashant Gautam said. Acting on a tip off, the joint team of police and SSB raided Phulwaria reservoir and arrested the duo. A number of cases have been lodged against the two in Koch Police Station of Gaya District for their alleged involvement in various Naxal incidents, he said.

Police lunched massive combing operations in Banka and Jamui Districts, after an hour-long gun battle between the Policemen and Maoists on September 18. Sushil M. Singh Khopde, IGP, Bhagalpur range, claimed that active Policing had managed to ward off the rebel attack in Banka on September 18. "On the basis of some information a police team led by Banka SP Rajiv Ranjan along with special task force and paramilitary forces like Sashastra Seema Bal, conducted raids in the forests at Hardiya-Parariya falling under the rebel-hit Anandpur police outpost in Banka when the Maoists started firing on the police," IG Khopde said. "No one could be arrested. The most-wanted rebel leader Mantu Khaira, who was present during the encounter, too managed to escape but bloodstains suggested the rebels suffered heavy injuries in the police retaliation."

One Anil Sharma, son of Damodar Sharma of village Dhamna under Jhajha Police Station in Munger District, was shot dead by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres. His body, with both hands tied with a red towel, was found near a culvert. "Police found two empty cartridges near his body," said a source. Jhajha, SHO, Niraj Kumar Thakur said, some pamphlets written by the suspected Maoists were also found near the body. The killers alleged that the deceased was collecting levy in the name of Maoists and he was 'sentenced to death' for defaming the organization. "There were injury marks on his head and leg," he said. Sources said Anil was spying for police against the Maoists. "The Maoists suspected him of spying on them and killed him. To confuse the police, they wrote pamphlets accusing him of collecting levy in their name," a Police source said.

The 'zonal commander' of a CPI-Maoist outfit was arrested by the Police from a remote village under Jhajha Police Station in Jamui District. SP of Jamui, Jayant Kant said the Maoist 'commander', Dhaneshwar Yadav, had gone to his native village Rajla under Jhajha Police Station a week ago after he met with an accident. On a tip-off that Dhaneshwar was admitted to a private clinic for the treatment of his injuries, a raid was conducted at the doctor's clinic by Jhajha, SDPO, BK Raut. The raiding team arrested the Maoist and also recovered three gun nozzles, three detonators, four mobile sets, four SIMS, his Suzuki bike and a LPG cylinder, said the SP and added that he used to supply explosives to his group in Jhajha from Jharkhand.

Train services on Raxaul-Sitamarhi route halted for over 12 hours following recovery of an IED on the railway track near Ghorasahan railway station of the East Central Railway's Raxaul-Darbhanga section in East Champaran District. Superintendent of Raxaul station BNP Srivastav said the IED was probably planted by the CPI-Maoist. "An alert was sounded and movement of trains suspended soon after recovery of the IED," Srivastav said. In 2010, two bogies of a goods train were blown up in an IED blast triggered by Maoists on the same track. According to railway sources, RPF officials from Raxaul rushed to the spot along with Police and BDS. The bomb was finally defused and train services resumed after thorough checking of tracks. SP of Raxaul, Jitendra Rana said a probe had been ordered into the recovery of the IED.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres shot dead the OIC of a Police Station in Gaya District. DIG of Police Saurabh Kumar said three motorcycle-borne suspected Maoists fired four bullets at the OIC of Kotchi Police Station Quuam Ansari killing him on the spot. The OIC was on a morning walk when the assailants attacked him, the DIG said.

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs in Chakarbandha forest in Gaya District, amid a state-wide bandh called by the CPI-Maoist outfit to protest what it called Police atrocities. Senior CRPF officers said in Patna that the Maoist guerrilla was gunned down during an exchange of fire at Sagarpur village close to Chakarbandha forest in Gaya District, during a combing operation in the area. One country-made rifle, live cartridges and a radio were recovered. The identity of the guerrilla, who was in black uniform, is yet to be ascertained. CRPF officers said the Police found bloodstains, which suggested that some more guerrillas may have been killed. The combing operation was launched in the wake of a state-wide bandh called by the CPI-Maoist to protest the killing of a top guerrilla leader, Ashish Ranjan alias Asheeshan, in what the CPI-Maoist outfit called a "fake" encounter in Jharkhand's Gumla District on September 11, 2016. Ashish, considered a tech-savvy explosives expert, had a reward of INR 2.5 million on his head and was a member of the special area committee, which forms the third layer in the organisation's hierarchy after the politburo and the central committee. A senior officer associated with anti-Maoist operations said an alert had been sounded across the state overt the bandh call on October 9. "We have put the police officers of Gaya, Jamui and Aurangabad in south and central Bihar on high alert," he added.

