Bodo militants attack which killed 55

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/661291/meghalayas-most-wanted-militant-shot.html
Meghalaya's most-wanted militant shot dead in police encounter
Press Trust of India, Shillong, Feb 24 2018, 15:42 IST

Following Sangma's death, counter-insurgency operations had been stepped up in poll-bound South and East Garo Hills districts.

Security forces today shot dead Meghalaya's most-wanted militant and self-styled chief of the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in an encounter in East Garo Hills district, the police said.

The encounter of Sohan D Shira, who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, came after NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma was killed in an IED attack, suspected to be carried out by the GNLA in the same district on February 18.

Following Sangma's death, counter-insurgency operations had been stepped up in poll-bound South and East Garo Hills districts.

Acting on inputs regarding the probable movement of some armed GNLA cadre in Dobu area, counter-insurgency forces were pressed into service, a senior police officer involved in the operations said.

He said the encounter took place around 11 am in Achakpek village near Dobu, in which Sohan was killed.

East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Kumar said inquest on the body of the slain militant was on and necessary formalities would follow.

Earlier this week, Meghalaya Director General of Police S B Singh had said, "There are credible leads that are being obtained about the involvement of the group (GNLA) in Sunday night's carnage (Sangma's killing)."

NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma and three others were killed in an IED blast triggered by militants in the Samanda area of East Garo Hills district around 8 pm on February 18.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...-tells-cops/story-e8P6Fj0sAVcqK9kC91tpTI.html

The Maoist top leadership’s prime concern these days is disputes between senior and junior cadre, according to one of the oldest (Maoist) functionaries who was arrested with his wife earlier this month.

These disputes are leading to loss of discipline among cadre , a forest area between the bordersthat Maoists call free zone, rebel leader has told the police during questioning.

Police arrested Ramanna, aka 65, and his wife also a Maoist operative on February 9.

“Senior Maoist was involved in several attacks on security forces and also trained cadre to handle weapons. There was a reward of Rs 25 lakh on him,” said a police officer who interacted with him after the arrest. The officer did not want to be named.

Senior Maoist one of the founder members of Maoist (PWG) that merged with another rebel outfit, Maoist Communist Centre in 2004 to give birth to the unified (Maoist). Maoist violence is considered one of India’s worst internal security challenges.

According to senior Maoist interrogation report, younger cadre are no longer respecting seniors and this is a source of friction. “Junior cadre have sidelined seniors, some of whom have even attempted suicide,” the report noted. He said 60, a senior Maoist cadre committed suicide due to such disrespect.

“The party is going through difficult times as many senior leaders are old and retiring... Some (Maoists) are also stealing the organisation’s money and sending it to their homes, which is matter of concern within the party,” stated the report.

Senior Maoist told the police the (Maoist) was now concentrating on the tri-junction , which the outfit has dubbed MMC, to misguide security forces and draw their attention away region, known as a rebel stronghold.

Police are treating Senior Maoist statements with caution, waiting to corroborate his words with evidence. Senior Maoist revelations on infighting are what police have long suspected.

Special director general of police (Anti-Maoist Operations), DM Awasthi, said, “Apart from interrogation report of Senior Maoist, our intelligence also suggests that the infighting has increased. The reason is constant pressure from security forces in region.”

Number of cadre in zone

• Armed: 2,000-2,500
• Under Ground Workers: 20,000
• Recruitment going on in south More than 150 cadre are recruited every year.
• A senior Maoist leader of division has been sent to the new MMC zone.
• Maoists have snipers.
• In 2017, military commander Deepak (a Chhattisgarh resident) fled with his wife, Moti, and is considered a deserter.
• Maoists had a doctor in their ranks — Dr a resident of north India. Dr is missing since 2017. Another doctor, Dr 1 was inducted recently.

On the Maoists creating their so-called MMC base, Awasthi said, “In this new zone of theirs, we have gunned down about half-a-dozen of senior cadre.”

