CRPF busts 8 Naxal munition dumps in Chhattisgarh, seizes IEDs and rifles
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) unearthed eight Naxal munition dumps in Chhattisgarh during a coordinated anti-insurgency operation on 13 June, recovering a significant cache of arms, explosives, and 21 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), officials said. The haul, described by authorities as the neutralisation of a major conspiracy to destabilise the region, was made without any casualties.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on precise intelligence inputs, a joint team led by Commandant Anand Kumar conducted a phased sweep through the dense forests of Adri, Harra, and Madumpara villages under the Pidia and Kuppaguda areas of Bijapur district. Security personnel cordoned off the entire belt, eliminating escape routes before systematically clearing each dump site.
What Was Recovered
Among the seized weapons were a Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) rifle, an 8 mm rifle, and a 12-bore rifle. The 21 IEDs recovered were accompanied by IED-making materials — including cordex wire, safety fuses, electric wires, air gun rounds, and various electronic components. Additionally, 58 assorted items, including clothing used by Naxals, were confiscated. Officials stated the recovered arsenal could have been deployed in future attacks against security forces.
Parallel Strike in Gariaband
In a simultaneous operation in Gariaband district, CRPF and police teams uncovered a suspected Naxal dump in the Dandaipani forest. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) confirmed and safely defused two live devices — a 4-kg pressure IED and a cooker IED. A bharmaar rifle, interceptor, UBGL rounds, magazines, cordex wire, gunpowder, firecrackers, medicines, and daily-use items were also seized, according to police officials.
Significance and Broader Context
The Adri-Harra-Madumpara belt has long been considered a stronghold of Naxal activity in Bijapur. Sustained intelligence-based campaigns by the CRPF's Battalion have, according to officials, steadily eroded insurgent influence in the area, bolstering local villagers' confidence and creating conditions for development initiatives. This comes amid a broader intensification of anti-Naxal operations across Chhattisgarh in recent months, with security forces reporting a series of cache recoveries and encounter operations. Notably, no casualties were reported on either side, reflecting, according to officials, the precision exercised during the sweeps.
CRPF's Stated Commitment
The CRPF reiterated its commitment to intensifying intelligence-based operations across Chhattisgarh, with the stated goal of making the state free from Naxal influence. The force indicated that similar operations will continue in the coming weeks across identified sensitive zones.