One District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan sustained injuries on Sunday after an exchange of fire between security forces and Naxals near the jungle area of Sonpur in Chhattisgarh, police said.

Around 10 to 15 Naxals were also injured in the firing that took place early on Sunday morning.

Troops from the Special Task Force (STF) and the DRG from Basingbahar, Sonpur and Kohkametta camps proceeded to the Irpanar, Ikmetta, Irakbhatti area after being informed about the presence of 200 Naxals.

"At around 10 a.m, there was a heavy exchange of fire near Ikkametta jungles, which lies 9 km south of Sonpur camp. The encounter lasted for over an hour and unable to stand the offensive, the Maoists retreated with their injured," an official said.

One jawan, Dayaram Nuretti, sustained minor injuries and is condition is reported to be stable.&nbsp;

One District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan sustained injuries on Sunday after an exchange of fire between security forces and Naxals near the jungle area of Sonpur in Chhattisgarh, police said.

One District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan sustained injuries on Sunday after an exchange of fire between security forces and Naxals near the jungle area of Sonpur in Chhattisgarh, police said. Around 10 to 15 Naxals were also injured in the firing that took place early on Sunday morning. Troops from the Special Task Force (STF) and the DRG from Basingbahar, Sonpur and Kohkametta camps proceeded to the Irpanar, Ikmetta, Irakbhatti area after being informed about the presence of 200 Naxals. "At around 10 a.m, there was a heavy exchange of fire near Ikkametta jungles, which lies 9 km south of Sonpur camp. The encounter lasted for over an hour and unable to stand the offensive, the Maoists retreated with their injured," an official said. One jawan, Dayaram Nuretti, sustained minor injuries and is condition is reported to be stable.

Jawan injured in encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh

At least one Naxal was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Jharkhand's Chatra district on Friday.

The gunbattle which continued for a couple of minutes commenced at 7 am in the morning.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of police and CRPF personnel launched a search operation in the region when they fired on by a group of Naxals hiding there.

The security forces retaliated to the firing.

The joint team also recovered one INSAS rifle from the incident spot.

Both Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are known to be a Naxal hotbed, with encounters and attacks taking place nearly on a weekly basis.

A few days back, nearly 10 Naxals were gunned down by security forces in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, while one District Reserve Guard personnel sustained injuries in the cross-firing.

The gunbattle which continued for a couple of minutes commenced at 7 am in the morning.

At least one Naxal was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Jharkhand's Chatra district on Friday. The gunbattle which continued for a couple of minutes commenced at 7 am in the morning. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of police and CRPF personnel launched a search operation in the region when they fired on by a group of Naxals hiding there. The security forces retaliated to the firing. The joint team also recovered one INSAS rifle from the incident spot. Both Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are known to be a Naxal hotbed, with encounters and attacks taking place nearly on a weekly basis. A few days back, nearly 10 Naxals were gunned down by security forces in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, while one District Reserve Guard personnel sustained injuries in the cross-firing.

Jharkhand: 1 Naxal killed gunned down in Chatra

Four Naxals, including two women, were Saturday arrested from different places in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, police said.

While three cadres were apprehended from the forest under Bhansi police station limits, another was held from Barsoor area, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava told PTI.

Those arrested in Bhansi area were identified as Meena Telam (22), who was active as in charge of "area supply team" of the Maoists, Manglo Telam (25)- a member of Mirtur LOS (local organisation squad) and Bhima Kunjam (25)- a member of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisaan Majdoor Sangathan (a front outfit of Maoists), Pallava said.

All three were associated with the Bhairamgarh "area committee" of the Maoists, he said.

He said the three were involved in torching two passenger buses and a truck on Bhansi-Dantewada road on August 8 this year in which one person was killed.

Besides, the trio were also involved in damaging railway tracks, putting up Maoist banners and posters and arranging meetings for them, he added.

Meena was carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on her head while Rs 1 lakh was announced for the arrest of Manglo, he said.

In another operation, a Maoist "jan militia commander" Dashman Kawasi (45), with a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, was apprehended near Mangnar road in Barsoor area, the official said.&nbsp;

Four Naxals, including two women, were Saturday arrested from different places in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, police said. While three cadres were apprehended from the forest under Bhansi police station limits, another was held from Barsoor area, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava told PTI.

Four Naxals, including two women, were Saturday arrested from different places in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, police said. While three cadres were apprehended from the forest under Bhansi police station limits, another was held from Barsoor area, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava told PTI. Those arrested in Bhansi area were identified as Meena Telam (22), who was active as in charge of "area supply team" of the Maoists, Manglo Telam (25)- a member of Mirtur LOS (local organisation squad) and Bhima Kunjam (25)- a member of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisaan Majdoor Sangathan (a front outfit of Maoists), Pallava said. All three were associated with the Bhairamgarh "area committee" of the Maoists, he said. He said the three were involved in torching two passenger buses and a truck on Bhansi-Dantewada road on August 8 this year in which one person was killed. Besides, the trio were also involved in damaging railway tracks, putting up Maoist banners and posters and arranging meetings for them, he added. Meena was carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on her head while Rs 1 lakh was announced for the arrest of Manglo, he said. In another operation, a Maoist "jan militia commander" Dashman Kawasi (45), with a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, was apprehended near Mangnar road in Barsoor area, the official said.

4 Naxals, including 2 women, arrested in Chhattisgarh Dantewada

Surrendered Naxals and many tribals who dropped out of schools here in Maharashtra are now realising the importance of education in life and resuming their studies to build a better future. Lack of proper education facilities in this tribal-dominated district in Vidarbha region led many youths to join the Naxal movement. But, some of them realised its futility and surrendered to police to join the national mainstream.

A study centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at Kurkheda taluka here has given these people an opportunity to pursue higher education through its distance learning programme. Around 468 students, including Naxals who surrendered, girls, boys, married women and even mothers, are pursuing various diploma and degree courses from IGNOU’s study centres in Gadchiroli, a senior official of the university said.

IGNOU has been running some study centres in the district since 2013 and the one at Kurkheda was set up about a year ago, he said. A 35-year-old man, who dropped out of Class 12 in the nearby Korshi taluka and joined the Naxal movement at the age of 19, is now pursuing the Bachelor Preparatory Programme after enrolling at the study centre in Kurkheda. The man, who did not wish to be identified, said he surrendered before police in 2014 and now wants to take up social work.

“I had joined the Naxal movement because of the poor financial condition of my family. This is a cause of distress among many tribals. There should be equal opportunities of education and employment for all,” he said. Jayshree Madavi, 43, a resident of Kurkheda, had also discontinued her studies after Class 11. But, her daughter motivated her to study.

Madavi resumed her studies a couple of years back and cleared the Class 12 exam along with her daughter. Both Madavi and her daughter are now pursuing the Bachelor Of Arts (BA) degree course after enrolling at the IGNOU’s study centre. Another local resident Priyanka Zade is also pursuing the BA course along with her sister, while their mother has taken up the Bachelor Preparatory Programme. IGNOU’s local coordinator Gauri Uikey said she has travelled to over 150 villages in Kurkheda, Korshi and Dhanora talukas to motivate young boys and girls as well as adults to pursue higher education. She is also a member of a self-help group which tries to reach out to women in villages and make them aware about educational opportunities for them. Once women enrol for the courses, IGNOU provides them quality study material, Uikey said.

“There are several school dropouts in these villages who could not pursue higher education due to lack of adequate education facilities and other domestic reasons. IGNOU has given them an opportunity to pursue their dream of higher education,” she said. She claimed that around 85 students who pursued courses from the IGNOU’s study centres in Gadchiroli were working in different fields across Maharashtra. Besides, 68 students took up the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree course to work in their villages and serve the society, Uikey said.

P Sivaswaroop, director of the IGNOU’s Nagpur regional centre, which monitors the functioning of its study centres in Gadchiroli, said he was happy that tribal women were showing a keen interest in pursuing higher education. Kurkheda was adopted by the IGNOU’s regional centre in Nagpur under the government’s ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan’, he said, adding that they also hold special admission camps for tribals and organise talks on nutrition-related issues. ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to involve higher education institutions in the indigenous development of self-sufficient and sustainable village clusters.