Altogether 18 CPI-Maoist, including a woman, surrendered before Sheohar administration in the presence of 15,000 civilians at Belwa Ghat on the banks of the Bagmati in Sheohar District. Sheohar SP, Prakash Nath Mishra said the surrendered Maoists were hardcore members of the rebel group from the times of MCC, which has now merged with CPI-Maoist. All of them surrendered without any firearms. "The Maoists were not arrested as they were already granted bail by local courts. They furnished the bail papers at the time of surrender. They would, however, be under our surveillance," Mishra said. Sheohar, around 250 kilometres north of Patna, has been badly affected by Maoism. The SP said most of the Maoists, who surrendered on Saturday, were accused in multiple cases. "We have been pursuing all Maoists in Sheohar to come to the mainstream for the past six months. It is due to our efforts that crime figures in Sheohar have come down by almost 60%. Today's surrender programme is one of the milestones of the district administration," Mishra said.

October 17

Anil Das, a CPI-Maoist cadre with a reward of INR 25,000 on his head, was arrested from Ati Police Station area in Gaya District.

October 19

The UP-ATS claimed to have arrested two more CPI-Maoist cadres from Bihar, following the interrogation of four Maoists who are in its custody in Noida. Last week, the UP-ATS had busted two hideouts of Maoists in Noida and arrested nine suspected Maoists. Later they arrested one more from Chandauli District of Varanasi Division. According to UP-ATS officials, they received credible information from the accused about their associates and raided a hideout in Darigaon village in Rohtas District in Bihar. They arrested Dharamveer Singh (36) and Sipahi Ram (37). The Police said they got evidences like phone call records as proof of their involvement in Maoist activities. Anoop Singh, DSP, ATS (Western UP) said that Dharamveer Singh had been involved in Maoist activities for several years. "Dharamveer had met Pawan Jha, an arrested Maoist suspect, during the wedding of his sister in Rohtas district. Dharamveer introduced Pawan Jha to other Maoist leaders and members," said the officer. Dharamveer had promised to organise the gang in Bihar while Pawan would make a base in Noida, said sources. According to Police, Dharamveer had actively been involved in Maoist activities in his region and had also brought a few others to the network. He was also planning to visit Noida. However, the UP-ATS crackdown foiled his plan. Several criminal cases are registered against him in his hometown. Sipahi Ram had also been involved in Maoist actives for several years. UP-ATS sources said that Sipahi Ram knew Krishna Kumar for nearly 20 years. Sipahi Ram was given the responsibility to arrange explosives and weapons and to transport them to the gang members hideouts in NCR, Delhi. He is the 'area commander' of the newly formed outfit, TSPC in Bihar. TSPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including a 'sub-zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist, surrendered before Police in Gaya District. SSP, Garima Malik, said that self-proclaimed 'sub-zonal commander' of CPI-Maoist, Lobhi Paswan aka Jyoti Ji and two other Naxalites surrendered before the Police. Lobhi Paswan, wanted in number of subversive activities, is a resident of Mangraur village under Konch Police Station area in the District. The two other cadres were identified as self-proclaimed 'area commander's of the CPI-Maoist, Nand Kishore Ram aka Nand Ram and Brijbhushan Ravidas aka Bhushan Ji. They surrendered before the Police with a country-made pistol, other firearms and a few live cartridges.

A group of 200 CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a construction company site at Kharaundha station in Nawada District, and set ablaze four vehicles including two SUVs. The Maoists abducted four persons, which included three contractors named Vinod Yadav, Kailash Yadav and Sanjay Singh, and a driver, Shamshad. They were released after they ensured a payment of 10 per cent of the project cost.

A joint force of SSB, STF and District Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre from Gidha village in Munger District. SP, Ashish Bharti, said the arrested cadre has been identified as Ravi Ram alias Bhagna, who is an 'area commander' of Haveli Kharagpur area of the District. Ravi has been booked in 11 cases under Arms Act and murders, Bharti said adding five of the cases have been lodged in Munger and rest in Lakhisarai District.

