26 Maoists arrested in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district with six carrying bounties worth Rs 13 lakh

RAIPUR: Security forces arrested 26 active Maoists, including six carrying rewards amounting to Rs 13 lakh, during coordinated operations across multiple police station areas in insurgency-hit Bijapur district of Bastar division of Chhattisgarh.The joint operation was conducted by District Reserve Guard (DRG), police teams from Gangloor, Bhairamgarh, Usoor, Awapalli, and Tarrem, along with CoBRA 205 and CRPF’s 196 and 62 battalions. Acting on intelligence, security personnel raided different forested zones and villages, resulting in multiple arrests and seizure of a large cache of explosives and banned Maoist propaganda material.Items recovered from the arrested cadres include IEDs, cooker bombs, tiffin bombs, wires, safety fuses, detonators, batteries, digging tools, and Maoist posters, banners, and pamphlets used for recruitment and propaganda.

Officials said the Maoists were planning to target police patrols using these explosives.Among senior one arrested, includeMunna Potam of Battalion number 1, carrying reward of Rs 8 lakh and was active in Usoor region. Others include members of area committees and Janatana Sarkar, responsible for laying IEDs and mobilizing villagers.Police said thatduring interrogation, the arrested Maoists confessed they were carrying explosives to plant IEDs aimed at ambushing police patrols. Their arrest, dealt a significant blow to Maoist operations in the region, particularly in their attempt to re-establish control in interior villages, police said in a statement. Cases have been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and Explosive Substances Act. All 26 accused were produced before court and remanded to judicial custody.