President of Radical Youth League, a frontal organisation of the Maoists, in 1978-80. He joined the Maoists in 1982 and came close to senior leader , who gave him responsibility to make guns, according to police records.

WHAT Senior Maoist TOLD POLICE

Weapons with Maoist cadre

*(Maoist) no longer has weapon factories like it had, Police busted all three.

*There is a technology department, whose members make ammunition for automatic rifles. The team can also make rockets, mortars, grenades and pipe bombs.

*The team started making rockets under the guidance of PLA, well-educated cadre, in 2001. Later, that cadre became mentally unstable.

 

[Hindustani78]

*****
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...-villages-of-naxal-hit-bastar-region-5077688/
CRPF starts bike ambulance for remote villages of Maoist-hit region

"We got these motorbikes a few years back for anti-Maoist patrols and operations as four-wheelers were easy for the ultras to target. Then we thought, why not use these two-wheelers to help the locals who are ill?," Commandant of the 85th CRPF battalion Sudhir Kumar said

By: PTI | Raipur | Published: February 25, 2018 5:05 pm

A field surgical team, comprising a doctor, a paramedic and an assistant, are part of the bike ambulance team (Representational/ File)

The CRPF, in the thick of anti-Maoists operations , has launched a unique bike ambulance initiative for providing basic healthcare facilities to those living in remote jungle areas of region. Medical teams, accompanied by well-armed security personnel ride their motorcycles to help the sick and injured in about 70 villages of district that shares its border — the worst Maoist violence-hit district of the state — . “We got these motorbikes a few years back for anti-Maoist patrols and operations as four-wheelers were easy for the ultras to target. Then we thought, why not use these two-wheelers to help the locals who are ill?,” Commandant of the 85th CRPF battalion Sudhir Kumar told PTI. The battalion is based in Bijapur.


A field surgical team, comprising a doctor, a paramedic and an assistant, are part of the bike ambulance team. They go to villages either as part of a patrol or are called in by the villagers in need. The team has also visited villages that flank the 30km long axis that has claimed lives of as many as 150 security personnel over the years.

“There are only two government health centres in the interiors of the district. Hence, we decided to send our medical teams on bikes to cater to the needy. These teams have helped in rushing the critically ill to the district headquarter and also provided Jaipur foot to a tribal who had to undergo amputation,” Kumar.

According to the Commanding Officer (CO), even while on operations these teams carry medicines that are used to treat regular health issues prevalent in these areas like malaria and typhoid.


“There are risks involved too as there have been incidents when security personnel responded to a emergency call from locals and they were ambushed by Maoists. But, we take calculated risks and every such medical team is accompanied by a well-armed security squad,” Kumar said. This new initiative is also a step towards widening the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) civic action work that is traditionally conducted to befriend the locals by providing household items to them using government funds.


“We are reaping rich dividends after the bike ambulance initiative was launched sometime back. Our troops got timely inputs from locals about some IEDs (improvised explosive devices) secretly concealed under roads by Maoists to ambush security forces, apart from getting cooperation in rendering our other duties,” Kumar said. With the success of this initiative, the 85th battalion of the CRPF is now sending its officials on bikes to hold few school sessions for students living in the interiors of Bijapur district, the Commanding Officer said.


A senior official at the command office in Raipur said the force has decided to replicate the bike ambulance initiative in other areas of the region, worst-hit by Maoist violence. “That would be on a case-by-case basis keeping in mind the security of the troops,” the official said.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...-terrorists/story-L90Fw4lTWaxDYOlmfbQU2O.html

CRPF to buy 25 high-end drones to tackle Maoists, terrorists
The 25 new drones will join CRPF’s existing fleet of 40 and help the force get real-time inputs and avoid attacks on its troopers.
india Updated: Feb 25, 2018 15:35 IST
Indo Asian News Service, New Delhi

The move is part of the CRPF Director General’s focus on better equipping the force and improving its infrastructure.(Reuters File Photo)

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The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is all set to purchase 25 high-end drones to equip itself to better conduct anti-Maoist operations and deal with militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

The tendering process for the procurement of the drones has started and they are expected to be introduced by the CRPF - the country’s largest paramilitary force - in the next three-four months, a Deputy Inspector General-rank officer told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

A pre-bid conference for the procurement of the drones was held on September 12, 2017, and the online and offline tender was opened on October 26, 2017, with a validity of six months.