Surrendered Naxals and many tribals who dropped out of schools here in Maharashtra are now realising the importance of education in life and resuming their studies to build a better future.

Surrendered Naxals and many tribals who dropped out of schools here in Maharashtra are now realising the importance of education in life and resuming their studies to build a better future. Lack of proper education facilities in this tribal-dominated district in Vidarbha region led many youths to join the Naxal movement. But, some of them realised its futility and surrendered to police to join the national mainstream. A study centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at Kurkheda taluka here has given these people an opportunity to pursue higher education through its distance learning programme. Around 468 students, including Naxals who surrendered, girls, boys, married women and even mothers, are pursuing various diploma and degree courses from IGNOU’s study centres in Gadchiroli, a senior official of the university said. IGNOU has been running some study centres in the district since 2013 and the one at Kurkheda was set up about a year ago, he said. A 35-year-old man, who dropped out of Class 12 in the nearby Korshi taluka and joined the Naxal movement at the age of 19, is now pursuing the Bachelor Preparatory Programme after enrolling at the study centre in Kurkheda. The man, who did not wish to be identified, said he surrendered before police in 2014 and now wants to take up social work. “I had joined the Naxal movement because of the poor financial condition of my family. This is a cause of distress among many tribals. There should be equal opportunities of education and employment for all,” he said. Jayshree Madavi, 43, a resident of Kurkheda, had also discontinued her studies after Class 11. But, her daughter motivated her to study. Madavi resumed her studies a couple of years back and cleared the Class 12 exam along with her daughter. Both Madavi and her daughter are now pursuing the Bachelor Of Arts (BA) degree course after enrolling at the IGNOU’s study centre. Another local resident Priyanka Zade is also pursuing the BA course along with her sister, while their mother has taken up the Bachelor Preparatory Programme. IGNOU’s local coordinator Gauri Uikey said she has travelled to over 150 villages in Kurkheda, Korshi and Dhanora talukas to motivate young boys and girls as well as adults to pursue higher education. She is also a member of a self-help group which tries to reach out to women in villages and make them aware about educational opportunities for them. Once women enrol for the courses, IGNOU provides them quality study material, Uikey said. “There are several school dropouts in these villages who could not pursue higher education due to lack of adequate education facilities and other domestic reasons. IGNOU has given them an opportunity to pursue their dream of higher education,” she said. She claimed that around 85 students who pursued courses from the IGNOU’s study centres in Gadchiroli were working in different fields across Maharashtra. Besides, 68 students took up the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree course to work in their villages and serve the society, Uikey said. P Sivaswaroop, director of the IGNOU’s Nagpur regional centre, which monitors the functioning of its study centres in Gadchiroli, said he was happy that tribal women were showing a keen interest in pursuing higher education. Kurkheda was adopted by the IGNOU’s regional centre in Nagpur under the government’s ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan’, he said, adding that they also hold special admission camps for tribals and organise talks on nutrition-related issues. ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to involve higher education institutions in the indigenous development of self-sufficient and sustainable village clusters.

Naxals in Maharashtra turn to education for better future

A BSF assistant sub-inspector was injured in an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-one-ultra-killed-in-encounter-between-security-forces-and-maoists-176612">encounter with security forces</a> in Chhatisgarh's Kanker today. A Maoist was gunned down and another apprehended.&nbsp;

The Maoists reportedly triggered 6 IEDs planted in a row.&nbsp;

This is the fourth IED blast triggered by Naxals in Chhattisgarh in the last 15 days.

They have also carried out six attacks, three of them major, in the last fortnight, which have left 13 people dead.&nbsp;

One of the attacks led to the death of a Doordarshan cameraman covering the upcoming elections. &nbsp;

The first phase of polling will be held in Chattisgarh tomorrow. The second phase of polling on November 20.&nbsp;

The Maoists have called for a boycott of the polls.&nbsp;

Two BSF jawans were injured in an IED blast in Kanker on November 2.&nbsp;

On October 27, four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and two others injured after Maoists blew up their bullet-proof bunker vehicle with an IED in Bijapur district.

On November 8, four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when Naxals detonated an IED in Dantewada district.

Polling parties are being sent to their destination amid tight security, election authorities said.

The first phase of polls on Monday will cover 18 constituencies of eight Naxal-affected districts that include Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

A BSF assistant sub-inspector was injured in an encounter with security forces in Chhatisgarh's Kanker today. A Maoist was gunned down and another apprehended. The Maoists reportedly triggered 6 IEDs planted in a row.

A BSF assistant sub-inspector was injured in an encounter with security forces in Chhatisgarh's Kanker today. A Maoist was gunned down and another apprehended. The Maoists reportedly triggered 6 IEDs planted in a row. This is the fourth IED blast triggered by Naxals in Chhattisgarh in the last 15 days. They have also carried out six attacks, three of them major, in the last fortnight, which have left 13 people dead. One of the attacks led to the death of a Doordarshan cameraman covering the upcoming elections. The first phase of polling will be held in Chattisgarh tomorrow. The second phase of polling on November 20. The Maoists have called for a boycott of the polls. Two BSF jawans were injured in an IED blast in Kanker on November 2. On October 27, four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and two others injured after Maoists blew up their bullet-proof bunker vehicle with an IED in Bijapur district. On November 8, four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when Naxals detonated an IED in Dantewada district. Polling parties are being sent to their destination amid tight security, election authorities said. The first phase of polls on Monday will cover 18 constituencies of eight Naxal-affected districts that include Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon. (With inputs from PTI)

Chhattisgarh goes to polls tomorrow: Naxals have carried out 6 attacks in last 15 days

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/12-people-including-police-officer-killed-gunman-also-dead-in-california-bar-shooting-176217">Video: 12 people including police officer killed, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/12-people-including-police-officer-killed-gunman-also-dead-in-california-bar-shooting-176217">gunman</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/12-people-including-police-officer-killed-gunman-also-dead-in-california-bar-shooting-176217"> also dead in California bar shooting</a>

A gunman killed 12 people, including a sheriff’s deputy, when he walked into a Southern California bar and grill and started shooting on Wednesday night, police said.

The gunman was also killed, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean told a news conference on Thursday, though it was not immediately clear by whom.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/will-help-asia-bibi-in-blasphemy-case-leave-her-country-italy-176228">Pakistan blasphemy case: Italy says will help Asia Bibi leave her country</a>

Italy said on Tuesday it will help a Pakistani Christian woman leave her country because her life is in danger following charges of blasphemy against Islam that put her on death row for eight years.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/four-civilians-one-cisf-jawan-killed-in-ied-blast-in-chhattisgarh-176193">Four civilians, one CISF jawan killed in IED blast in Chhattisgarh</a>

Four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when suspected Naxals detonated a bus with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Thursday, four days ahead of the first phase of elections in the state, police said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/xi-trumps-g20-meeting-will-be-of-great-significance-china-176194">Xi, Trump's G20 meeting will be of 'great significance': China</a>

A meeting between the Chinese and US presidents at the G20 summit will be of "great significance" in resolving bilateral problems, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Thursday, as the two countries try tentatively to get ties back on track.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-trying-to-capture-rbi-ahead-of-lok-sabha-polls-p-chidambaram-176189">Government trying to capture RBI ahead of Lok Sabha polls: P Chidambaram</a>

Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday attacked PM Modi's government stating that the regime is trying "to 'capture' RBI ahead of Lok Sabha poll, this will be catastrophic."

Video: 12 people including police officer killed, gunman also dead in California bar shooting A gunman killed 12 people, including a sheriff’s deputy, when he walked into a Southern California bar and grill and started shooting on Wednesday night, police said.

Video: 12 people including police officer killed, gunman also dead in California bar shooting A gunman killed 12 people, including a sheriff’s deputy, when he walked into a Southern California bar and grill and started shooting on Wednesday night, police said. The gunman was also killed, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean told a news conference on Thursday, though it was not immediately clear by whom. Pakistan blasphemy case: Italy says will help Asia Bibi leave her country Italy said on Tuesday it will help a Pakistani Christian woman leave her country because her life is in danger following charges of blasphemy against Islam that put her on death row for eight years. Four civilians, one CISF jawan killed in IED blast in Chhattisgarh Four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when suspected Naxals detonated a bus with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Thursday, four days ahead of the first phase of elections in the state, police said. Xi, Trump's G20 meeting will be of 'great significance': China A meeting between the Chinese and US presidents at the G20 summit will be of "great significance" in resolving bilateral problems, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Thursday, as the two countries try tentatively to get ties back on track. Government trying to capture RBI ahead of Lok Sabha polls: P Chidambaram Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday attacked PM Modi's government stating that the regime is trying "to 'capture' RBI ahead of Lok Sabha poll, this will be catastrophic."

