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Maharashtra Timeline 2016
Date
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Incidents
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January 17
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A CPI-Maoist 'commander' carrying
reward of INR 1.2 million on his head, surrendered before the
Gadchiroli District Police along with his wife and another woman
cadre. Each of the women Maoists, wanted for their alleged role
in various encounters with the police, carried reward of INR 200,000
on their heads. "Baburao Pesu Devu Wachami, the platoon commander
of 'Chamorshi Dalam' (armed squad), was allegedly involved in
four serious offences including three encounters with police and
a bomb blast," the Police stated in a press release. Wachami's
wife Payki Girija Madika Barse, working for 'Sitapur Dalam', also
laid down arms.
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January 20 |
The CPI-Maoist in Maharashtra
has issued a 'hit list' of 37 persons who they vow to eliminate
in 2016. The Maoists have roped in units of 'Company-10', trained
to kill with precision, from Chhattisgarh to execute the plan.
Contrary to the Maharashtra government's recent claim that LWE
is on the wane, the State faces a renewed red cadre that has vowed
to eliminate 37 senior Police officers and informants in 2016.
"This [the latest hit list] is a matter of serious concern for
the State, even as inputs show new strategies are being adopted
to attract youth with fresh vigour," an intelligence note in possession
of The Hindu reads.
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.
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February 3 |
Upbeat at the success of its surrender
policy for LWE, Maharashtra has extended the same up to August
28, 2017. The Policy had lapsed in August last year (2015) but
wasn't renewed as the State Home Department was awaiting approval
from the Finance Department. The State Government has been claiming
that LWE-violence had ebbed in 2015 as a result of its lucrative
surrender policy. The latest surrender policy, which carries a
cash reward of INR 500000 resulted in 51 LWEs giving up arms last
year, Maharashtra claims. Violence also came down substantially,
even as before the new policy came into effect, 40 extremists
had surrendered in 2014, and 48 in 2013.
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February 14 |
Nine CPI-Maoist cadres including
a 'divisional committee member' and two 'section commanders' surrendered
in the last one week, the Gadchiroli Police of Maharashtra said
in a statement. The top catch was Ramji Mattami alias Sunil
(32) recently promoted as member of Kasansur divisional committee.
He carried a reward of INR 1.6 million. Sources told that Mattami,
active for over 15 years, was removed from the committee for alleged
sexual misconduct with a woman cadre and had been staying at his
native village. When the Police arrested him, Mattami was found
to be working for the Maoists from home. "It was due to his promise
to help the Police in sharing vital information about Naxal activities
that the Police got him surrendered," said a source.
Among others who surrendered are
Sattu Narote alias Shiva (26) and his wife Rekha Timma
(27) were 'section commanders' of company 4 and each of them carried
a reward of INR 800,000.
The other six cadres are Mira
Narote (24), Kamla Hidko (35), Somji Atlami (28), Lakshman Narote
(28), Dogde Atram (34), and Mangu Mattami (30) - had been active
Maoists for years ranging between five and 14 years. While Mira
had INR 400,000 reward on account of being a member of company
dalam, others carried a reward of INR 200,000 each on their heads.
Kamla Hidko is the wife of top Maoist leader Saoji Tulami, who
spearheaded the Jantana Sarkar activity in the Tipagad area of
Gadchiroli district.
CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian,
identified as Sobu Gota (23), at Gaderi village under Etapalli
taluka in Gadchiroli District, a press release issued by
the Gadchiroli district Police said on February 17. Gota was forcibly
taken away from his house and then killed, the Press release added.
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February 15 |
A 40-year-old civilian, identified
as Chanti Gorgunda of Patagudam village in Sironcha taluka
of Gadchiroli District was killed by Maoists. The Maoists called
Chanti out from his residence when he was taking his meals in
the night. After some time, he was shot dead, Police said, adding
they killed him as they suspected him to be a 'police informer'.
