Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur/Sukma
Raipur/Sukma, Dec 22: Security forces have struck a major blow against Maoist insurgents in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region by uncovering and dismantling a covert arms manufacturing unit hidden deep inside forested hills near Meenagatta village in Sukma district, officials said on Monday.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team of the 150th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Sukma district police carried out a focused operation that successfully destroyed the illegal facility. Officials said the unit was being used by Naxals to fabricate weapons and ammunition intended for attacks on security forces and to sustain armed activities in the region.
The raid led to the recovery of a large cache of arms, explosives, and equipment used for manufacturing weapons. Among the seized items were eight single-shot rifles, 15 cartridges, five electric detonators, around 30 metres of Cordex wire, two kilograms of PEK explosives, one kilogram of ANFO, 10 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, eight VHF wireless sets, a welding machine, Maoist uniforms, and propaganda material.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran G. Chavan described the operation as a significant disruption of the Maoists’ supply and logistics network. He said the swift action by the forces had likely averted future attacks and weakened the insurgents’ operational capabilities.
The SP reiterated the police’s resolve to eliminate Naxal violence from the district, noting that since January 2024, Sukma has seen 599 Maoists surrender, 460 arrested, and 71 neutralised during various operations.
The successful bust is part of intensified anti-Naxal campaigns underway across Chhattisgarh, with security forces steadily targeting and dismantling insurgent infrastructure to restore peace in the Bastar division. Officials confirmed that no security personnel were injured during the operation, and search activities are continuing in the surrounding areas to ensure there are no remaining threats.
Authorities also pointed out that the Maoist network is steadily weakening, aided by intelligence shared by surrendered cadres, which is helping security forces penetrate former insurgent strongholds and isolate remaining extremists.