News brief: Big stories of the day

In the run-up to the polls in Chhattisgarh, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Sunday asserted that if her party emerges victorious, minority communities, the poor and Muslims residing in the state will be uplifted.

The BSP supremo further asserted that the Naxals in the area will leave the path of violence to shun the path of violence and will work towards their development.

"Till now, several governments belonging to different political parties have ruled Chhattisgarh. But none of them have done enough for the development of poor, backward and Dalits. If my party will get the majority of votes, all the people, especially Dalits, Muslims, backward classes and the poor will be benefitted and their status will be uplifted in the society. Naxals will also leave the path of violence and will start working in the right direction," she said.

"By electing BJP as the single winner in the elections, all the dreams of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar will soon be fulfilled as my party will work day and night to provide support and relief to Dalits, Muslims, and other groups," she added.

While addressing the rally in Akaltara, Mayawati also touched upon the issue of reservation and alleged that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-government at the Centre has diluted many acts pertaining to reservations for downtrodden sections of the country.

She also stated that both Congress and BJP, while in power, are not in favour of implementing the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.

"When Congress was in power they also didn't take any initiative to implement the Mandal Commission. Now that BJP is in power, they are not interested in the implementation and betterment of the Dalits and other backward classes. They both want to put an end to the reservation," she said.

Further training guns at the BJP, Mayawati said that increased prices of fuel, CNG and other products have made it difficult for people to make their ends meet.

"By implementing weak policies, the present government has created unemployment, inflation in the country. Not only that by increasing the prices of the cylinder, people not only in Chhattisgarh but also across India are facing issues," she added.

The 62-year-old claimed that while her party was in power in Uttar Pradesh, the demands of every community were fulfilled sans discrimination. "A compensation was also given to people who faced unemployment and basic facilities were provided to all especially farmers, women, poor, small businessmen," she added.

Elections to the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held in the two phases this month. The first Phase for 18 seats in South Chhattisgarh will be held on November 12 and second for remaining 72 seats of North Chhattisgarh will be held on November 20.

The counting of votes will take place on December 11.&nbsp;

In the run-up to the polls in Chhattisgarh, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Sunday asserted that if her party emerges victorious, minority communities, the poor and Muslims residing in the state will be uplifted.

In the run-up to the polls in Chhattisgarh, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Sunday asserted that if her party emerges victorious, minority communities, the poor and Muslims residing in the state will be uplifted. The BSP supremo further asserted that the Naxals in the area will leave the path of violence to shun the path of violence and will work towards their development. "Till now, several governments belonging to different political parties have ruled Chhattisgarh. But none of them have done enough for the development of poor, backward and Dalits. If my party will get the majority of votes, all the people, especially Dalits, Muslims, backward classes and the poor will be benefitted and their status will be uplifted in the society. Naxals will also leave the path of violence and will start working in the right direction," she said. "By electing BJP as the single winner in the elections, all the dreams of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar will soon be fulfilled as my party will work day and night to provide support and relief to Dalits, Muslims, and other groups," she added. While addressing the rally in Akaltara, Mayawati also touched upon the issue of reservation and alleged that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-government at the Centre has diluted many acts pertaining to reservations for downtrodden sections of the country. She also stated that both Congress and BJP, while in power, are not in favour of implementing the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. "When Congress was in power they also didn't take any initiative to implement the Mandal Commission. Now that BJP is in power, they are not interested in the implementation and betterment of the Dalits and other backward classes. They both want to put an end to the reservation," she said. Further training guns at the BJP, Mayawati said that increased prices of fuel, CNG and other products have made it difficult for people to make their ends meet. "By implementing weak policies, the present government has created unemployment, inflation in the country. Not only that by increasing the prices of the cylinder, people not only in Chhattisgarh but also across India are facing issues," she added. The 62-year-old claimed that while her party was in power in Uttar Pradesh, the demands of every community were fulfilled sans discrimination. "A compensation was also given to people who faced unemployment and basic facilities were provided to all especially farmers, women, poor, small businessmen," she added. Elections to the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held in the two phases this month. The first Phase for 18 seats in South Chhattisgarh will be held on November 12 and second for remaining 72 seats of North Chhattisgarh will be held on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Chhattisgarh polls: Naxals will shun violence if BSP regains power, says Mayawati

Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans lost their lives in an encounter with Naxals in the poll-bound district&nbsp;Bijapur of Chhattisgarh on Saturday.

Two jawans sustained injuries&nbsp;after Naxals blew up the anti-landmine vehicle.

The incident occurred around 4 pm near Murdanda camp of the CRPF under Awapalli police station, when its 168th battalion was out on "area domination" operation, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg was quoted as saying by PTI.

When the MPV carrying six personnel was around one km away from the camp, ultras triggered a powerful landmine blast, he said.

Reinforcement was rushed to the spot immediately and the injured personnel were being evacuated. Security officials are not retrieving the bodies from the site.

The attack took place on a day when Chief Minister Raman Singh launched the ruling BJP's campaign for the first phase of polls on November 12 in neighbouring Sukma district.

The first phase of election will cover 18 constituencies in eight Naxal-affected districts - Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon.

Naxals had recently put up posters in parts of Bastar region calling for boycott of the polls.

(With inputs from news agencies)

Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans lost their lives in an encounter with Naxals in the poll-bound district Bijapur of Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Two jawans sustained injuries after Naxals blew up the anti-landmine vehicle.

Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans lost their lives in an encounter with Naxals in the poll-bound district Bijapur of Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Two jawans sustained injuries after Naxals blew up the anti-landmine vehicle. The incident occurred around 4 pm near Murdanda camp of the CRPF under Awapalli police station, when its 168th battalion was out on "area domination" operation, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg was quoted as saying by PTI. When the MPV carrying six personnel was around one km away from the camp, ultras triggered a powerful landmine blast, he said. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot immediately and the injured personnel were being evacuated. Security officials are not retrieving the bodies from the site. The attack took place on a day when Chief Minister Raman Singh launched the ruling BJP's campaign for the first phase of polls on November 12 in neighbouring Sukma district. The first phase of election will cover 18 constituencies in eight Naxal-affected districts - Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon. Naxals had recently put up posters in parts of Bastar region calling for boycott of the polls. (With inputs from news agencies)

Chhattisgarh: 4 CRPF personnel killed, 2 injured as Naxals blow up anti-landmine vehicle

BJP president Amit Shah Monday accused Congress chief Rahul Gandhi of raising a "hue and cry" over the arrest of "urban naxals", who allegedly plotted to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said the government would not tolerate those who speak about dividing the country.

He alleged that the Congress, when in power, undermined the country's security.

"The Maharashtra government arrested urban naxals and found through their email exchange that they wanted mortar guns and machine guns. They were plotting to kill Modi," Shah said, speaking at a BJP workers' gathering at Rewa in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

"But when they ('urban naxals') were arrested, Rahul baba (Rahul Gandhi) and company raised hue and cry," he said.

"The slogan 'Bharat tere tukde honge, Inshallah ek hazar, ek hazar' was raised at JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) but Rahul baba says there is freedom of speech. Naxals were arrested, but he saw (it as an issue of) freedom of speech," he added.

Asserting that nobody would be allowed to harm the country's security, Shah said, "Rahul Baba, you can see whatever you want to, but there is a rule of Narendra Modi government....The voices which talk of dividing the country would be sent behind the bars."

The Maharashtra police had arrested five rights activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- 'Elgaar Parishad' -- held on December 31 last year that had later triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima village.&nbsp;

The BJP president alleged that opposition parties such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Trinamool Congress sympathised with the infiltrators.

"The BJP government identified 40 lakh infiltrators by creating NRC (National Register of Citizens) in Assam. But opposition raised a hue and cry," Shah said, adding that the Congress, whenever in power, "weakened the country's security".