Police uncovered two mini gun factories and recovered a country-made revolver and a large number of arms-making hand-driven machines and barrels at Gorho village under Asarganj Police Station in Munger District.

The Jehanabad District Court pronounced capital punishment to 10 of the 16 accused in the 1999 carnage in Senari village of Jehanabad District, in which 34 people were killed by the erstwhile MCC, presently merged with the CPI-Maoist. A total 38 people had been accused in the case, of which 16 were convicted. The 16 accused were charged with killing 34 people in Sensari village on the night of March 18, 1999. It is to be noted that, special court in April 2010 handed out capital punishment to 16 accused and life imprisonment to 10 but the High Court in October 2013, acquitted all the convicts. It is worthwhile to mention that it was the Senari massacre which provoked the Ranveer Sena to take retaliatory action at Bathe in Arwal in which the landlords reportedly killed 62 persons, mostly Dalits, on December 1, 2000.

A Jehanabad court awarded capital punishment to one more convict for his involvement in the massacre of 34 villagers at Senari in Jehanabad District in 1999. The court of additional District and sessions judge Ranjeet Kumar Singh, which also imposed a fine of INR 100,000 on convict Dukhan Ram Kahar on November 18, had on November 15, awarded death sentence to ten and life imprisonment to three other convicts for the carnage. The court had also slapped a fine of INR 100,000 on each of them. At least 34 persons belonging to an upper caste were dragged out of their homes and their throats slit by 1,000-odd members of MCC, an outlawed LWE outfit, at Senari under the Karpi Police Station area of Arwal District on March 18, 1999. Arwal was then part of Jehanabad District.

Banka Police with support from a CoBRA battalion recovered arms and ammunition from CPI-Maoist cadres after an hour long raid and exchange of fire in the Karmakar forest area under Suia Police Station of Banka District. SP, Banka, Rajiv Ranjan said more than 50 rounds of fire was exchanged, and the blood stains found suggest that rebels may have been injured, though no casualties have been reported. Police recovered one 9mm pistol, three country made pistols, 169 self loading rifle cartridges and magazines, hand grenades, clothes, medicines, blankets and food. SP, Ranjan added that there are no more bunkers or training camps in the region as Banka Police and Paramilitary Forces such as the CoBRA and CRPF have accelerated combing operations in areas sharing a border with Jamui District. The region was under the 'command' of Maoists Mantu Khaira and Prahallad Mandal, said Sushil M. Singh Khopde, IGP, Bhagalpur range.

Two armed CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from the jungles of Chalho in Aurangabad District. SP, Satya Prakash said a rifle was also seized from the two, who were identified as Ram Pravesh Yadav, a 'zonal commander' of Chalho jungle, and 'sub-zonal commander' Sunny Mistry alias Brahmdeo. Yadav, who has been absconding for the past 11 years, carried a cash reward of INR 50,000 on his head, the SP said, adding that around two dozens of criminal cases have been lodged against the two rebels in various Police Stations of the District.

SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres including the founder of JJMP, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, during a raid at a place under NTPC Khaira Police Station in Aurangabad District. SP, Satya Prakash said after getting a tip off that three Maoists were intimidating local people, especially farmers, to get their personal work done, Police raided Khadaha-Sonedila area under NTPC Khaira Police Station area from where the three Maoists were arrested along with arms and ammunition. The arrested trio included Arvind Ram, the founder of Maoist outfit JJMP and a resident of Kathkur Village of Kutumba Police Station of the District. Arvind Ram formed JJMP after splitting from the CPI-Maoist. The other two arrested were identified as Shankar Ram alias Alam ji, a resident of Aurangabad District and Mukesh Kumar Mehta, a resident of Palamu District of Jharkhand, the SP said. The Police seized three country made pistols, 15 live cartridges and an empty cartridge from their possession, he added. Arvind Ram was a mastermind of the Jaipur jewellery shop loot case in which he had served three years of jail, Prakash said adding, and Ram was involved in various Maoist related incidents in Mali and Nabinagar Police Station areas of the District.