These drones -- each costing around Rs 15 lakh -- are being purchased to help the CRPF personnel during surveillance, reconnaissance and detection in day and night operations in Jammu and Kashmir and in the dense forests of Maoist-hit states

The 25 new drones will join CRPF’s existing fleet of 40 and help the force get real-time inputs and avoid attacks on its troopers.

“The drones will have the capacity to integrate geo-referenced master maps -- provided in at least one of the commonly used digital map formats -- with real-time and clear video during flights at heights of around 250 metres. They will also have better quality zoom control and thermal imaging for night operations,” the CRPF official said.

He also said that the new drones would be able to detect human-sized targets at 300 metres or more and have additional features when compared to the CRPF’s existing Indian-made light drones, named “Netra”.

“These drones will also comprise a ground control station with data link equipment, daylight camera payload, night camera payload, universal battery charger with power supply system,” he added.

The move is part of CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar’s focus on better equipping the force and improving its infrastructure, the official said.

The tender, issued on August 25 last year with the submission date on January 2, invited an “online global tender” in a two-bid system for the supply of 25 micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs).

The 57-page tender notification seeks a two-year guarantee from the manufacturers, who have to supply the drones within 90 days of winning the contract.

The notification says the tendering firms have to register with the National Small Industries Corporation to undergo re-verification of their manufacturing capacity and clarifies that in case of denial for re-verification, they will be disqualified.

“All the tenderers are required to demonstrate the equipment and product offered by them before a board of officers (to be detailed by DG CRPF) at 201 Cobra Battalion Headquarters (Chattisgarh) for assessing the technical suitability and performance of the equipment as per tender enquiry specifications.

“Offers of those firms are liable to be ignored, whose equipment or product are not found as per tender enquiry specifications. Price bids of only those firms will be opened whose technical bids as well as performance of their equipment so demonstrated are found acceptable as per requirement,” says the notification.

Training of 75 CRPF personnel to handle the drones and minor repairs at the 4 Signal Battalion of the force in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, are part of the conditions laid down in the document, another CRPF officer said.

According to the officer, although the Maoist threat has diminished with the security forces increasing their “area dominance”, intelligence reports suggest they are trying to reorganise themselves - and high-end gadgets like the drone will help in fighting them.

The over 300,000-strong CRPF is mandated to provide internal security in Jammu and Kashmir and Maoist-affeted areas.

 

[Hindustani78]

*************

“Last year, the government appointed the new CRPF DG after a delay of two months, during which the force suffered two major reverses in anti-Maoist operations,” a senior official in the security establishment said.

The CRPF lost 38 troops in two deadly Maoist ambushes in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district when it was without a regular chief, and after these incidents senior IPS officer RR Bhatnagar was quickly appointed the new DG.

“Do we keep the defence forces headless like this? The CAPFs are a very vital cog in the internal security establishment and such delays should be avoided,” a senior paramilitary officer said.

***********

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...d-in-meghalaya-constable-arrested/549485.html
Shillong, February 25

An assistant commandant of the RPF was killed and three others were injured in Meghalaya’s South West Khasi Hills district early on Sunday, following which the accused was arrested, the police said.

“The Culprit was arrested and his service rifle seized. Investigation into the incident is underway,” Superintendent of Police H G Lyngdoh said.

Assistant Commandant Mukesh Tyagi was shot dead at the Railway Protection Force (RPF) camp in Mawkyrwat town of the district bordering Bangladesh, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor told PTI.

In the ensuing scuffle, another constable, Joginder Kumar, received bullet injury on his arm and was sent for treatment to the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Science here, he said.

Inspector Pradeep Meena and Sub-Inspector Om Prakash Yadav also suffered minor injuries, the CEO said.