One of his cousins is working with the Gadchiroli Police.
Centre will come up with 100 AIR
Stations in Naxal affected States in the country and the first
Radio Station will be constructed in Gadchiroli District.
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March 10 |
The CPI-Maoist cadres have killed a Constable
of Hedri Police Post in Etapalli Division of Gadchiroli District.
The victim, Deepak Sadmake, was shot by the Maoists from close
quarters when he was patrolling a village market with his colleagues.
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March 12 |
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.
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March 13 |
People in Reknar village in Etapalli taluka
were at the receiving end of Police wrath when a Crack-60 team
of Hedri Police post in Gadchiroli District thrashed them in retaliation
of killing of Constable Deepak Sedmake two days earlier (March
11) by the CPI-Maoist. A minor, force fed with chilli powder that
had also been inserted in his anus, was among several to be tortured
on the suspicion of having helped the Maoists team that killed
Sedmake. Dasrath Usendi, a local farmer, said four villagers bore
the brunt of Police atrocity while others were slapped and kicked.
"After having vented their wrath, Police also whisked away four
people to their post but released them in the evening," he said.
"A day later, villagers lodged protest before tehsildar and sub-divisional
police officer (SDPO) but nothing happened," he said. Earlier,
sources from Hedri said Police had rounded up several traders
from the weekly market where the Constable was killed. The traders
were also thrashed at the camp. According to a source, two traders
sustained fractures due to beating. A local source in Etapalli
said the injury reports of the traders were later fudged under
Police pressure too to show they had suffered a fall from tree.
Inspector General of Police, Nagpur and Naxal range, Ravindra
Kadam condemned the thrashing stating such incidents only pushed
back the initiatives several years behind. "We have already called
for explanation from the post in-charge and commander of the force
at Hedri holding them responsible for the high-handedness. Actions
would follow after the explanations are received," said Kadam.
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March 20 |
Bodies of two slain CPI-Maoist cadres were recovered
from the forest stretch between Gundam and Sewari in Etapalli
division of Gadchiroli District. The Maoists were killed during
an encounter with the Special Action Group and Crack-60 team of
Gadchiroli District Police in Kasansur area during a cross-border
combing operation along Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border. According
to sources, a group of armed Maoists hiding in the forest opened
fire at the forces at around 5.30 pm. The security personnel returned
fire killing two of the Maoists. Police suspect that some other
Maoists were injured in the encounter. However, the Maoists fled
taking cover in the thick forest. The forces also recovered Maoist
literature and other material from the slain Maoists. Two .303
rifles were also seized from the place.
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March 22 |
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.
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March 27 |
The CPI-Maoist cadres have killed two persons
in separate incidents in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The
victims were identified as Suryabhan Tembhurne (38), resident
of Wako village, and Panchamsingh Koreti (65), resident of Sonpur
village.
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April 14 |
A Policeman was killed when CPI-Maoist cadres
opened indiscriminate fire at a function in Gadchiroli District.
The attack came at a function which was addressed by former Maharashtra
legislator Deepak Atram at Mauje Chhallewada village in Gadchiroli.
Atram's Police bodyguard, Nanaji B Nagose, who was posted on duty
near the stage, was suddenly accosted by six heavily armed Maoists
who fired several rounds at him before fleeing into the nearby
jungles. Nagose was rushed by a helicopter to Gadchiroli but he
succumbed during treatment at the District Civil Hospital.
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April 19 |
A CPI-Maoist woman 'deputy commander', identified
as Sarita Kolu Kowase, belonging to Perimili Local Organizational
Squad was killed in en encounter with SF personnel in the forest
of Kudkeli at Bandenagar in Bhamragarh tehsil of Gadchiroli District.
Sarita's husband Sainath, 'commander' of the LOS, too is learnt
to have sustained bullet injuries on the chest before being dragged
away by cadres from the spot. Apart from the Sarita's body, Police
also recovered her SLR rifle and 35 bullets. The camp was later
stormed by the Police party. They recovered a number of rucksacks,
materials of daily needs, and explosives, wires and detonators.
