Maoists’ seized laptops sent for forensic analysis

Cyber experts will conduct a disk analysis on the laptops found at the site of an encounter in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh four days ago. Ten Maoists, including six women, were killed in the encounter between the security forces and the outlaws early on Friday. Apart from weapons, including INSAS rifles, an AK 47 and cash, the police also seized laptops.

A team of disk forensic experts will extract the over-a-period information from the gadgets. The details will be provided to the security agencies concerned for analysis and plans for next moves. “We can know more about their future plans — both spreading their propaganda and attacks, advisories issued by the central committee and other important decisions taken. These are vital for the security forces,” said a senior police official.

Following recent encounters based on tracking of e-communication, Maoists have reportedly stopped sending messages through emails, Facebook or other online tools.

The Maoists use some encrypted code for communication or storing information. However, the police had in the past cracked the communication with the help of a few surrendered Maoists.

The laptops could also have latest pictures of meetings and party activities taken up by group members.

Meanwhile, senior officials in Telangana police said top Maoist leaders had attended the meeting in a prelude to the encounter day. However, they had managed to escape from the spot during the encounter.

“Maoists do not sit in a group at a particular place except when they are in meeting. When they go out to sleep or take rest, they spread out in about a kilometre area to avoid becoming sitting ducks for security forces. It might be due to this strategy that main leaders might escaped from the spot,” said another official familiar with antiMaoist operations.