Dantewada Naxal cache seized: Pressure cooker IEDs, arms neutralised in Chhattisgarh op
Synopsis
A joint CRPF-Dantewada Police operation in the forests of Todma village on 7 June neutralised two pressure cooker IEDs and a ten-kilogram pipe bomb, then uncovered one of the most extensive Naxal weapons caches recovered in the Bastar division in recent months — 128 electric detonators, rifles, and scores of other explosive components included. All personnel returned safely.
Key Takeaways
A joint CRPF and Dantewada Police operation on 7 June neutralised two five-litre pressure cooker IEDs and a ten-kilogram pipe bomb in Todma village , Chhattisgarh.
The operation was led by Second-in-Command Vikrant Verma and Assistant Commandant Sanjeev Kumar Yadav , beginning at 6:00 am .
A large arms cache was recovered, including a .303 rifle , 128 electric detonators , 48 non-electric explosives , BGLs, and a 51mm bomb .
Wireless sets, Naxal uniforms, Cordex wire, gunpowder, and 35 twelve-volt batteries were also seized.
All security personnel returned safely; seizure documentation and legal formalities were initiated by evening.
Security forces neutralised two pressure cooker IEDs and a pipe bomb while recovering a large cache of arms, explosives, and contraband from a forest area in Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh, on 7 June, police officials confirmed. The joint operation in the dense forests near Todma village under Barsur Police Station marks a significant advance in the ongoing anti-Naxal campaign across the Bastar division.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on precise intelligence, a joint search operation was launched at 6:00 am by a battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Dantewada Police. The operation was led by Second-in-Command officer Vikrant Verma and Assistant Commandant Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, with civil police forces also participating.
At around 8:40 am, personnel spotted suspicious objects concealed in the undergrowth. The area was immediately secured under strict safety protocols, and the Bomb Disposal Squad was summoned. On inspection, the devices were identified as two five-litre pressure cooker IEDs and a pipe bomb weighing ten kilograms. All three were successfully neutralised and destroyed on-site using specialised technical procedures.
Scale of the Seizure
Subsequent searches of the surrounding area yielded a substantial stockpile of weapons and contraband reportedly hidden by Maoist cadres. The recovered items included BGLs, a .303 rifle, an air rifle, magazines, charger clips, empty cartridge cases, 12-bore ammunition, blank cartridges, firecrackers, wireless sets with batteries, gunpowder, Cordex wire, electric bells, shock-wave detonators, 128 electric detonators, 48 non-electric explosives, a 51mm bomb with two empty shells, binoculars, Naxal uniforms, ammunition pouches, combat belts, a multimeter, camera flash units, electric control units, 35 twelve-volt batteries, electric switches, telephone wire, and other daily-use materials.
Naxal literature was also recovered, providing insight into the ideological framework of the insurgents. By evening, all personnel had returned safely, and seizure documentation along with legal formalities was initiated.
What Officials Said
Officials underscored that the scale of the recovered cache reflects the extent of resources being mobilised by the insurgency, and that sustained intelligence-driven operations remain critical to dismantling that infrastructure. The successful neutralisation of the IEDs, they noted, averted what could have been a major tragedy for both security forces and civilians in the region.
Broader Context
The Bastar division — which includes Dantewada — has long been the epicentre of Left-Wing Extremism in India. This operation comes amid a sustained push by central and state forces to degrade Naxal logistics and weapons supply chains. Notably, security agencies have reported a series of similar cache recoveries and neutralisation operations across Chhattisgarh in recent months, suggesting a pattern of intensified pressure on Maoist infrastructure. All personnel returned safely, and the operation is being cited as a model of coordinated, intelligence-led counter-insurgency work.
Point of View
Shock-wave detonators, wireless sets, electric control units, and 35 twelve-volt batteries — points to a well-resourced IED assembly network, not a scattered remnant force. That this was found through intelligence inputs, not a chance encounter, signals that the security grid in Bastar is tightening. Yet the persistence of such caches also underscores that dismantling Naxal logistics is a long-cycle effort; neutralising devices is necessary but not sufficient without cutting off supply chains and addressing the political economy that sustains recruitment.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was recovered in the Dantewada anti-Naxal operation on 7 June?
Security forces recovered two five-litre pressure cooker IEDs, a ten-kilogram pipe bomb, a .303 rifle, an air rifle, 128 electric detonators, 48 non-electric explosives, BGLs, a 51mm bomb, wireless sets, gunpowder, Cordex wire, Naxal uniforms, and other arms and contraband from forests near Todma village in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh.
Were the IEDs successfully neutralised?
Yes. The Bomb Disposal Squad neutralised and destroyed all three devices — two pressure cooker IEDs and one pipe bomb — on-site using specialised technical procedures. No casualties were reported among security personnel.
Which forces conducted the Dantewada operation?
The operation was a joint effort by a CRPF battalion and Dantewada Police, led by Second-in-Command Vikrant Verma and Assistant Commandant Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, with civil police also participating.
Why is the Bastar division significant in anti-Naxal operations?
The Bastar division, which includes Dantewada, has historically been the core zone of Left-Wing Extremism in India. Security agencies have reported a series of cache recoveries and neutralisation operations across the region, reflecting an intensified campaign to degrade Maoist logistics and weapons supply networks.
What does the scale of the cache indicate?
Officials said the volume and variety of recovered materials — including detonators, wireless sets, electric control units, and batteries — highlight the extent of resources mobilised by Maoist cadres and reinforce the need for sustained intelligence-driven operations to dismantle insurgent infrastructure.
