Two Maoists gunned down, arms dump busted in Bastar

Raipur: In another major success for the forces as the deadline to eliminate Leftwing extremism from the country nears, two uniformed Maoists were killed in a fierce gunfight along the Indravati river belt in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district early Thursday. During a security sweep of the site post the exchange of fire, the security forces recovered assault rifles, explosives and other Maoist supplies.The slain cadres were identified as area committee members Hichami Madda and Manki Podiyam, both linked to the Bhairamgarh area committee, the police said, adding that each carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of armed Maoist cadres, a joint team of security forces launched a combing operation in a forested stretch of the Jangla region.District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel established contact and engaged the Maoists from around 6 am on Thursday, officials said, adding that operations have been intensified considering the March 31 deadline set by the Centre to wipe out Red Terror.Sharing the details of the arms recovery in the immediate aftermath of the gunfight, Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav said among the seized weapons cache were an SLR rifle, one INSAS rifle and a 12-bore gun, along with hand grenades, detonators and other Maoist items.The seizure list included an SLR rifle with three magazines and 55 rounds, an INSAS rifle with three magazines and 19 rounds, a 12-bore gun with two cartridges, two hand grenades, two improvised hand grenades, along with detonators, scanner batteries, medicines, pouches and other Maoist material, police said.Bastar range IG P Sundarraj said a large-scale search operation was continuing in the area with teams from DRG, Bastar Fighters, STF, CoBRA and CRPF, and a detailed report would be shared after assessment.Security forces have intensified intelligence-based operations and area domination in the Indravati river corridor, a key movement route for Maoist squads in south Bastar, the police said. Sending a clear message to the remaining insurgents, the IG said those still active should "choose the mainstream" and abandon violence, adding that the government was committed to rehabilitation and a peaceful life for those who lay down arms.Naxal dump bustedIn a separate operation, Narayanpur police said troops of CoBRA, ITBP and district police recovered a large Maoist arms dump during an area domination patrolling (ADP) operation in the Kumuradi forest area, based on a specific intelligence tip-off.Police said the search in the forested hill terrain led to the seizure of a significant quantity of explosive material and improvised weapons and medical supplies.Among the improvised launch systems recovered were an improvised rocket launcher, heavy and light mortar shells, two improvised BGL launchers, BGL cartridges of different sizes, and dozens of short- and long-range BGL rounds. Officials said further search operations are continuing in the area to tighten control over Maoist activity. Senior woman Maoist lays down arms In a significant development, a senior woman Maoist cadre, identified as divisional committee member Mase Barsa, surrendered before the police in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Wednesday evening. She stepped out of the forest with an AK-47 rifle before turning herself over to the police.Police said Mase, who had been active in the Maoist organisation since 2003 across the Dandakaranya belt, Abujhmarh and north Bastar, decided to abandon the outfit and return to the mainstream. She reached Chhindpadar village and approached Kanker SP Nikhil Rakhhecha to formally surrender. Local representatives helped bring the cadre out safely from the jungle and escorted her to the Kanker SP office, sources said.