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April 25 |
CPI-Maoist cadres killed two civilians in Gadchiroli
District of Maharashtra. A Gadchiroli Police statement said "Matpurshaha
Sanaku Holi (42), a resident of Khamtala village and Gogasu Budhu
(41), a resident of Huralayadand village under Kurkheda block
of Gadchiroli District were killed by the Maoists today [Monday]''.
The Maoists went to the homes of both the victims and shot them
dead branding them as 'Police informers' early morning," added
the press statement. The murders took place in an area considered
to be "less sensitive and civil" area of Gadchiroli. The incidents
have come as a surprise to security establishment in this District.
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April 26 |
Six companies of 191 battalion of CRPF have been
redeployed in Etapalli division of southern Gadchiroli where the
CPI-Maoist cadres appear to be trying to revive their movement.
Two companies of 37 battalion of CRPF have been shifted to Repanpalli
and Rajaram Khanla while another two to Koti and Nargunda. The
region, now turned into a fortress, serves as a corridor to Maoist
stronghold of Abhujmadh spread across Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh
border.
The ongoing construction work of an interstate
bridge on Pranhita River on Maharashtra-Telangana border was thwarted
by the Naxalites who set an excavator on fire and also damaged
other equipment at the construction site at Gudem in Aheri taluka
of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. Property and material worth
INR 10 million was damaged in the attack.
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April 30 |
Sheshrao Darro (52) and Devaji Atla (55), both
working for the CPI-Maoist as party organizers, were killed by
the Maoists outside Masanadi village in Pendri taluka of Gadchiroli
District of Maharashtra. The duo was whisked away from the village
on April 29 evening. Police said Darro was 'vice-president' of
Maoist 'Jantana Sarkar' at the village level. Atla was an old
member of the party. Darro's brother works with C-60 force of
the district police. The Maoists targeted Darro and Atla alleging
that they were not focusing on the party organization but were
helping Police.
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May 1 |
Ramji Potavi, a Maoist and bodyguard of former
secretary of state zonal committee of CPI-Maoist, Aitu, has surrendered
before the administration and SF personnel in Gadchiroli District
of Maharashtra. Aitu had surrendered before Telangana Police one
year ago. Potavi carried reward of INR 400,000 on him.
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May 10 |
A woman CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an alleged
encounter with Police at a village in Dhanora tehsil of Gadchiroli
District. The dead, identified as Rajita Ramko Risi Usendi, is
suspected to be a Maoist 'commander', Police said. "Police were
conducting an anti-Naxal operation in Mahawada area of Dhanora
tehsil following an encounter that had taken place in the village
two days back," SP Sandeep Patil said. "After coming to know that
some Naxals were hiding in a house located in deep forests of
Murekasa village, police rushed there last evening," he said.
The Police patrol party was attacked by Naxals and they retaliated.
The encounter lasted for the entire night and ended in the wee
hours today when the Maoists fled leaving the body of Rajita,
a Police release said. An AK-47 rifle was recovered from the spot
and probe is underway, it said.
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May 22 |
A villager identified as Venkatesh Atram (31)
was hacked to death by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Gadchiroli District.
"The Maoists went to the residence of Venkatesh Atram (31) in
Rajaram village under Aheri division of Gadchiroli and killed
him on the suspicion of being a police informer. He was not a
police informer, he was just a common villager," said a press
statement from Gadchiroli Police. However, a handwritten note
left by the Maoists accused him of being a SPO. "Venkatesh Atram
was working as an SPO for over six years as a result of which
our PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) has given him death
penalty," read the statement issued in the name of the Aheri Area
Committee of CPI-Maoist.
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May 23 |
The Balaghat Police of Madhya Pradesh have arrested
a 'most wanted' CPI-Maoist cadre from Gondiya District of Maharashtra.