Elections to Meghalaya’s 60-member Assembly will be held on February 27. A large number of central security forces have been deployed in the state for the elections. PTI

***

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...ured-in-ied-blast-in-chhattisgarh/549469.html
Raipur, February 25

Two Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) personnel, including an assistant platoon commander, were on Sunday injured in a blast carried out by Maoists in district, police said.

The incident took place in the forests near , around 450 kilometres from here, when a team of the CAF’s 12th battalion was out on an area domination operation, a police official told PTI.

The two have been identified as assistant platoon commander Puran Singh and constable Bhuvaneshwar Yadav.

While passing through a dirt track, Singh and Yadav stepped on an improvised explosive device that used a pressure mechanism, triggering a blast that left the two injured, officials informed.


They have been evacuated from the site and reinforcements had been rushed in, the official added. PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-fuel-meghalayas-campaign/article22851719.ece

About 30% in the Meghalaya , 27 are either owners of mines or have stakes in the largely unregulated coal mining and transportation industry.

That explains why the ban on rat-hole mining by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in April 2014 and restrictions on limestone extraction — in four of Meghalaya’s 11 districts.

16 crucial seats

The coal and limestone belts in these four districts and a part of a fifth account for 16 of the State’s . The ban has affected the local economy and the lives of some 2.5 lakh people dependent on the sector, though green activists claim coal and limestone are being mined and transported clandestinely.

The BJP, in a bid to capitalise on the “resentment” led coalition for “not doing enough” to combat the ban, has promised a permanent solution within 180 days in the State.

“The government not failed to address the issue but also took three years to submit a mining policy, underscoring a lack of commitment,” Nalin Kohli, BJP’s in-charge for Meghalaya, said.

Ampati, is in the coal mining district of South Garo Hills. Dikkanchi D Shira, owns a coal mine.

‘Cong. has abdicated’
Meghalaya’s status as a Sixth Schedule State to get the NGT ban lifted.

“People of Meghalaya largely depend on coal but the government stopped to let mining resume,” NPP chief Conrad Sangma has said at rallies in Chokpot and Mawshynrut, two coal-rich constituencies.

The anger is most apparent in the East Jaintia Hills where most of are coal mine owners or are backed by them. The district, bordering Bangladesh, has two constituencies — Khliehriat, arguably the hub of mining activities in Meghalaya, and Sutnga-Saipung.

“In Meghalaya, people own land, not the government for imposition of bans. But the government could invoked Para 12 A(b) of the Sixth Schedule that would enable the President of India to exempt Meghalaya from the provisions of central mining laws,” Justine Dkhar, the BJP’s candidate for the Khliehriat seat, said.

After being assured of a lenient coal mining policy> the industry was worth ₹400 crore annually at its peak.

In the adjoining Sutnga-Saipung , the top three contenders — the Hopeful Bamon, , Hambertus Nongtdu and Shitlang Pale — all have stakes in coal mining.

“NGT had banned illegal coal mining in view of its effect on environment and health, not coal mining as a whole,” Mukul Sangma had said earlier.

The State’s Lok Sabha member Vincent Pala said it would be wrong to say his party was blind towards the hardship faced by those associated with coal and limestone mining. “ is no less concerned than the others,” he said.

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...in-encounter-arms-ammunitions-seized-5078821/
4 Maoists killed in encounter, arms, ammunitions seized

The incident took place around 8.30 am in the area of the district when a joint team of the 134th battalion of the CRPF and state police was out on an anti-Maoist operation.

Four Maoists, including two women, were killed in an encounter with security forces in district today, officials said.


The incident took place around 8.30 am in the area of the district when a joint team of the 134th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police was out on an anti-Maoist operation, the officials added.


The bodies of the four Maoists were recovered, they said.


Those killed were identified as sub-zonal commander of a local Maoists group, and cadre members . sub-zonal commander was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh, they said.


Two self-loading rifles (SLRs), five magazines and 219 bullets were also seized from the spot, the officials added.