"Nobody remembers human rights when infiltrators plant bombs to kill country's mothers and sisters. The country's youth remain unemployed as these infiltrators snatch away jobs. They are a vote bank for the Congress, but for us, they are a national security issue. They (infiltrators) are eating up the country like termites," he said.

The BJP government would drive "each and every infiltrator" out of the country after winning elections in 2018 and 2019, Shah said.

India's economy rose to sixth place globally from the ninth spot in the last four years, he claimed.

Later, Shah spoke at a tribal convention at Dindori.

The Modi government increased the budget for the welfare schemes for the scheduled tribes by 30 per cent, while the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in the state increased the funds for tribal areas by over Rs 25,000 crore, he said.

The Modi government also set up 'mineral funds' (district mineral funds to which local miners contribute) for the development of tribal areas, he noted.

The Congress ruled the country with the support of the tribal communities, but now they are with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shah claimed.&nbsp;

BJP president Amit Shah Monday accused Congress chief Rahul Gandhi of raising a "hue and cry" over the arrest of "urban naxals", who allegedly plotted to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said the government would not tolerate those who speak about dividing the country.

BJP president Amit Shah Monday accused Congress chief Rahul Gandhi of raising a "hue and cry" over the arrest of "urban naxals", who allegedly plotted to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said the government would not tolerate those who speak about dividing the country. He alleged that the Congress, when in power, undermined the country's security. "The Maharashtra government arrested urban naxals and found through their email exchange that they wanted mortar guns and machine guns. They were plotting to kill Modi," Shah said, speaking at a BJP workers' gathering at Rewa in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. "But when they ('urban naxals') were arrested, Rahul baba (Rahul Gandhi) and company raised hue and cry," he said. "The slogan 'Bharat tere tukde honge, Inshallah ek hazar, ek hazar' was raised at JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) but Rahul baba says there is freedom of speech. Naxals were arrested, but he saw (it as an issue of) freedom of speech," he added. Asserting that nobody would be allowed to harm the country's security, Shah said, "Rahul Baba, you can see whatever you want to, but there is a rule of Narendra Modi government....The voices which talk of dividing the country would be sent behind the bars." The Maharashtra police had arrested five rights activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- 'Elgaar Parishad' -- held on December 31 last year that had later triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima village. The BJP president alleged that opposition parties such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Trinamool Congress sympathised with the infiltrators. "The BJP government identified 40 lakh infiltrators by creating NRC (National Register of Citizens) in Assam. But opposition raised a hue and cry," Shah said, adding that the Congress, whenever in power, "weakened the country's security". "Nobody remembers human rights when infiltrators plant bombs to kill country's mothers and sisters. The country's youth remain unemployed as these infiltrators snatch away jobs. They are a vote bank for the Congress, but for us, they are a national security issue. They (infiltrators) are eating up the country like termites," he said. The BJP government would drive "each and every infiltrator" out of the country after winning elections in 2018 and 2019, Shah said. India's economy rose to sixth place globally from the ninth spot in the last four years, he claimed. Later, Shah spoke at a tribal convention at Dindori. The Modi government increased the budget for the welfare schemes for the scheduled tribes by 30 per cent, while the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in the state increased the funds for tribal areas by over Rs 25,000 crore, he said. The Modi government also set up 'mineral funds' (district mineral funds to which local miners contribute) for the development of tribal areas, he noted. The Congress ruled the country with the support of the tribal communities, but now they are with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shah claimed.

Rahul raised hue and cry over arrest of 'urban naxals':  Amit Shah

A CRPF personnel from CoBRA battalion and a policeman succumbed to their injuries on Thursday in an encounter with Maoists in Saraikela, Jharkhand.

The gunbattle between the security forces and Maoists began on Thursday morning after the&nbsp;Jharkhand Police and 209 CoBRA battalion launched a Search and Destroy Operation against the Maoists in the state&nbsp;

The heavy firing between the two forces has concluded now and the security forces have launched a search operation.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> Encounter between naxals & troops of 209 CoBRA battalion & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jharkhand?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jharkhand</a> Police in Saraikela: Police jawan, who who was injured, succumbed to his injuries. 1 CoBRA personnel had lost his life too. Firing concludes, search operation underway.
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(With inputs from ANI)

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The Jharkhand Police and 209 CoBRA battalion had launched a Search and Destroy Operation against the Maoists in the state

A CRPF personnel from CoBRA battalion and a policeman succumbed to their injuries on Thursday in an encounter with Maoists in Saraikela, Jharkhand. The gunbattle between the security forces and Maoists began on Thursday morning after the Jharkhand Police and 209 CoBRA battalion launched a Search and Destroy Operation against the Maoists in the state The heavy firing between the two forces has concluded now and the security forces have launched a search operation. #UPDATE Encounter between naxals & troops of 209 CoBRA battalion & #Jharkhand Police in Saraikela: Police jawan, who who was injured, succumbed to his injuries. 1 CoBRA personnel had lost his life too. Firing concludes, search operation underway. — ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2018 × (With inputs from ANI)

1 CRPF soldier, policeman killed in encounter with Maoists in Jharkhand

Naxals in Bihar's Munger district torched four road construction vehicles on Thursday.

They also burned three other vehicles along with it.

The police authorities have confirmed that Naxals have abducted eight labourers in the process but freed four of them.

A search operation has been launched to track down the Naxals and the abductees.

Earlier on May 1 Naxalites had set ablaze as many as five vehicles engaged in road construction work in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.

The police authorities have confirmed that Naxals have abducted eight labourers in the process but freed four of them

Naxals in Bihar's Munger district torched four road construction vehicles on Thursday. They also burned three other vehicles along with it. The police authorities have confirmed that Naxals have abducted eight labourers in the process but freed four of them. A search operation has been launched to track down the Naxals and the abductees. Earlier on May 1 Naxalites had set ablaze as many as five vehicles engaged in road construction work in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.

Bihar: Naxals torch four road construction vehicles, abduct labours

Three Naxalites were killed and two surrendered in an encounter with the Central Reserve Police Force and the Jharkhand Police in Jharkhand's Palamu district.

The same day, 12 Naxals were arrested from separate places in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg told PTI that six Naxals were apprehended from the forest near Dalla village under Basaguda police station limits, five from areas falling under Bedre police station and one from Tarnichhilpatpara in Jangla village.

Six Naxals were nabbed after a joint team of the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) 168th battalion and District Force acted on a tip-off and launched a search operation near Dalla in Basaguda, he said.

Basaguda is located about 450 kilometres from the state capital.

The Naxal insurgency, considered India's most serious internal security threat, has claimed around 10,000 lives since it started in the 1960s.

Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are a part of the so-called red corridor that passes through resource-rich areas of central, southern, western and eastern India and is mostly inhabited by underprivileged tribes.

Naxalites say they are fighting for the rights of marginalised tribal groups.

Naxalites operate from jungle bases but often descend on villages to demand protection money and recruit young men and women to their ranks.

(With inputs from agencies)

The same day, 12 Naxals were arrested from separate places in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said

Three Naxalites were killed and two surrendered in an encounter with the Central Reserve Police Force and the Jharkhand Police in Jharkhand's Palamu district. The same day, 12 Naxals were arrested from separate places in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg told PTI that six Naxals were apprehended from the forest near Dalla village under Basaguda police station limits, five from areas falling under Bedre police station and one from Tarnichhilpatpara in Jangla village. Six Naxals were nabbed after a joint team of the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) 168th battalion and District Force acted on a tip-off and launched a search operation near Dalla in Basaguda, he said. Basaguda is located about 450 kilometres from the state capital. The Naxal insurgency, considered India's most serious internal security threat, has claimed around 10,000 lives since it started in the 1960s. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are a part of the so-called red corridor that passes through resource-rich areas of central, southern, western and eastern India and is mostly inhabited by underprivileged tribes. Naxalites say they are fighting for the rights of marginalised tribal groups. Naxalites operate from jungle bases but often descend on villages to demand protection money and recruit young men and women to their ranks. (With inputs from agencies)

3 Naxals killed in encounter with security forces in Jharkhand

Security forces recovered a huge cache of explosive materials following a gun-fight with the Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said Saturday.

The encounter took place on Friday when a joint team of the police's Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) of the CRPF was out on an anti-Naxal operation, said Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena.

