Bijapur anti-Maoist op: BGL launcher, explosives seized, suspect held
Synopsis
A joint police-DRG team in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, unearthed a Naxal weapons dump near Pegadapalli village and arrested a suspected DAKMS member who allegedly admitted to storing and transporting Maoist arms — including a BGL launcher, grenades, and live ammunition — in the forest.
Key Takeaways
Security forces recovered a Naxal cache near Pegadapalli village , Bijapur , on 30 August .
Seized items include one BGL launcher , 18 BGL cells , 12 arrow bombs , one hand grenade , 15 live .303 rounds , and ₹50,050 in cash .
Suspect Bogam Lakhmu , 39, was detained and allegedly admitted to being a member of the DAKMS , linked to banned CPI-Maoist .
Lakhmu has been booked under the Explosives Act and sent to judicial remand .
SP Umesh Prasad Gupta said anti-Maoist operations across Bijapur district will continue to disrupt extremist supply chains.
Security forces recovered a suspected Naxal weapons cache — including a BGL launcher, grenades, and live ammunition — during an anti-Maoist operation in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, on Saturday, 30 August. A suspected Maoist aide was also apprehended during the joint operation, police said.
How the Operation Unfolded
A joint team comprising personnel from Basaguda police and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) conducted a search operation in the forest area near Pegadapalli village. During the sweep, security personnel detained Bogam Lakhmu, 39, a resident of Chinnagelur under Tarrem police station limits and the son of one Pandu.
According to police, Lakhmu was questioned following his detention. He allegedly admitted to being a member of the Chinnagelur unit of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (DAKMS), an organisation associated with the banned CPI-Maoist. He also allegedly admitted to transporting and concealing Maoist-related materials and explosives in the surrounding forest.
What Was Recovered
A search of Lakhmu's possession led to the recovery of the following, according to police: ₹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 materials were sealed as per procedure and a seizure panchnama was prepared.
What the Police Said
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Umesh Prasad Gupta said continuous anti-Maoist operations are being conducted across the district to curb extremist activities and disrupt the supply and storage of arms and explosive materials. The accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Explosives Act and other applicable laws, and was subsequently produced before a court and sent to judicial remand.
Broader Context and What Comes Next
Bijapur remains one of the most Maoist-affected districts in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, where security forces have intensified operations in recent months. This seizure is being viewed by police as a significant step towards dismantling Maoist logistical networks and cutting off their supply chains in the area. Notably, the recovery of a BGL launcher — a weapon used to fire grenade-like projectiles — signals that the cache was intended for offensive use, not merely storage.
Police said they remain on alert to identify and detain any other individuals who may have been in contact with the arrested man, suggesting the operation could yield further leads.
Point of View
Rather than a frontline cadre, points to a deliberate strategy of targeting the logistical backbone rather than just combatants. What this operation does not resolve is where the weapons originated — tracing the supply chain upstream is where the harder, less visible work lies. Repeated seizures signal operational gains, but the durability of those gains depends on whether local support structures are genuinely eroding or merely going deeper underground.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was recovered in the Bijapur anti-Maoist operation?
Security forces recovered a 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, one emitter lead, and ₹50,050 in cash from a suspected Naxal cache near Pegadapalli village in Bijapur on 30 August.
Who was arrested during the Bijapur operation?
Bogam Lakhmu, 39, a resident of Chinnagelur under Tarrem police station limits, was detained. He allegedly admitted to being a member of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (DAKMS), an organisation linked to the banned CPI-Maoist, and to transporting and concealing Maoist materials in the forest.
What legal action has been taken against the accused?
Bogam Lakhmu has been booked under relevant provisions of the Explosives Act and other applicable laws. He was produced before a court and sent to judicial remand.
Which security units carried out the operation?
The operation was conducted by a joint team of Basaguda police and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) in the forest area near Pegadapalli village in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh.
What is the DAKMS and why is it significant?
The Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (DAKMS) is a mass-front organisation associated with the banned CPI-Maoist, active in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. It is used to mobilise support and provide logistical backing to Maoist cadres operating in the forests.
