SECURITY forces struck a major blow to the Naxal logistics network in Bastar, recovering a substantial cache of IEDs, explosives, weapons, ammunition and other operational material in separate operations in Sukma and Bijapur districts, while arresting a suspected Naxal associate in Bijapur. The operations resulted in the recovery of two tiffin bombs, detonators, gelatin sticks and other explosive material in Sukma, while a BGL launcher, BGL cells, arrow bombs, a hand grenade, live ammunition and other Naxal-related material were seized in Bijapur. In Sukma district, security forces recovered a concealed Naxal dump containing two wireless tiffin bombs weighing 5 kg and 3 kg, respectively, besides a large quantity of materials used for preparing explosives. The recovery was made from dense forest and hilly terrain near the road leading from Belpochcha village towards Gompad under Konta police station limits. According to police, the operation was launched following important intelligence inputs received from surrendered Naxals, who revealed that explosives and other operational material had allegedly been concealed in the forested and difficult terrain in the area. Acting on the information, a joint area domination and search operation was launched on Sunday under Konta police station limits in Sukma. Personnel of the District Force, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters participated in the operation. During the search, the joint team detected a dump allegedly concealed by Naxals earlier. A thorough search of the site led to the recovery of four bundles of Codex wire, 10 detonators, 17 gelatin sticks, one bundle of fuse wire, three bundles of electrical wire and two wire-less tiffin bombs, besides other Naxal-related material.

 

Police said the recovery was significant as it prevented the concealed explosives and other material from being retrieved and allegedly used by Naxals for future operations. In a separate operation in Bijapur district, a joint team of Basaguda police and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) recovered another major cache of explosives, arms and ammunition from a forested area near Pegadapalli village. During the operation, security forces surrounded and apprehended a suspected Naxal associate identified as Bogam Lakhmua, a resident of Chinnagelur under Tarrem police station limits. Police said that during interrogation, Lakhmua allegedly admitted to having earlier worked as a member of the Chinnagelur DAKMS of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation and to being involved in transporting and concealing Naxal material and explosives. A search led to the recovery of Rs 50,050 in cash, one BGL launcher, 18 BGL cells, 12 arrow bombs, one hand grenade, 15 live .303 rounds, 31 BGL cartridges, one empty INSAS magazine, electrical wire, three round chargers and one emitter lead. The recovered material was duly sealed and seized, and a seizure panchnama was prepared. The accused was arrested and booked under relevant provisions of the Explosive Substances Act. He was subsequently produced before the competent court and sent on judicial remand. Police said the recoveries highlighted the continuing efforts of security forces to dismantle Maoist logistical and supply networks across the Bastar region.