Forces alerted against Naxal attacks

■ Large groups of Maoists have started ‘regrouping’ in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi, April 7: Security forces deployed in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region have been alerted against violent attacks after inputs suggested that large groups of Maoists have started “regrouping” in the area to take advantage of the ongoing lockdown aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, officials said on Tuesday.

A senior official looking after anti-Naxal operations in the state, worsthit in terms of violent Maoist activities, said armed cadres of the ultras have been reported to be undertaking meetings in south Bastar districts of Jagdalpur, Dantewada and Sukma.

“The concern of Naxal attacks on security forces and others in south Chhattisgarh have increased after multiple inputs received by the agencies suggest that a large group has entered into the area from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and even Nepal.”

“While the CPI (Maoist) have called for unilateral ceasefire in Odisha, no such call has been made in the Chhattisgarh area,” the official said.

Some booby traps have been recovered by security forces in Bijapur district of the Bastar region in the last few days and hence security forces like the CRPF and state police have been asked to be on alert against Naxal attacks, a second official posted in Chhattisgarh said.

Inputs have been received that “taking advantage of the lockdown period and less number of operations by security forces, Maoists have conducted intensive reconnaissance in the Rajpenta and Chimilipenta areas and have also planted improvised explosives.

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