While the team was cordoning off Tumirpad forests, Naxals opened fire on them, Meena said.

The area around 500 km away from Raipur.

After a prolonged gun-battle, the Maoists fled, the SP said.

Four steel tiffin boxes, 12 gelatin rods, urea, 20 detonators, cortex wires, batteries and gunpowder were found from the spot, he said.&nbspAll this material is used to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by the Naxals.

A team of `military battalion no 1' of the Maoists led by company commander Nagesh, which operates mostly in south Sukma, was involved in the encounter, Meena said.&nbsp

Four steel tiffin boxes, 12 gelatin rods, urea, 20 detonators, cortex wires, batteries and gunpowder were found from the spot, he said. All this material is used to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by the Naxals

Security forces recovered a huge cache of explosive materials following a gun-fight with the Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said Saturday. The encounter took place on Friday when a joint team of the police's Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) of the CRPF was out on an anti-Naxal operation, said Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena. While the team was cordoning off Tumirpad forests, Naxals opened fire on them, Meena said. The area around 500 km away from Raipur. After a prolonged gun-battle, the Maoists fled, the SP said. Four steel tiffin boxes, 12 gelatin rods, urea, 20 detonators, cortex wires, batteries and gunpowder were found from the spot, he said.&nbspAll this material is used to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by the Naxals. A team of `military battalion no 1' of the Maoists led by company commander Nagesh, which operates mostly in south Sukma, was involved in the encounter, Meena said.

Explosive materials found after gun-battle with Naxals

The security forces on Saturday recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that were planted by Naxals in an under-construction health center in Bandaguda Village of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.

Both the IEDs were defused.

"During operations at around 6:55 am, the security forces recovered two IEDs that were planted by Naxals," officials said.

Earlier on May 2, two jawans of Chhattisgarh Police's District Force were killed in an IED blast in Gariaband district while a Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawan sustained injuries after an IED blast in Dantewada district on April 29.

Earlier on May 2, two jawans of Chhattisgarh Police's District Force were killed in an IED blast in Gariaband district while a Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawan sustained injuries after an IED blast in Dantewada district on April 29

The security forces on Saturday recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that were planted by Naxals in an under-construction health center in Bandaguda Village of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. Both the IEDs were defused. "During operations at around 6:55 am, the security forces recovered two IEDs that were planted by Naxals," officials said. Earlier on May 2, two jawans of Chhattisgarh Police's District Force were killed in an IED blast in Gariaband district while a Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawan sustained injuries after an IED blast in Dantewada district on April 29.

Chhattisgarh: Two IEDs planted by Naxals defused

A Delhi court has admitted the complaint filed by CRPF sub-inspector against the producers of Bollywood&nbsp;movie "Newton".

The complaint was filed by the sub-inspector for "depicting CRPF in poor light".

The court has posted the case for July 19 for pre-summoning evidence of the complaint.

Newton was India's official entry to the Oscars. And Rajkummar Rao won the Asia Pacific Screen Award -- given out by the Brisbane city council -- for his performance in the film.&nbsp;

The movie is a political satire weaved around an honest election officer's attempt to conduct a free and fair poll in a conflict-hit area of Chhattisgarh.

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In a criminal complaint filed by a CRPF Sub-Inspector against the producers of the Bollywood film 'Newton' for depicting CRPF in poor light, a Delhi court admitted the matter and posted it for pre-summoning evidence of the complainant, on 19th July. <a href="https://t.co/rySyQOllpl">pic.twitter.com/rySyQOllpl</a>
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A Delhi court has admitted the complaint filed by CRPF sub-inspector against the producers of Bollywood movie 'Newton'

A Delhi court has admitted the complaint filed by CRPF sub-inspector against the producers of Bollywood movie "Newton". The complaint was filed by the sub-inspector for "depicting CRPF in poor light". The court has posted the case for July 19 for pre-summoning evidence of the complaint. Newton was India's official entry to the Oscars. And Rajkummar Rao won the Asia Pacific Screen Award -- given out by the Brisbane city council -- for his performance in the film. The movie is a political satire weaved around an honest election officer's attempt to conduct a free and fair poll in a conflict-hit area of Chhattisgarh. In a criminal complaint filed by a CRPF Sub-Inspector against the producers of the Bollywood film 'Newton' for depicting CRPF in poor light, a Delhi court admitted the matter and posted it for pre-summoning evidence of the complainant, on 19th July. pic.twitter.com/rySyQOllpl — ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2018 ×

Delhi court posts 'Newton" for pre-summoning evidence of complainant on July 19

A sub-engineer and two construction workers were abducted by Naxals in Balrampur, Chhattisgarh on Saturday.

The Naxals also set ablaze six vehicles which were used in road construction work in the region.

The police are investigating the matter.

The abduction came after two naxals including a woman were killed in an encounter and four were arrested by security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district today.

Also&nbsp;three naxals, including a woman, all carrying cash rewards on their heads, had surrendered in Kondagaon district in Chhattisgarh on Saturday.

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One sub-engineer, two construction workers abducted six vehicles being used in road construction work set ablaze by Naxals in Balrampur. Police present at the spot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpotVisuals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpotVisuals</a> Six vehicles being used in road construction work set ablaze by Naxals in Balrampur. Three abducted <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a> <a href="https://t.co/eBVWia5UP8">pic.twitter.com/eBVWia5UP8</a>
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The Naxals also set ablaze six vehicles which were used in road construction work in the region

A sub-engineer and two construction workers were abducted by Naxals in Balrampur, Chhattisgarh on Saturday. The Naxals also set ablaze six vehicles which were used in road construction work in the region. The police are investigating the matter. The abduction came after two naxals including a woman were killed in an encounter and four were arrested by security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district today. Also three naxals, including a woman, all carrying cash rewards on their heads, had surrendered in Kondagaon district in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. One sub-engineer, two construction workers abducted six vehicles being used in road construction work set ablaze by Naxals in Balrampur. Police present at the spot #Chhattisgarh — ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2018 × #SpotVisuals Six vehicles being used in road construction work set ablaze by Naxals in Balrampur. Three abducted #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/eBVWia5UP8 — ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2018 ×

Naxals abduct sub engineer, construction workers in Chhattisgarh

Seven Naxals were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday.

Earlier Maharashtra police had killed 37 Naxals in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.&nbsp;

The increasing number of encounters is the outcome of the ongoing anti-Maoists operation in the red corridor region.

On Thursday sixty Maoists including 13 minors and 20 females surrendered before the Chhattisgarh police at restive Narayanpur district of Bastar.&nbsp;

Each of the Naxals surrendered will be&nbsp;entitled to an incentive amount of Rs 10,000 and rehabilitation package of the state government, the police said.

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Chhattisgarh: 7 naxals killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district. More details awaited.
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Earlier Maharashtra police killed 37 Naxals in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra

Seven Naxals were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday. Earlier Maharashtra police had killed 37 Naxals in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The increasing number of encounters is the outcome of the ongoing anti-Maoists operation in the red corridor region. On Thursday sixty Maoists including 13 minors and 20 females surrendered before the Chhattisgarh police at restive Narayanpur district of Bastar. Each of the Naxals surrendered will be entitled to an incentive amount of Rs 10,000 and rehabilitation package of the state government, the police said. Chhattisgarh: 7 naxals killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district. More details awaited. — ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2018 ×

Seven naxals killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh

Thirteen Naxals were on Sunday gunned down in an encounter with security forces at Etapalli's Boriya forest area in Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered and the search operation is still on.

Yesterday, an officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed in an encounter with Naxals in a dense forest in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

Teams of CRPF, its elite unit CoBRA and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of police were carrying out search operations under the Kistaram police station limits when the gunfight broke out last night, Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Bastar) Sundarraj P said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered and the search operation is still on.

Thirteen Naxals were on Sunday gunned down in an encounter with security forces at Etapalli's Boriya forest area in Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered and the search operation is still on. Yesterday, an officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed in an encounter with Naxals in a dense forest in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district. Teams of CRPF, its elite unit CoBRA and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of police were carrying out search operations under the Kistaram police station limits when the gunfight broke out last night, Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Bastar) Sundarraj P said. (With inputs from Agencies)

13 maoists killed in an encounter in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district

In a novel initiative, the Chhattisgarh police is using an audio music album - comprising songs in regional languages - as its latest weapon to encourage Naxals in the Bastar division to shun violence.

