In a significant development, security forces have successfully foiled a dangerous plot by Maoist insurgents. They managed to uncover a large stash of explosives and weapons from a hideout in the remote Dadipani hills, located in Chhattisgarh's Gariyaband district.
This operation was a major blow to the activities of the Maoists, who had been planning to use these weapons to launch deadly attacks on security personnel. The targeted area, situated approximately 65 km from the district headquarters and along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border, was chosen after careful planning and intelligence gathering.
According to police officials, the Naxalites belonging to the Maoist organization's DGN Division had been stockpiling a significant amount of arms and explosives in the rugged terrain. Their intention was to target security personnel through ambushes and IED attacks. In response to specific intelligence inputs, a joint team comprising Gariyaband's E-30 unit, Special Task Force 207, CoBRA 16 Battalion, Chhattisgarh Armed Force, and the 65th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force launched a well-coordinated search operation on December 19 and 20.
With strict adherence to safety protocols, the forces combed through dense forests and rocky areas in the Dadipani hills. Their thorough search resulted in the discovery of a chilling arsenal hidden in plastic drums and steel containers concealed among the rocks. The recovered items included a company-made mortar, a muzzle-loading gun, 22 mortar shells, 150 detonators, 18 arrow bombs, and various other materials used to create improvised explosive devices. This timely intervention effectively disrupted the Maoists' plans to harm security personnel patrolling the sensitive border region.
The officials hailed this recovery as a major achievement in their ongoing efforts to combat Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). They credited the success to vigilant intelligence gathering and well-coordinated efforts between different security forces. In the wake of this breakthrough, search operations in the surrounding areas have been further intensified to prevent any potential resurgence of Maoist activities and to locate any other possible hideouts.
This discovery highlights the continuous threat posed by Maoists, who resort to using improvised weaponry to undermine peace and development initiatives. It also sheds light on the persistent challenges faced by security forces in the forested interiors of Chhattisgarh, as they strive to make the region free from LWE. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and proactive in the fight against insurgency.