Accused, Lakhan alias Mohan (50) was carrying a bounty of INR
30,000 on his head and wanted in connection with a 2008 case wherein
a group of 10 Maoists had set two bamboo laden trucks on fire.
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May 27 |
Out of animosity the CPI-Maoist cadres abducted
and killed one of their supporters in Kurkheda division in Gadchiroli
District. The victim Kashiram Madavi (40) was abducted from his
native village Kamthala on May 24. He was brutally thrashed with
the sticks till he died. Madavi's body was recovered near the
village. Gadchiroli Police informed that Madavi was attached to
Naxal movement since many years and used to work at village and
area level for Naxal dalam. Police claimed that Madavi had developed
animosity with some Naxal cadres.
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May 29 |
The western sub-zonal committee of the CPI-Maoist
has called for a bandh in Gadchiroli District on May 31 to protest
the gunning down of five women cadres, including two of the rank
of 'deputy commander', in the year so far. This is probably the
first time Naxals have called for a bandh protesting death of
their senior women cadres. The Maoists have appealed for local
support, while keeping the medical and emergency services out
of the purview of the bandh, underlining the contributions of
the women cadres fighting for the rights of tribals.
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June 1 |
The Police unearthed and neutralized five claymore
mines buried at different places on Hedri-Jambia Road in Etapalli
tehsil of Gadchiroli District.
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June 2 |
CPI-Maoist shot dead Sharad Kursami (30) of Mardmelinga
village in Bhamragarh tehsil of Gadchiroli District. A Police
press note said, "Kursami was kidnapped three days ago and was
found gunned down near Hukkametta village on Thursday." It added,
"Naxalites [Left-Wing Extremists, LWEs] branded Kursami as a police
informer but he was not one. Baffled by a good response to a development
rally held recently at Nelgunda, the Naxalites have resorted to
violence against civilians."
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June 7 |
Bhumkal Sanghatan organized another awareness
drive against the Naxalites ideology in LWE territory of Dhamrancha
in Gadchiroli District recently. Over 1,000 tribals participated
in the drive. They protested against killing of innocent civilians,
including an ex-Sarpanch and Dalit leader Patru Durge, and also
recent butchering of a Dalit boy in the village by the LWEs. Villagers
from neighbouring villages like Manerajaram, Dubguda, Bamapali,
Mandhra, Yeramnar, Tonder, Chitveli, and Naingundam participated
in the drive.
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.
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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.
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June 19 |
Three senior members of the CPI-Maoist were killed
by the Police in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. "A joint
police team of Telangana and Maharashtra police was carrying out
an anti-Maoist operation in Kotepalli forest area under Aheri
division of Gadchiroli on Sunday morning. The Maoists attacked
this joint police team at around 6 am. The police team retaliated
the fire and the encounter went on for about an hour. Three senior
Maoists were killed in this encounter and the rest of them managed
to escape taking advantage of thick forest," said a press statement
issued by the SP, Gadchiroli District. The Police also recovered
one AK 47, one SLR and one .303 rifle from the spot of the encounter.
