Eight Maoists Arrested in Chhattisgarh with Explosives and Propaganda Material

Security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district arrested eight active Maoists during a joint operation conducted on Sunday, marking a significant victory in the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the region.

The coordinated action involved personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Basaguda Police Station, and the 168th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Officials confirmed the arrests took place near Polampalli, along the route from Putkel to Polampalli, within the jurisdiction of Basaguda Police Station.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the joint team intercepted the group and recovered a substantial cache of explosives and propaganda materials. The seizure included tiffin bombs, detonators, safety fuses, Cordtex wire, batteries, electrical wire, earth-digging tools, and banners containing anti-government messaging.

Among the eight arrested individuals, three carried monetary rewards for their capture. Kosa Sodi had a significant bounty of Rs 2 lakh on his head, while Jai Singh Madvi and Madkam Anda, both members of the Kamalapur Revolutionary People’s Committee (RPC) and Chetna Natya Manch (CNM), carried rewards of Rs 50,000 each.

The remaining five individuals—Sodi Hidma, Muchaki Budhra (alias Bhadra), Madvi Raju, Madvi Hidma, and Deva Madvi—were identified as members of various militia and economic branches of the banned Maoist organization. All eight Maoists are residents of Kamalapur Jonnaguda Para and Gottum Para villages in Bijapur district.

Following standard procedure, authorities initiated legal proceedings at Basaguda Police Station. The accused were subsequently presented before the court and remanded to judicial custody.

Bijapur district, part of the larger Bastar region, has long been a stronghold of left-wing extremism in India. The densely forested terrain provides natural cover for insurgent activities, making it challenging for security forces to maintain control in remote areas.

The Maoist insurgency, also referred to as Naxalism, has plagued central and eastern India for decades, with Chhattisgarh being one of the most severely affected states. The movement claims to champion tribal rights and land redistribution but has frequently employed violent tactics, targeting security forces, government infrastructure, and occasionally civilians perceived as government collaborators.

A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters, “These arrests significantly disrupt the operational capability of Maoist units in the Basaguda area. The recovered explosives suggest they were planning attacks on security forces or infrastructure.”

The DRG, a specialized state police unit comprising mostly local tribal youth familiar with the terrain and dialect, has been instrumental in recent successful operations against Maoists. Working in tandem with the CRPF, India’s largest central armed police force, they have intensified operations in Maoist-affected areas over the past few years.

Security analysts note that arrests of active cadres not only prevent immediate attacks but also provide valuable intelligence that can lead to further operations. The arrest of individuals carrying rewards indicates they were significant operatives within the Maoist hierarchy.

According to government data, Maoist-related violence has seen a decline in recent years due to intensified security operations, development initiatives in affected areas, and rehabilitation policies for surrendered cadres. However, the insurgency remains resilient in core areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and parts of Odisha.

The Chhattisgarh government has combined security operations with development programs aimed at addressing the socio-economic grievances that fuel recruitment to Maoist ranks. These include road construction, mobile connectivity, healthcare facilities, and educational opportunities in remote villages.

As judicial proceedings against the arrested individuals begin, security forces continue their operations in the region, aiming to further weaken the insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives over the past several decades.