The songs will achieve what the guns have failed to do so far in the Naxal hotbed of Bastar, the police hopes.

The album, titled 'Nava Bihan' (meaning 'a new morning' in the local language), composed by the Kondagaon district police, contains five songs expressing the pain of tribals living in the strife-torn zone.

The songs appeal to those involved in the outlawed movement to join the mainstream.

"Music and art play a significant role in re-establishing peace and relaying messages to the people. We are making an attempt through this music album to reach out to people, connect with them and convey our messages to bring peace and development in the area," Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Vivekanand Sinha told PTI.

The initiative is aimed at countering the Maoists' propaganda being spread through their cultural wing, named 'Chetna Natya Manch', and making the tribal populace aware of the negative effects of violence and about the necessity of education and development, he said.

Kondagaon's Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maheshwar Nag has lent his voice to the album's three songs sung in the state's 'Chhattisgarhi' language, while local singer Ashu Madhuraj has crooned the two other numbers in the 'Halbi' dialect of Bastar.

"The songs, closely related to the life of tribals, explain how they are living under the fear of Maoists and suffering from lack of facilities," Nag said.

"The album carries the message that relatives of Naxals want them to quit violence and come back home. Besides, it expresses the grief of relatives of Naxals who were gunned down in encounters with police," he said.

The ultimate aim is to counter Naxals with their own tactics and to stop the influence of their cultural body, the official said.

The lyricist's name has not been printed on the album's cover as he did not want to be identified. Instead a pseudonym, 'Roop Koytur', has been mentioned, the ASP said.

After the album was released by Chief Minister Raman Singh during his visit to Kondagaon last month, the district police personnel uploaded the songs on their mobile phones to propagate its message in their respective areas.

"In fact, we were happy to hear these songs being played at marriages in some of the villages where we recently conducted the anti-Maoist operations," said Nag, who is delighted at the response that the album has been getting.

The locals are using the songs as ring tones of their mobile phones, he said.

The aim is not to make these songs popular, but to reach out to the rebels to persuade them to shun violence. The purpose of this initiative will be served only when Naxals get encouraged to lay down their arms, Nag said.

The songs will achieve what the guns have failed to do so far in the Naxal hotbed of Bastar, the police hopes

In a novel initiative, the Chhattisgarh police is using an audio music album - comprising songs in regional languages - as its latest weapon to encourage Naxals in the Bastar division to shun violence. The songs will achieve what the guns have failed to do so far in the Naxal hotbed of Bastar, the police hopes. The album, titled 'Nava Bihan' (meaning 'a new morning' in the local language), composed by the Kondagaon district police, contains five songs expressing the pain of tribals living in the strife-torn zone. The songs appeal to those involved in the outlawed movement to join the mainstream. "Music and art play a significant role in re-establishing peace and relaying messages to the people. We are making an attempt through this music album to reach out to people, connect with them and convey our messages to bring peace and development in the area," Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Vivekanand Sinha told PTI. The initiative is aimed at countering the Maoists' propaganda being spread through their cultural wing, named 'Chetna Natya Manch', and making the tribal populace aware of the negative effects of violence and about the necessity of education and development, he said. Kondagaon's Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maheshwar Nag has lent his voice to the album's three songs sung in the state's 'Chhattisgarhi' language, while local singer Ashu Madhuraj has crooned the two other numbers in the 'Halbi' dialect of Bastar. "The songs, closely related to the life of tribals, explain how they are living under the fear of Maoists and suffering from lack of facilities," Nag said. "The album carries the message that relatives of Naxals want them to quit violence and come back home. Besides, it expresses the grief of relatives of Naxals who were gunned down in encounters with police," he said. The ultimate aim is to counter Naxals with their own tactics and to stop the influence of their cultural body, the official said. The lyricist's name has not been printed on the album's cover as he did not want to be identified. Instead a pseudonym, 'Roop Koytur', has been mentioned, the ASP said. After the album was released by Chief Minister Raman Singh during his visit to Kondagaon last month, the district police personnel uploaded the songs on their mobile phones to propagate its message in their respective areas. "In fact, we were happy to hear these songs being played at marriages in some of the villages where we recently conducted the anti-Maoist operations," said Nag, who is delighted at the response that the album has been getting. The locals are using the songs as ring tones of their mobile phones, he said. The aim is not to make these songs popular, but to reach out to the rebels to persuade them to shun violence. The purpose of this initiative will be served only when Naxals get encouraged to lay down their arms, Nag said.

To get Naxals to give up arms, Chhattisgarh Police cuts music album

The Maharashtra police on Tuesday shot three Naxals during an encounter carried out in Gadchiroli district.&nbsp

Out of the three killed, two were women.&nbsp

Further details are awaited.&nbsp

Last week, five Naxals surrendered before the police in Gadchiroli as well, which included two women, carrying a reward of Rs 24 &nbsplakh on their heads.&nbsp

The surrender of Sainu, Rupi alias Jhuri Kande Narote, Arjun Naresh Barsai Poya, Chaya alias Raje Devi, and Vinu alias Ramnath Bijou Sundar Kovachi indicates the success of state government's campaign to encourage the Naxals lay down their weapons.

The surrendered Naxals have confessed to being involved in activities such as blasts, kidnappings, and encounters.

The Maharashtra police on Tuesday shot three Naxals during an encounter carried out in Gadchiroli district. Out of the three killed, two were women. Further details are awaited. Last week, five Naxals surrendered before the police in Gadchiroli as well, which included two women, carrying a reward of Rs 24 &nbsplakh on their heads. The surrender of Sainu, Rupi alias Jhuri Kande Narote, Arjun Naresh Barsai Poya, Chaya alias Raje Devi, and Vinu alias Ramnath Bijou Sundar Kovachi indicates the success of state government's campaign to encourage the Naxals lay down their weapons. The surrendered Naxals have confessed to being involved in activities such as blasts, kidnappings, and encounters.

3 Naxals killed during encounter in Maharashtra

In the aftermath of the Naxal-led attack that killed nine CRPF personnel in Sukma on Tuesday, Chief Minister Raman Singh clarified that the improvised explosive device (IED) blast was carried out in retaliation to an encounter which took place last morning.

&quot;The background of this blast in Sukma is that the COBRA battalion held a successful encounter in the morning in which several Naxals were injured and weapons were recovered. This has left them perplexed, as we are reaching closer to their headquarters. This attack was carried out in fury,&quot; Singh told reporters here.

The chief minister revealed that although IED detection with the present technology is difficult, the forces and state police are working together to abolish the naxal base in the region.

Echoing a similar stance, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Ahir, assured that the government is strongly monitoring the situation along with intelligence agencies and the forces.

On Tuesday, nine personnel of the 212 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and two severely injured in the IED blast.The CRPF jawans were conducting an operation in a forest in the district when the blast took place, ripping apart their Mine-Protected Vehicle (MPV).

Meanwhile, the wreath-laying ceremony of the nine jawans was held earlier this morning, where the two ministers paid their tributes to the slain soldiers.&nbsp;

Raman Singh revealed that although IED detection with the present technology is difficult, the forces and state police are working together to abolish the naxal base in the region

In the aftermath of the Naxal-led attack that killed nine CRPF personnel in Sukma on Tuesday, Chief Minister Raman Singh clarified that the improvised explosive device (IED) blast was carried out in retaliation to an encounter which took place last morning. "The background of this blast in Sukma is that the COBRA battalion held a successful encounter in the morning in which several Naxals were injured and weapons were recovered. This has left them perplexed, as we are reaching closer to their headquarters. This attack was carried out in fury," Singh told reporters here. The chief minister revealed that although IED detection with the present technology is difficult, the forces and state police are working together to abolish the naxal base in the region. Echoing a similar stance, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Ahir, assured that the government is strongly monitoring the situation along with intelligence agencies and the forces. On Tuesday, nine personnel of the 212 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and two severely injured in the IED blast.The CRPF jawans were conducting an operation in a forest in the district when the blast took place, ripping apart their Mine-Protected Vehicle (MPV). Meanwhile, the wreath-laying ceremony of the nine jawans was held earlier this morning, where the two ministers paid their tributes to the slain soldiers.