"The weapons, recovered from the dead Maoists, indicate that they
were senior leaders possibly above the rank of Maoist commander,
but their identities are yet to be ascertained," added the Police
press statement. According to some Police sources from Chhattisgarh,
one of the deceased Maoists in Sunday's encounter was Athram Shobham
alias Charles from Adilabad District of Telangana. Athram Shobham
reportedly worked for Telangana Special Zonal Committee of the
CPI-Maoist and carried a reward of INR 400,000 on his head. "Other
two look like his bodyguards," informed an officer involved in
anti-Maoist operations in restive Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
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June 20 |
The head of Maharashtra's ANO unit Shivaji Bodkhe
while addressing the trainee Policemen at the ANO unit at Surabardi
in Nagpur said that the CPI-Maoist's network was spreading rapidly
in urban areas of the State and the Maoist movement was no more
limited to Gadchiroli and Gondia Districts. "There is a perception
that Maoism is limited to only Gadchiroli and Gondia Districts
of Maharashtra. Many in the police department also carry this
perception. But this movement is not limited to tough and dense
terrains of forest areas. It is spreading rapidly in urban areas
through its frontal organizations. The Police need to be alert
and focus on these urban frontal originations," said Bodkhe, who
is a IG of Police of the ANO. He also claimed that the Maoists
were carrying out "secret propaganda" in Mumbai, Thane, Pune,
Nadurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon and Nashik areas of the State. "We only
know about the Maoist violence against the police in forest areas
and their opposition to the developmental works. But their frontal
originations have an altogether different modus operandi. Groups
like Kabir Kala Manch are trying to attract workers and students
and are trying to put them against the established system by teaching
them about Marx, Lenin and Mao," claimed IG Bodhkhe.
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June 29 |
The C-60 Commandos of Maharashtra Police have
recovered an unidentified body a CPI-Maoist cadre following an
encounter in the forest of Bormeta-Mardhoor near Hedri in Etapalli
tehsil of Gadchiroli District. The SFs have also recovered
a 12 bore firearm near the body.
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July 24 |
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.
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July 26 |
Five CPI-Maoist cadres, carrying a reward of INR
1.4 million together on their heads, surrendered before the Gadchiroli
Police, a press note issued by the District Police said. The Maoists
were identified as Kalidas Hupundi, a member of Platoon 3 of the
CPI- Maoist, Jagesh Hidko, member of Platoon 15, Ankita Pada,
a supply member, Jivan Madavi, a member of supply team and CNM
that sings revolutionary songs, and Sukhram Vadde, a militia member.
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July 28 |
A hardcore woman CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in
an encounter with Police personnel in Gadchiroli District. "An
intelligence-based operation was launched in Bhimapur forest area
under Gatta Police Station of Gadchiroli in view of the Maoists'
'Martyrs week'. An encounter took place between the Police team
and the Maoists at 11.30 am. The Police team managed to recover
the dead body of one woman Maoist and a large cache of Maoists'
material from the spot of the encounter," said Gadchiroli SP in
a press statement. The Police team managed to recover one 12 bore
rifle, 25 bullets and other camp material of the Maoists. However,
the Police were unable to identify the deceased Maoist.
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August 1 |
A civilian, identified as Rakesh Gawade (23) -
a college student - was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres at Tumarkasa
village of Gadchiroli District. Gadchiroli Police said that Rakesh
was helping villagers avail themselves of benefits of the government
schemes. The CPI-Maoist Perimily dalam killed him on suspicion
of being a 'Police informer', said Police in a statement.
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August 2 |
Gadchiroli CPI-Maoist rendered weak due to depleting
strength after loss of senior cadres in encounters and spate of
surrenders have reportedly got reinforcement from their upper
echelons in the form of around 150 additional manpower. Sources
from a remote part of Gadchiroli District claimed that Maoists,
mostly from Chhattisgarh, were sent from the Maoist stronghold
of Abujamarh after intensive training for taking on the SFs. "The
dalams have now been amalgamated with rest of the other formations
like Local Guerrilla Squads (LGS) and Local Organizational Squads
(LOS). Two or three dalams are often working together and also
getting conjoined with platoons as the Naxalites are facing manpower
shortages," said a security intelligence source. "Now, the additional
manpower that has come from Abujamarh is being evenly distributed
among different dalams, platoons and company in Gadchiroli to
strengthen them," said the source. SP, Gadchiroli, Abhinav Deshmukh
said that migration of Naxals from Chhattisgarh in the period
of Naxal saptah or martyrs' week is not surprising. "Though we
may not know the exact numbers of Naxalites having sneaked into
the district, it may have taken place which we would check. The
Naxalites generally plan strikes before or after Naxal
saptah," he said.