 

[Hindustani78]

Four bodies of the suspected extremists were recovered along with sophisticated weapons near Matanga Pahar under Chhatterpur police station limits during a search that is still underway, police said. (PTI FILE PHOTO/REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

Since then, security forces have been behind a Maoist squad led by a sub zonal commander as it had significantly disintegrated following the encounter, a senior CRPF officer said, requesting anonymity.

Jharkhand director general of police, D K Pandey and CRPF inspector general of police, Sanjay A Lathkar had fixed a deadline for eliminating the Maoist squad led by a sub zonal commander during a meeting held soon after the February 8 encounter, sources said.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Brigadier (Retd.) (Dr.) B.D. Mishra meeting the Minister of State for Tourism (I/C) and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Alphons Kannanthanam, in New Delhi on February 27, 2018.

The Minister for Endowment, Andhra Pradesh, Shri Pydikondala Manikyala Rao meeting the Minister of State for Tourism (I/C) and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Alphons Kannanthanam, in New Delhi on February 27, 2018.

The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Brigadier (Retd.) (Dr.) B.D. Mishra and the Minister for Endowment, Andhra Pradesh, Shri Pydikondala Manikyala Rao meeting the Minister of State for Tourism (I/C) and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Alphons Kannanthanam, in New Delhi on February 27, 2018.

The Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N. Biren Singh calling on the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, in New Delhi on February 27, 2018.

The Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N. Biren Singh calling on the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, in New Delhi on February 27, 2018.

The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan chairing the review meeting on Food Security of Assam and Food Corporation of North Eastern Zone, in Guwahati on February 27, 2018.

The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan addressing a press conference after a reviewing meeting on Food Security of Assam and Food Corporation of North Eastern Zone, in Guwahati on February 27, 2018.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/naxals-torch-nine-tractors-in-bastar-district-5080245/
Maoists torch nine tractors in district
By: PTI | Raipur | Published: February 27, 2018 5:12 pm

No one was injured in the incident that occurred last night at Ghati under police station limits.

Nine tractors engaged in a road construction work were allegedly set ablaze by maoists in insurgency-hit district, police said on Tuesday. No one was injured in the incident that occurred last night at Ghati under police station limits, a senior police official told PTI.

He said a road was being constructed between and villages, located around 450 kms away from the capital, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

“As per preliminary information, a group of armed ultras reached the construction site at Ghati and torched nine tractors parked there,” he said, adding that Maoists also threatened workers to stay away from the construction works before fleeing.

A police team was rushed to the spot this morning, the official said, adding that a combing operation is underway.

 

[Hindustani78]

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According to sources, security personnel detected smoke in a small bag in the chopper, minutes before it was supposed to take off from the helipad.

According to sources in the state police department, the security personnel detected smoke coming out of a small bag containing VHF wireless set in the chopper, minutes before it was supposed to take off from the helipad. They immediately threw it out and the security personnel took it away from the helipad.

Army spokesman clarified that there was no technical snag in the helicopter. “The smoke was because of some circuit problem in the wireless set and it was immediately removed. The chief minister and others travelling in the helicopter are safe,” he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

**********

Polling day in Nagaland began with a crude bomb attack at a polling station in Tizit constituency. A civilian was injured in the explosion., was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from elsewhere as polling began. A man was reportedly shot dead in a clash in Zunheboto district’s Akuluto constituency while miscreants prevented women from voting at Mongsenyimti village in Mokokchung district.

“One person was confirmed dead while two others were injured in firing by Indian Reserve Battalion to disperse a Maoists mob in Akuluto. We have sought a detailed report from the district heads,” Nagaland's additional Chief Election Officer Moa Aier told The Hindu.

 

[Hindustani78]

Bodies of slain arrive at Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement


Senior cadres of the Maoist party were rumoured to be among those killed.

About 12 Maoists and a Greyhound police constable were reported dead in an exchange of fire in the early hours of Friday in the Tadapalagutta and Pujari Kanker forest areas bordering Chhattisgarh and Telangana.

