IN A major breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Naxal campaign, security forces recovered a huge cache of arms, explosives, ammunition, cash and 116 grams of gold worth about Rs 18 lakh from the forested hills near Todma village under Barsoor police station limits in Dantewada district. The seizure included 116 grams of gold valued at around Rs 16 lakh and Rs 2 lakh in cash, besides a large quantity of weapons, explosives and Maoist supplies concealed in underground dumps. The recovery was made during an anti-Naxal operation conducted under the guidance of Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Badri Narayan Meena (IPS), CRPF Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Rakesh Choudhary and Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai (IPS). The operation was supervised by Additional Superintendent of Police Ram Kumar Barman and Additional Superintendent of Police (Naxal Operations) Jitendra Kumar Khunte. Police said the operation was launched on the basis of precise information provided by recently surrendered Maoists, who had renounced violence and joined the mainstream.

 

Acting on the intelligence, security personnel searched the dense forests around Todma village and unearthed several underground caches used by Maoists to store weapons, explosives and other operational material. The recovered cache comprised an INSAS rifle with 16 magazines, four AK-47 magazines and 68 rounds, 23 SLR magazines with 34 rounds, five 12bore guns with seven cartridges, three BGL launchers with one shell, two carbine magazines, eight rounds of .303 ammunition, 45 .303 chargers, six rounds of 8 mm ammunition, 10 damaged muzzle-loading guns, one revolver and one air gun. The explosives recovered included six tiffin bombs, four pipe bombs, 122 arrow bombs, one para bomb, two improvised hand grenades and two improvised mortars. Security personnel also seized uniforms, medicines, Maoist literature, pamphlets and other daily-use materials. According to police, the seizure has dealt a significant blow to Maoist activities in the region and foiled a possible conspiracy to target security forces. Officials said the information provided by surrendered cadres reflects their commitment to abandoning extremism and supporting peace and development. Dantewada police appealed to the remaining Maoists to shun violence, surrender and join the mainstream. They also urged local residents to cooperate with security agencies in maintaining peace and accelerating development in the region.