Who Were the Five Maoists Arrested in Chhattisgarh's Sukma?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five Maoists arrested, including a minor.
- Operation conducted by District Reserve Guard and local police.
- Significant cache of explosives recovered.
- Government aims to eradicate Naxalism by March 2026.
- Over 1,400 surrenders since December 2023.
Raipur, July 18 (NationPress) In a significant achievement for anti-Maoist initiatives in Chhattisgarh, security forces apprehended five Maoists, including a minor, during a collaborative operation near the Chintalnar police station area of Sukma district.
This operation, executed by members of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, and local police, resulted in the confiscation of a considerable cache of explosives.
Among the items recovered were 20 gelatin sticks, eight detonators, 10 non-electric detonators, and roughly three meters of cordex wire.
Sukma SP Kiran Chavan stated that the arrested individuals were active militia members from the Jagargunda-Pamed area committee and were implicated in a shooting incident that targeted a police patrol on November 24, 2024.
All five individuals had serious criminal cases lodged against them at the Chintalnar police station.
After their arrest on July 16, four were placed in judicial custody while the minor was sent to a juvenile home. This development occurs amidst an intensified effort to combat Maoist insurgency in Bastar, following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s pledge to eliminate Naxalism from India by March 2026.
Maoist groups have acknowledged a loss of 357 cadres in the past year, including 136 women fighters, in a booklet documenting those killed in encounters.
The government’s dual strategy—merging aggressive security operations with rehabilitation efforts—has resulted in over 1,400 Maoist surrenders since December 2023.
Numerous former cadres have cited ideological disillusionment and internal discrimination as motivations for abandoning arms.
Just last week, 23 Maoists with a total bounty of Rs 1.18 crore surrendered in Sukma, including senior members of the PLGA battalion.
Officials noted that these recent arrests underscore the increasing efficiency of coordinated intelligence and field operations.
With sustained pressure and expanding developmental initiatives in remote tribal regions, authorities aim to further dismantle the insurgency and assist in the reintegration of former combatants into civilian life.