Sukma attack undertaken in retaliation: Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh

Nine tractors were set on fire by Naxals in Jagdalpur a tribal district of Bastar, Chattisgarh.

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Chhattisgarh: Naxals torched 9 tractors engaged in road construction work in Bastar&#39;s Jagdalpur. Naxals also thrashed a JCB driver; Police on the spot
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/968348204956835840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The tractors were torched while it was engaged in road construction work.

A JCB driver was also thrashed in the incident.

Police have reached the crime spot and an investigation is underway.

More information awaited.

 
&nbsp;

Police have reached the crime spot and an investigation is underway

Nine tractors were set on fire by Naxals in Jagdalpur a tribal district of Bastar, Chattisgarh. Chhattisgarh: Naxals torched 9 tractors engaged in road construction work in Bastar's Jagdalpur. Naxals also thrashed a JCB driver; Police on the spot — ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 × The tractors were torched while it was engaged in road construction work. A JCB driver was also thrashed in the incident. Police have reached the crime spot and an investigation is underway. More information awaited.

Chattisgarh: Naxals torched 9 tractors in Bastar

Reported by Manish Shukla

Intelligence agencies have warned of a big Naxal attack on security forces in Chhattisgarh&#39;s South Bastar region.

The Naxals have stepped up opposition to setting up of fresh special force camps and construction of roads in three districts of South Bastar - Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur.

Inputs indicate that cadres of the People&#39;s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) have congregated in large numbers and are trying to lay ambushes for the special forces in South Bastar.

The PLGA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), a banned organisation in India which aims to overthrow the government of India through people&#39;s war.

The Naxal insurgency, considered India&#39;s most serious internal security threat, has claimed around 10,000 lives since it started in the 1960s.

Chhattisgarh is part of the so-called &quot;red corridor&quot; that passes through resource-rich areas of central, southern, western and eastern India and is mostly inhabited by underprivileged tribes.

Naxalites, who say they are fighting for the rights of marginalised tribal groups, operate from jungle bases but often descend on villages to demand protection money and recruit young men and women to their ranks.

Since his election in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been seeking to stem the insurgency through development funds for revolt-hit areas and improving policing.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Inputs indicate that cadres of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) have congregated in large numbers and are trying to lay ambushes for the special forces in South Bastar

Reported by Manish Shukla Intelligence agencies have warned of a big Naxal attack on security forces in Chhattisgarh's South Bastar region. The Naxals have stepped up opposition to setting up of fresh special force camps and construction of roads in three districts of South Bastar - Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur. Inputs indicate that cadres of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) have congregated in large numbers and are trying to lay ambushes for the special forces in South Bastar. The PLGA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), a banned organisation in India which aims to overthrow the government of India through people's war. The Naxal insurgency, considered India's most serious internal security threat, has claimed around 10,000 lives since it started in the 1960s. Chhattisgarh is part of the so-called "red corridor" that passes through resource-rich areas of central, southern, western and eastern India and is mostly inhabited by underprivileged tribes. Naxalites, who say they are fighting for the rights of marginalised tribal groups, operate from jungle bases but often descend on villages to demand protection money and recruit young men and women to their ranks. Since his election in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been seeking to stem the insurgency through development funds for revolt-hit areas and improving policing. (With inputs from agencies)

Intelligence agencies warn of big Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

Four police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, were killed and seven others injured in a gun-fight with Naxals in Chhattisgarh&#39;s Narayanpur district today, police said.

The encounter took place in the forests of Irpanar village in Abhujmad area when a police team was out on anti- Naxal operation, Special Director General of Police (anti- Naxal operations) D M Awasthi said.

&quot;Two sub-inspectors and as many constables, belonging to DRG (District Reserve Guard of Police) lost their lives and seven other personnel sustained injuries in the incident,&quot; he said.

The team, comprising personnel from DRG and the Special Task Force (STF) of police, was cordoning off Irpanar forests when the exchange of fire broke out, he said.

Soon after getting information about the encounter, reinforcement was rushed to the spot, Awasthi said, adding that the?injured were being airlifted to Raipur for treatment.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Vivekanand Sinha said the encounter started around 11 am and lasted for about two hours.&nbsp;

The encounter took place in the forests of Irpanar village in Abhujmad area when a police team was out on anti-Naxal operation

Four police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, were killed and seven others injured in a gun-fight with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district today, police said. The encounter took place in the forests of Irpanar village in Abhujmad area when a police team was out on anti- Naxal operation, Special Director General of Police (anti- Naxal operations) D M Awasthi said. "Two sub-inspectors and as many constables, belonging to DRG (District Reserve Guard of Police) lost their lives and seven other personnel sustained injuries in the incident," he said. The team, comprising personnel from DRG and the Special Task Force (STF) of police, was cordoning off Irpanar forests when the exchange of fire broke out, he said. Soon after getting information about the encounter, reinforcement was rushed to the spot, Awasthi said, adding that the?injured were being airlifted to Raipur for treatment. Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Vivekanand Sinha said the encounter started around 11 am and lasted for about two hours.

4 policemen killed in encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh

As many as 76 Naxals were killed and 1,017 ultras arrested by the security forces in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas of Chhattisgarh in 2017, a senior police officer said here today.

He also asserted that 2017 was a successful year for the state in its fight against the Maoists.

At the same time, the security forces lost 59 personnel in Naxal-related incidents in the last year, officials said, quoting statistics provided by the police in this regard.

Normalcy was restored in many Naxalism-hit areas due to the consistent operations of the security forces and also because of development activities, Special Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) D M Awasthi told reporters today.

The security forces had achieved a major success in their fight against LWE in 2017, he said, adding that as many as 76 Maoists, including 51 senior cadre carrying a cumulative cash reward of Rs 2.08 crore on their heads, were killed in encounters in the state during the year.

Similarly, 1,017 rebels, including 79 senior cadre carrying a total cash reward of Rs 1.41 crore on their heads, were arrested, the IPS officer said.

Besides,365 ultras had put down their arms last year, he added.

At least 221 weapons, including one light machine gun (the first such recovery in the state),?six AK-47 rifles, as many Insas rifles and five SLRs were recovered from the insurgents, Awasthi said.

New forward posts were set up in the core Maoist areas for a strategic advance and effective anti-Naxal operations, he added.

Sukma, Dantewada,?Narayanpur, Kondgaon, Kanker, Bastar, Rajnandgaon and Kabeerdham were the districts where these posts were set up, the officer said.

He added that the security forces were also providing protection to the personnel and equipment engaged in road construction and other development activities in the LWE-hit areas.

The construction of 11 roads under the RRP (Road Requirement Plan)-1 was completed and the work was under progress on 22 other road projects, Awasthi said.

Talking about the targets of the police in 2018, he said, &quot;Offensive intelligence-based operations (against Naxals) will be carried out in the core areas this year.&quot;

Addressing the security vacuum in the core areas and providing security to the ongoing road construction works and other development works would also be the key targets of the police this year, Awasthi added.&nbsp;

Police officer also asserted that 2017 was a successful year for the state in its fight against the Maoists.

As many as 76 Naxals were killed and 1,017 ultras arrested by the security forces in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas of Chhattisgarh in 2017, a senior police officer said here today. He also asserted that 2017 was a successful year for the state in its fight against the Maoists. At the same time, the security forces lost 59 personnel in Naxal-related incidents in the last year, officials said, quoting statistics provided by the police in this regard. Normalcy was restored in many Naxalism-hit areas due to the consistent operations of the security forces and also because of development activities, Special Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) D M Awasthi told reporters today. The security forces had achieved a major success in their fight against LWE in 2017, he said, adding that as many as 76 Maoists, including 51 senior cadre carrying a cumulative cash reward of Rs 2.08 crore on their heads, were killed in encounters in the state during the year. Similarly, 1,017 rebels, including 79 senior cadre carrying a total cash reward of Rs 1.41 crore on their heads, were arrested, the IPS officer said. Besides,365 ultras had put down their arms last year, he added. At least 221 weapons, including one light machine gun (the first such recovery in the state),?six AK-47 rifles, as many Insas rifles and five SLRs were recovered from the insurgents, Awasthi said. New forward posts were set up in the core Maoist areas for a strategic advance and effective anti-Naxal operations, he added. Sukma, Dantewada,?Narayanpur, Kondgaon, Kanker, Bastar, Rajnandgaon and Kabeerdham were the districts where these posts were set up, the officer said. He added that the security forces were also providing protection to the personnel and equipment engaged in road construction and other development activities in the LWE-hit areas. The construction of 11 roads under the RRP (Road Requirement Plan)-1 was completed and the work was under progress on 22 other road projects, Awasthi said. Talking about the targets of the police in 2018, he said, "Offensive intelligence-based operations (against Naxals) will be carried out in the core areas this year." Addressing the security vacuum in the core areas and providing security to the ongoing road construction works and other development works would also be the key targets of the police this year, Awasthi added.

