Kumar Bahukhandi
Jagdalpur.:The anti-Naxal “Save Maad Campaign” was run by the security forces for 72 consecutive hours in the forests of Hachekoti, Chhindpur, Binagunda, Pangud on the Narayanpur-Kanker border under North Bastar Division area.
An effective anti-Naxal campaign has been conducted under Bastar Division for the past few months. Under this, the anti-Naxal “Save Maad” campaign has been conducted by Narayanpur Police for the last six months with the aim of eradicating Naxalism from Maad. In this episode, the security forces conducted a successful 03-day campaign by crossing the overflowing rivers and streams amid heavy rains in the rainy season. On 27 August 2024, a joint force was dispatched from Narayanpur district on the intelligence of the presence of large cadre Maoists of North-Bastar Division and Company No. 05 under Narayanpur-Kanker border area
The police had received intelligence about the presence of Naxalites in the North Bastar Division area. To verify the said information, on 27.08.2024, a joint force of Narayanpur DRG, Kondagaon DRG, STF and BSF 135th Battalion left for the said area for anti-Naxal operation. During the operation on 29.08.2024, from around 08:00 am, in the forest of Narayanpur-Kanker border area under North Bastar Division, Maoists opened indiscriminate fire with the intention of killing the security forces and looting their weapons. The police party immediately took position and called for surrender, the Naxalites ignored the surrender and started firing in more quantity. When the police party had no other option except firing for self-defense, the security forces took position on the spot and retaliated, after which there was a continuous encounter with different teams intermittently.
Later, seeing themselves surrounded, the Naxalites, taking cover of the dense forests and hills, ran away to save their lives. After the firing stopped, all the teams searched their assigned task areas and found dead bodies of 03 armed women in uniform Maoists from different places of the incident site and near the bodies, 01 piece of .303 rifle, 02 pieces of .315 rifle, 01 piece of BGL launcher, 01 piece of Bharmar gun along with a huge amount of explosives and other items of daily use of the Naxalite were recovered. More blood stains were seen at the incident site, from which it appears that a large number of other Maoists are likely to be injured or killed in this encounter.
The security forces made the anti-Naxal campaign “Maad Bachao Abhiyan” a success by fighting the Maoists, displaying indomitable courage and bravery while dealing with the difficult geographical conditions of the area even during the monsoon. Undoubtedly, the security forces have made a strong attack against the Maoists. Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj P. told that – As a result of working with better coordination and strategy by the local district police force, DRG and central paramilitary forces with the aim of taking effective action against the banned and illegal CPI Maoist organization, during the anti-Naxal campaign being conducted under Bastar division in the year 2024, till now a total of 143 bodies of Naxalites have been recovered, 596 arrested and 599 Naxalites have surrendered.