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September 17 |
Gadchiroli Police arrested Ranu Usendi, Kasansur
action team 'commander' and local organization squad member of
the CPI-Maoist, from his village Javeli in Raigarh District, where
he had come to attend a family programme. He had joined the rebel
movement in 2005. Usendi has been remanded to Police custody for
five days.
Three Maoists surrendered before the District
administration in Gadchiroli District. They have been identified
as Kanhu Usendi, Ankush Narote and Ramji Kawdo. The three had
been involved in the movement for last several years. They were
also behind many offences and sabotaging activities.
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September 27 |
Explosives and live detonators were seized from
a Naxal hideout in a forest range near Kosambi village under Chichgarh
Police Station in Deori tehsil in Gondia District. Acting on a
tip off, personnel from Anti-Naxal Cell, C-60 Commando Force and
local Police jointly raided the hideout in a forest range near
Kosambi village and seized six kilograms of explosives kept in
two aluminium containers, concrete mixture, three live detonators,
electric wires and iron rods, among other items, they said. According
to the Police, a local resident spotted around 15 armed Naxals,
five to six of them women, near Kosambi on September 26. He immediately
alerted the local Police who along with personnel from Anti-Naxal
Cell, C-60 and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad launched a search
operation under supervision of District, SP, Dilip Bhujbal and
busted the hideout. According to police, the explosives were kept
by the Naxalites and were supposed to be used against the Police
by the CPI-Maoist outfit. Police have registered offence under
Indian Arms Act and other relevant sections of IPC against the
members of Triple K Dalam which is active in Gadchiroli - Gondia
Districts.
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October 6 |
A Police constable with Gadchiroli Police sustained
splinter injury in a blast when a pressure release bomb went off
near Kunjimerka-Gundjur forest in Etapalli taluka in Gadchiroli
District. The incident took place when the constable tried to
dismantle a Naxalite banner strung across poles to highlight their
party's appeals for supporting the countrywide bandh called
on October 11 and 12. Two claymore mines were also later recovered
from the spot. The incident took place shortly after a gun battle
between a combined squad of Police from Jambiya Gatta sub-Police
post and CRPF against CPI-Maoist cadres near Kidatola village.
The armed Maoists retreated as the SFs were trying to encircle
them. Sources claimed that senior officers of Jambiya Gatta sub-Police
Force were tipped off regarding the presence of Maoists in the
forests adjoining Kidatola village. A combined force had launched
a search when the encounter and blast took place one after another.
In an encounter at Nargunda in Bhamragadh tehsil
in Gadchiroli District, Police and Maoists had exchanged fire
before the rebels retreated.
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October 10 |
In a show of solidarity to Kashmiri protesters
demanding the right to self-determination, the CPI-Maoist in Chandrapur
District called for a bandh on October 10 and 11. The Maoists
have put up posters in Bhamragarh, Hemalkasa, Arewada and Hindewada
area in the District, asking people to observe the two-day bandh
to express their support to separatist forces in Kashmir. The
Valley has been on the boil since July when HM militant Burhan
Wani was killed by the SFs. This is the first time the organization
has openly supported the demand of Kashmiri separatists for a
resolution and their right to self-determination. Till now, they
had been a prominent voice for the rights of dalits and adivasi
communities in India. The organization has also voiced its support
to the separatist forces in the northeastern part of the country.
Intelligence agencies have been alerted about this development.
Law enforcement agencies in states like Maharashtra, Telangana
and Andhra Pradesh (where the organization is reportedly quite
active) are looking out for the same after the banners and pamphlets
clearly mentioning their support to Kashmir protesters surfaced.
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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.