Deceased constable Sushil belonging to Vikarabad of Telangana district. Two other policemen were also stated to be injured.

According to information reaching that borders , police recovered two AK 47 and eight other weapons from the encounter scene. The Maoists' bodies were shifted to the government hospital at district for post mortem.

Senior cadre of the Maoist party - were rumoured to be among those killed. It was said that the Maoists were holding an important meeting in the forest area and about 70 of them were reported present.

Combing operations were on and public were not being allowed to tread the area.

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A team of Greyhounds and police who were combing the area on credible information encountered the Maoists and the two sides started exchanging fire.

Two AK 47s, 10 weapons, a scanner, laptop, Rs 41,000 in cash and incriminating literature was found at the site.

The bodies of constable Susheel and of the slain Maoists have been sent to government hospital at district by a chopper.

Three Greyhounds commandoes injured in the encounter were also rushed to government hospital at district.

The joint forces of both the states are continuing with their combing operations in the adjoining areas of the encounter site.

The police are keeping an eye on this area after several land mines were found in the locality.

The police believe that about 50 Maoists were camping in the area for over a fortnight.

 

[Hindustani78]

Bhupalpalli district, March 03, 2018 14:52 IST
Updated: March 03, 2018 14:58 IST
We will retaliate the attack, say Maoists
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...say-maoists/article22917843.ece?homepage=true

A day after 10 of its cadres were killed in an exchange of fire along the inter state border, the outlawed Maoists claimed it was “an unilateral fire from the Special police.”

The Maoist party’s spokesperson, through a statement said no top cadre of the party were among the dead. “One betrayer gave information to the police that led to the killing of 10 Maoists,” spokesperson, who is the State secretary of the outlawed party said.

The Maoist party’s spokesperson also said that the District Committee member, and his close personnel were killed in the encounter. The rest belonged to districts .

Claiming the encounter was “a unilateral fire from the police, Maoist party’s spokesperson claimed the cadre were taking rest and taking the reports related to elections disruption when the special police raided the place.

Friday’s encounter was carried out by the elite Greyhounds commandos of Telangana that specialises in anti-insurgency operations against Maoists. One commando was killed in the operation.

*****
Native Indians accused the Chief Ministers were acting like autocrats and “selling away the precious natural resources of tribals” to international corporate entities. “The[The State governments] are killing all those who question them. However, this would align all the native Indians and tribal people and retaliate .

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...l-identification-underway/article22917004.ece

The bodies of eight Maoists, who were among the 10 militants killed in an encounter in district, were flown to a hospital and their identification was likely to be completed on Saturday, an official said.

The Greyhounds, an anti-Maoist force, had on March 2 swooped on the camp of Maoists near in district, as part of a joint operation with the Police. Ten Maoists, including six women, were killed in the early morning operation in which a personnel of the elite force also lost his life.

“Two injured and the body of the marytred of the junior commando of Greyhounds were airlifted yesterday. Due to the inaccessibility of the location, the rest of the bodies of the maoists were flown in a chopper this morning to the hospital,” Superintendent of Police of Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district Ambar Kishor Jha told PTI.

“We have received all the ten bodies of Maoists from the encounter site. Postmortem will be conducted today. We will follow all the Supreme Court directions related to encounter cases,” he said.

According to the SP, the postmortem examination will be conducted at the Military Area Hospital.

The identification process is also underway. “By [this] afternoon we hope to complete the process and get a clear picture,” the SP said.

Security forces had launched the counter-insurgency operation in the forest on the inter-State border based on inputs about a gathering of a large group of ultras, officials had said.

“Susheel Kumar, a junior commando of the Greyhounds, lost his life,” officials had said.

Six Maoists female cadres were among the militants killed in the operation which took place around 6.30 a.m., the SP said.

The local Police had identified two of the dead Maoist as , a “deputy commander”, and his female cadre .

Both were part of the protection team Deputy Inspector General of Police, South range, had said.

