A woman cadre of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) was killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in a forested area between Tekalgudem and Basaguda villages in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 19, reports The Hindu. As per the report, the incident took place when a team of 168th battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a unit of its 204th CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) battalion and State Police were conducting an anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation in the said area. After the exchange of fire, body of a female Maoist along with three rifles have been recovered from the spot, said the Officials adding that a search of the area is ongoing and the identity of the slain Maoist is yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile, Maoists set ablaze vehicles and machinery engaged in road construction near Chidpal village under Tongpal Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on January 18, reports The Week. A Police Official said Maoists stormed a road construction site set on fire two trucks, a water tanker and a concrete mixer machine belonging to a private firm. “The work underway is part of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Despite the contractor being warned not to carry out work until adequate security is in place, he continued construction activities. His vehicles were seized recently for ignoring security warnings applicable to conflict-ridden areas,” the Official said adding that efforts are on to apprehend the Maoists.
In a separate incident, two Maoists were arrested from a village under Fulbagdi Police Station Limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on January 18, reports The Pioneer. The arrested cadres have been identified as Kamlu Hidma (30) and Rava Devi (25), both residents of a village under Fulbagdi Police Station Limits. According to Police, “They were wanted in connection with attacking a Police party in the forests of Sirsatti under Fulbagdi police station limits in 2016. They were arrested from their village hideout on intelligence input.”
Additionally, a drone-like object was spotted flying for about 15 minutes over the Puswada camp of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on the Dornapal-Jagargunda axis in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on January 17, reports The Week. The Superintendent of Police (SP), Shalabh Sinha said, “We launched our UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or drone) to track its movement. However, the light of the suspected drone went off and it disappeared". It was yet to be ascertained if Maoists were operating these drones, the SP added. Similar incident of drone flying over Security Forces’ (SFs) camps in Kistaram and Pallodi area of the District was witnessed in October, 2019.