Naxal weapons cache unearthed in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur forest
Synopsis
Even after Narayanpur was declared free of Naxalite activity, a joint Police-BSF team has unearthed a cache of rusted rifles, cartridges, detonators, and Maoist literature from the Hachekoti forest — a reminder that clearing an area of insurgents and clearing it of their weapons are two very different things.
Key Takeaways
Narayanpur Police and the BSF recovered a Naxalite weapons cache from Hachekoti forest on 2 September .
Items seized include one .315 rifle , 41 cartridges of various calibres, six electric detonators , and two bundles of commercial cordtex .
Naxalite literature, flexible wire, LED lights, and pouch strips were also recovered.
The operation was supervised by SP Sandeep Patel and BSF Commandant Mukesh Kumar .
Narayanpur district has been officially declared free of active Naxalite presence, yet legacy arms dumps continue to be uncovered.
All recovered items are being deactivated to prevent reuse; coordinated searches across the district continue.
A joint team of Narayanpur Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) unearthed a cache of old Naxalite weapons, ammunition, and explosives from the dense Hachekoti forest in Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh, during a search operation conducted on 2 September. The recovery marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to clear residual Maoist materiel from a district that has officially been declared free of active Naxalite presence.
What Was Recovered
Security personnel combing the inaccessible forest terrain discovered arms and explosive materials reportedly hidden by Naxalites over an extended period. The haul included one rusted, buttless .315 rifle, 16 .315 cartridges, two .303 cartridges, four 7.62 mm cartridges, one 5.56 mm cartridge, and 18 twelve-bore cartridges.
In addition, the team seized six electric detonators, two bundles of commercial cordtex, flexible wire, LED lights, two pouch strips, and Naxalite literature — indicating the cache was not merely a weapons dump but also a remnant supply point.
Who Led the Operation
The search was conducted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patel and BSF Battalion Commandant Mukesh Kumar. Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Akshay Sabdra provided operational assistance. The operation was part of a sustained area-domination drive targeting interior and forested zones across the district.
Significance of the Find
Narayanpur has been officially declared free of Naxalite activity, yet the Hachekoti cache underscores what officials describe as the persistent presence of remnants even in areas no longer under active Maoist influence. According to officials, the discovery demonstrates that declared clearance does not automatically eliminate the physical infrastructure left behind by insurgents over decades.
Notably, this is part of a broader pattern: security forces across the Bastar region have repeatedly uncovered old arms dumps in the months following area-clearance declarations, suggesting that legacy caches remain a live security concern even after operational control shifts.
What Happens Next
Authorities confirmed that the recovered items will be deactivated to eliminate any possibility of reuse. Police and BSF units remain on high alert and are continuing coordinated searches across Narayanpur district. Officials emphasised that the objective extends beyond recovery — the goal is to ensure lasting peace in interior areas by leaving no remnant of Naxalite infrastructure unaddressed.
Point of View
Not a physical one — decades of concealed dumps do not disappear with a press release. The presence of Naxalite literature alongside weapons suggests these were not random caches but organised supply points, raising questions about how many more remain undetected in similarly inaccessible terrain. Sustained joint operations are necessary, but the pace of discovery also implies that earlier area-domination sweeps were incomplete. The real measure of success is not the number of recoveries but the point at which recoveries stop.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was found in the Narayanpur forest arms cache?
Security forces recovered a rusted .315 rifle, 41 cartridges of multiple calibres, six electric detonators, two bundles of commercial cordtex, flexible wire, LED lights, two pouch strips, and Naxalite literature from the Hachekoti forest in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, on 2 September.
Who conducted the Hachekoti forest search operation?
The operation was a joint effort by Narayanpur Police and the Border Security Force (BSF), conducted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patel and BSF Battalion Commandant Mukesh Kumar, with operational assistance from Additional SP (Operations) Akshay Sabdra.
Is Narayanpur still considered a Naxal-affected area?
Narayanpur district has been officially declared free of active Naxalite activity. However, security forces continue systematic search operations to locate and neutralise old weapons dumps left behind by Naxalites in forested and remote zones.
Why does the discovery matter if the area is already Naxal-free?
Officials say the find demonstrates that declared clearance does not eliminate the physical infrastructure — arms, explosives, and supply caches — built up by Naxalites over decades. Recovering and deactivating these materials is essential to prevent their potential reuse and to ensure lasting peace in interior areas.
What will happen to the recovered weapons and explosives?
Authorities confirmed that all recovered items, including the rifle, cartridges, and detonators, will be deactivated to eliminate any possibility of reuse. Police and BSF units are continuing coordinated searches across Narayanpur district.