An AK-47, among others, was recovered from the encounter site indicating the presence of a top leader of the outfit at the site where encounter took place, a senior police official had said.


**
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...oists-preserved-in-morgue/article22912880.ece

Bodies of two Maoists, including a woman, who were among the 10 killed on Friday, were preserved at the mortuary in the Government Area Hospital .

The other eight bodies could not be brought to the hospital due to difficulties in airlifting them from the dense forest area, police sources said. When reports last came in, the post-mortem had not been done.

Though the police maintained that the identity of the Maoists had not yet been ascertained, it is learnt that the bodies were that of a “deputy commander”, and his female cadre ., reportedly belonging to the Maoist North Special Zonal Committee. ASPsaid the other bodies were expected to arrive on Saturday.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mighty-blow-to-maoists-in-their-stronghold/article22910876.ece


Barely a few weeks after working out a collaborative strategy to combat the resurgence of Maoist movement , a joint squad of security forces inflicted a major blow to the Maoist in its stronghold of forest region spanning across the volatile Inter State border.

The death of 10 Maoists in an encounter with the joint team comprising Greyhounds personnel forest area in district early on Friday dealt a major setback to the Maoists who had stepped up their activities along the inter-State border, targeting road construction equipment and alleged “police informers.”

Effective coordination

Friday’s encounter comes just a few weeks after senior police officials of the Left-wing extremism-affected districts of the State and strife-torn region met to forge effective coordination in anti-Maoist operations.

The meeting has reportedly discussed a multi-focal strategy envisaging intensive joint anti-Maoist offensive as well as civic action programmes in the areas along the restive inter-State border.

A month ago, around 40 Maoist rebels f region struck terror in mandal after crossing over the Brahmaputra, gunning down a tribal man, grievously injuring another by branding them as “police informers” and setting ablaze costly equipment worth ₹1 crore at a sand quarry.


A major exchange of fire broke out between the security forces and a strong group of more than 50 Maoists at Bijapur district on February 4.

Bandh observed
Subsequently observed a bandh on February 5 protesting against what the outfit termed “fascist repression.” The bandh was preceded by a slew of incidents of Maoist violence.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...militia-members-surrender/article22925868.ece
Six militia members of the Area Committees of the banned Maoist arrested by SP ( Rural) here on Sunday.

They were identified as aged(42), aged (25), aged (35), and aged (30), all carrying a cash reward of ₹1 lakh on their head, and other two aged (30) and (35).

All are native North East Frontier Agency.

SP ( Rural)said the militia members were involved in several offences such as exchange of fire with security personnel, killing of Sagina Venkata Ramana, damaging coffee godowns, and occupying coffee plantations .


“The number of surrenders has been increasing in the region and this clearly indicates that the Maoists are losing their base. This will help in the development of the remote Agency areas,” SP ( Rural) added.

All cases against the arrested militia members would be there as per the government’s directive .

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/662756/maoists-gun-down-2-brothers.html
Around 100 armed Maoists swooped down on a school in and gunned down two people claiming that they were 'mukhbir' (police informers).

The incident took place on Saturday when many of the displaced people, who had taken shelter in the Middle school's campus, were fast asleep.

According to police sources, the Maoists came looking for a man named Ranjit Koda. They gheraoed the school and asked for Koda to come out and surrender.

When they could not locate him, the Maoists broke open a bathroom where Ranjit's brother, 38-year-old Madan Koda, had hid himself. They shot him dead.

In the melee, Madan's younger brother Pramod Koda ran for safety towards the field. But the Maoists caught hold of him and gunned him down.

According to an eyewitness account, Ranjit had gone to a nearby field and thus escaped the Maoists' wrath. But after hearing the gunshots, he immediately informed the SP and the DSP. The police arrived on the scene in the next one hour. By that time, the Maoists had escaped under the cover of darkness.

The SP, J Reddy, who reached the spot, said the killing was a result of battle of supremacy between the Maoists faction.

"Those killed had earlier worked with Maoists," the SP said, adding that a manhunt has been launched to nab the rebels.