SFs, in two separate incidents, arrested CPI-Maoist Puran Murmu in Jamui District and CPI-Maoist Gopal Das in Munger District.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from a forest under Rajauli Police Station in Nawada District during a combing operation. SP, Vikas Barman said Police were conducting search for arms and ammunition on the basis of information provided by the four. The Maoists had planned to strike vital public installations taking advantage of the cold weather and extreme foggy conditions prevailing throughout the District. The ultras led by Praduman Sharma had set several railway equipment and vehicles at the newly-constructed Kharond railway station under Rajauli sub-division on fire on October 3 besides furling black flags on Independence Day, added the SP. The four cadres have been identified as Manoj Yadav, Akhilesh Kumar, Surendra Yadav and Ramchandra Yadav. Acting on a tip- off, the four were arrested while trying to escape in a boat from Phulwaria dam under Hardiya panchayat under Rajauli Police Station in a joint operation involving the SSB personnel and local Police.

SSB and District Police have arrested two hardcore Naxalites during a raid in Bhaluka Jungles of Jamui District. The Naxalites arrested are Pankaj Yadav, self-styled 'area commander' of the outfit, and another hardcore Naxalite Bhola Yadav, SP, Jayant Kant and SSB Commandant, M S Yadav told reporters during a joint press conference. Pankaj Yadav is the resident of Abhaypur village under Piri Bazar Police Station area of Munger District while Bhola Yadav is the resident of Amarakh village under Jamui Police Station area of Jamui District, Jayant Kant said, adding that these Naxalites were arrested during a joint operation carried out by SSB and District Police. The Police seized two rifles, one automatic pistol, 305 shells of cartridge, two hand grenades, two mobile phones, one motorcycle and seven live bombs from their possession, the SP said. The two naxalites were sent to Jamui Jail on December 18 after being interrogated.

A woman in northern Bihar was allegedly gang-raped by six Maoists as a punishment for refusing to join the outfit as a cadre in West Champaran District. The married woman, a resident of West Champaran District was approached by six armed Maoists and asked her to join their outfit, said Police. When she refused to join the Maoist group she was allegedly gang-raped. "An FIR has been registered against six unidentified men. We are conducting raids to nab the culprits based on the victim's allegations. The report of her medical examination is awaited," said Umashankar Prasad, a sub-inspector at Kangli Police Station. Although it is not clear which Maoist outfit the culprits belonged to, Prasad said it appears that they were from what is known in the area as Democracy Party.

Police arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres from their hideout with a huge cache of firearms in Jhajha-Narganjo jungle under Jhajha Police Station area in Jamui District. Police said that the arrested Naxals of outlawed CPI-Maoist were identified as Solo Yadav and Karu Marandi. Two sophisticated firearms, 100 Kilograms of explosives and other incriminating objects were recovered from their possession. An intensive interrogation of Naxalites is on to arrest other members of the organisation.

Bihar Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre in Patna District. He was involved in attack on Security personnel and other unlawful activities from a bus stand under Jakkanpur Police Station area. Patna SSP, Manu Maharaj said that the Police personnel cordoned off the bus stand on the information that a cadre of the CPI-Maoist, Mohammed Abdul aka Azad was loitering around the area. He said Police took the Maoist, attached with the ultra Left outfit`s MZCC into custody before he could make good his escape. Maharaj said Maoists under the leadership of Azad had attacked a Police team near Paliganj in the Patna District in 1996 and also strangulated a person identified as Rajdeo Yadav to death same year.

Around two-dozen CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a brick kiln in Marvapakar village under Saraiya Police Station in Muzaffarpur District and set off two cylinder bombs, destroying the kiln before fleeing. The Maoists, equipped with sophisticated firearms, raided the Sundaram brick kiln owned by Tuntun Singh and caught hold of the kiln's caretaker, Jaggo Singh. They assaulted Jaggo at gunpoint. Other workers at the kiln fled sensing trouble. After setting off the cylinder bombs, the rebels fired in the air to intimidate residents. Fearing an influx of rebels, the residents too opened fire but the rebels left under cover of darkness. Police sources said the Maoists had demanded levy from kiln owner Tuntun. But Tuntun neither informed the Police nor paid the extortion money.

A team of the SSB's 27th battalion arrested three Naxalites, who were allegedly involved in raiding the Sundaram brick kiln at Marvapakar village on December 27, from Reva village in Muzaffarpur District.

The SSB and Police, in a joint operation arrested CPI-Maoist cadre Subedar Mistry alias Toofani (45), after a raid in Korkati in Gaya District. Subedar was wanted in various cases.

Raja Rai (50), a CPI-Maoist cadre, surrendered to the District Police in Muzaffarpur District. Rai was involved in loot and attack cases lodged with Sahebganj and Saraiya Police Stations in the District.