New Delhi, Sep 11: In a major blow to the CPI-Maoist, security forces neutralised 10 Maoists, including a senior Central Committee leader, during an anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband on Thursday.
Acting on intelligence inputs, joint teams of Gariaband E30, Special Task Force (STF), and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) launched an operation in the forests of Mainpur area. Among those killed was Modem Balakrishna, alias Balanna, alias Ramchandra, alias Manoj, a 58-year-old Central Committee member from Warangal district of Telangana. Carrying a reward of ₹1 crore, his death is being seen as a decisive setback to Maoist activities in the region.
In a parallel operation in Bijapur district, security forces arrested 26 active Maoists, including six carrying a collective bounty of ₹13 lakh. The operation involved the District Reserve Guard (DRG), local police units from Gangaloor, Bhairamgarh, Usur, Awapalli, and Tarrem, along with CoBRA 205 and CRPF’s 196 and 62 Battalions.
Officials said the arrests were made in separate police station limits: three from Gangaloor, three from Bhairamgarh, eight from Awapalli, eight from Usur, and four from Tarrem. During the operations, forces recovered explosives, IEDs, tiffin and cooker bombs, detonators, safety fuses, wires, batteries, digging tools, and Maoist propaganda material, including banners, posters, and pamphlets.
Interrogation revealed that the arrested Maoists had planned to plant IEDs to target security personnel. All accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the IPC and Explosives Act and sent to judicial remand.
In recent months, coordinated operations across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Telangana have significantly weakened Naxal strongholds. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the government aims to eradicate Naxalism completely by March 31, 2026.