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October 31 |
Gadchiroli Police announced the surrender of five
most-wanted CPI-Maoist cadres in Gadchiroli District, who carried
a total reward of INR1.2 million on their head. They have been
identified as Karan alias Dursa Peka Narote (23), with
a reward of INR 400,000; Pravin alias Vilas Devaji Kolha
(23); Darju Kulle Usendi (23); Raiji Nalgu Kaatvo (30); and the
sole woman Maoist Sharda alias Reena Vatte Pungati (20)
- each carrying a reward of INR 200,000, said SP, Abhinav Deshmukh.
Narote was an active Maoist since June 2008 and served with Gatta
Dalam and since December 2010 was with Platoon No 14. Kolha
joined the Kasansoor Dalam in 2012 and was involved in
encounters of Kundum and Dobeguda besides other serious subversive
activities. Usendi was a part-timer Maoist with Kasansoor Dalam
since 2015 and did not take part in any major criminal acts. Kaatvo
served as a part-time member with the Kaknoor Dalam since
2002 and was involved in the Vachhaghat encounters, vandalising
the revenue department's offices in Agmeta, one murder and several
other acts of subversion. The sole woman Maoist who surrendered,
Sharda had joined the Gatta Dalam in November 2012. She
took part in a bloody encounter with SFs in Kucher.
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November 21 |
Five CPI-Maoist cadres, collectively carrying
a reward of INR 1.4 million on their heads surrendered before
Police in Gadchiroli District. The surrendered Maoists are identified
as Dinesh Shantaram Maku Madavi (25), Mangesh Raju Yera Madavi
(24), Savita Tumreti (21), all carrying a reward of INR 200,000
on their heads, as well as Vasant Vadde (23) and Ravi Gota (25),
both carrying a reward of INR 400,000. Gadchiroli, SP, Avinash
Deshmukh, said more naxals may surrender in near future. A total
of 44 naxalites have surrendered this year.
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November 29 |
The Anti-Naxal operations wing of the Maharashtra
Police has drawn up a list of people in the Naxal-affected
areas of Gadchiroli District. The list comprised mainly labourers,
transporters, contractors carrying out development work and Naxal
sympathisers for any possible attempt to assist CPI-Maoist in
converting their now-demonetized currency notes. Police said they
had inputs villagers were approached by Maoists to exchange and
deposit these currency notes. But a Police probe revealed villagers
refused to help the Maoists in depositing the cash in their accounts.
"We had inputs that villagers in the Naxal-infested areas were
coaxed by Maoists to deposit their now-untenderable currencies
in their accounts. But a police scan of their accounts found the
sums deposited belonged to the villagers," said a senior Police
officer in the DGP office.
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December 23 |
The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze 69 trucks and
three JCBs at Surjagad Lloyd Metal's iron mine, barely five-kilometres
from Hedri Police post in Gadchiroli District. Sources said that
hundreds of Maoists descended upon the area around noon and they
drove out around 300 labourers loading iron ore before setting
the vehicles afire. IGP of Gadchiroli range, Shivaji Bodkhe insisted
that the attack was not a reflection on Policing. "Though we have
the Hedri police post 5 km away, on the other side is Abujmaad,
where about 40 sq km area has no police presence and hence Maoists
find it not so difficult." He added that the number of attackers
would hardly have been 10 to 15. "They drove the labourers away
and then had no hurdle and must have gone on setting the vehicles
afire one after the other.'' Sources said that Maoists generally
recce an area before targeting it, making sure that there is no
Police movement. They then split into five-member groups for completing
a task in the shortest possible time. "In Surjagad, they must
have finished the task within 30 minutes, which means there must
have been Maoists and militia members by hundreds on the spot,"
said a source.
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December 29 |
Three villagers were killed allegedly by Naxalites
in Aheri and Korchi tehsils in Gadchiroli District on the
suspicion of they being 'informers'. The victims were identified
as Laccha Bande Madavi (36) resident of Rumalkasa, Patali Doge
Atram (36), resident of Gurja, and Talwarsha Kunjram, resident
of Korchi.
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Source:Compiled from news reports and
are provisional.
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