76 Naxals killed, 1,017 arrested in Chhattisgarh in 2017: Police

Union Minister Hansraj Ahir has clarified his statement about calling doctors to &quot;join the Naxals&quot;. Ahir said he respects the doctors and the remark was an outburst in anger after a few doctors skipped an event which the minister came to attend.

On Monday, Ahir got upset by the absence of doctors who didn&#39;t attend an inauguration ceremony in 24x7 pharmacy store in a government hospital in Chandrapur, Maharashtra.

&quot;The organiser was himself absent. I have not spoken against the profession but a particular doctor. Whatever I said was the civil surgeon and no one else. I respect doctors from the bottom of my heart. I just showed my anger on absence of some doctors from the event,&quot; ANI reported Ahir as saying.

At the event, the minister got to know that a civil surgeon was on leave he advised him to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-minister-to-doctors-on-leave-join-the-naxals-well-shoot-you-27733">&quot;join the Naxals&quot;.</a>

Ahir said that he is a minister chosen by democracy and asked why they are on leave knowing his arrival.

He also suggested doctors that if they don&#39;t have faith in democracy then they should join the Naxalite movement.

&quot;If there is no faith in democracy, then join the Naxalite movement; we will shoot you. There is no need to distribute tablets here. Naxalism does not like democracy,&quot; Ahir said.

Chandrapur is the Ahir&#39;s Lok Sabha constituency and the most Naxal affected area including Gadchiroli and Gondia districts.

He explained anger saying that he respects doctors and his outburst was because few doctors were absent from the event

Union Minister Hansraj Ahir has clarified his statement about calling doctors to "join the Naxals". Ahir said he respects the doctors and the remark was an outburst in anger after a few doctors skipped an event which the minister came to attend. On Monday, Ahir got upset by the absence of doctors who didn't attend an inauguration ceremony in 24x7 pharmacy store in a government hospital in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. "The organiser was himself absent. I have not spoken against the profession but a particular doctor. Whatever I said was the civil surgeon and no one else. I respect doctors from the bottom of my heart. I just showed my anger on absence of some doctors from the event," ANI reported Ahir as saying. At the event, the minister got to know that a civil surgeon was on leave he advised him to "join the Naxals". Ahir said that he is a minister chosen by democracy and asked why they are on leave knowing his arrival. He also suggested doctors that if they don't have faith in democracy then they should join the Naxalite movement. "If there is no faith in democracy, then join the Naxalite movement; we will shoot you. There is no need to distribute tablets here. Naxalism does not like democracy," Ahir said. Chandrapur is the Ahir's Lok Sabha constituency and the most Naxal affected area including Gadchiroli and Gondia districts.

Not spoken against the profession: Hansraj Ahir on 'doctors should join Naxals' remark

Seven security personnel were on Thursday injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast, allegedly triggered by Naxals, along the Chhattisgarh- Jharkhand border, official sources said.

A patrol party was targeted by the ultras, they said, adding that the seven injured men -- five from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two from the Jharkhand police -- were airlifted to Ranchi.

The blast took place at 2 pm near the Pipardhaba village of Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh, bordering Jharkhand, followed by an exchange of fire between the ultras and the security men, the sources said.

The joint team of troops was out for an anti-Naxal operation when the blast was triggered.

&quot;As per preliminary reports, the condition of the injured troops is not critical,&quot; a senior CRPF officer said.

Additional forces from nearby areas were rushed to the area and the firing had stopped, the sources said.

The CRPF men belonged to the 62nd Battalion, they added.&nbsp;

The blast took place around 2 pm near the Pipardhaba village of Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh, bordering Jharkhand, followed by an exchange of fire between the ultras and the securitymen, the sources said.

Seven security personnel were on Thursday injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast, allegedly triggered by Naxals, along the Chhattisgarh- Jharkhand border, official sources said. A patrol party was targeted by the ultras, they said, adding that the seven injured men -- five from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two from the Jharkhand police -- were airlifted to Ranchi. The blast took place at 2 pm near the Pipardhaba village of Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh, bordering Jharkhand, followed by an exchange of fire between the ultras and the security men, the sources said. The joint team of troops was out for an anti-Naxal operation when the blast was triggered. "As per preliminary reports, the condition of the injured troops is not critical," a senior CRPF officer said. Additional forces from nearby areas were rushed to the area and the firing had stopped, the sources said. The CRPF men belonged to the 62nd Battalion, they added.

Chhattisgarh: 7 securitymen hurt in IED blast triggered by Naxals

One soldier has been killed after Maoists&nbsp;ambushed a Special Operation Group(SOG) paramilitary force in the forest area near Khamankhol in Kandhamal district in India&#39;s eastern state of Odisha.

At least 10 soldiers were injured in the attack, reports said.

Developing

(WION)

At least 10 soldiers were injured in the attack

One soldier has been killed after Maoists ambushed a Special Operation Group(SOG) paramilitary force in the forest area near Khamankhol in Kandhamal district in India's eastern state of Odisha. At least 10 soldiers were injured in the attack, reports said. Developing (WION)

Maoists attack paramilitary force in Odisha's Kandhamal district, 1 soldier killed

The village of Rampur Bangar in Uttar Pradesh is not far. It is only about 70 kilometres from Delhi, but it is a world far, far away. &nbsp;

It lies to the left of the Yamuna expressway, close to Greater Noida.&nbsp;

To the right of the expressway lie the Buddh International Circuit, where the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix was held till some time ago, and new upscale housing colonies built by the government of Uttar Pradesh and private developers.&nbsp;

The land on which the race track and housing colonies were built used to be farmland. It was acquired from villagers. &nbsp;

Rampur Bangar and the other villages near it have also had their land acquired.&nbsp;

Rampur Bangar has had all its land taken away, half by the government, the other half by a large infrastructure company.&nbsp;

The village is three kilometres to the west of Bhatta Parsaul, where two villagers and two policemen were killed in 2011.&nbsp;

The villagers had been protesting against the (forced) acquisition of their land.&nbsp;

You might remember it as the time Rahul Gandhi wended his way to Bhatta Parsaul on the back of a motorcycle.&nbsp;

I followed a few days later, going to Rampur Bangar to ask its residents how they were going to cope with what was happening to them.&nbsp;

The people of Rampur Bangar said they had been given a lifeline. That the large infrastructure company had told them it would give jobs to one member of every family that had lost all its land.&nbsp;

But when I was leaving at the end of the day, they told me that their &ldquo;agreement&rdquo; with the company had been &quot;oral&quot;.&nbsp;

You might wonder why I am writing about the villagers of Rampur Bangar in a piece about Naxalism, but there is a link.&nbsp;

At a &quot;brainstorming session&quot; at the Observer Research Foundation on &quot;50 years of Naxalbari&quot; on Friday, a panel of people who are supposed to know about these things discussed why the spectre of Naxalism continues to remain with us.&nbsp;

The panel included Dr Dilip Simeon, historian and former Delhi University professor, and the Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar. 
&nbsp; 
It was Sundar&rsquo;s petition that led to the Supreme Court banning Chhattisgarh&rsquo;s Salwa Judum. The Judum, which roughly translates into &quot;Purification Hunt&quot; in the Gondi language, was a civilian militia allegedly armed and encouraged by the Chhattisgarh government which wanted it to take on the Maoists.&nbsp;

On the &quot;other side&quot; &ndash; by which I mean they are or have been part of the administration &ndash; were K Vijay Kumar, senior security adviser to the ministry of home affairs, and a former director general of the CRPF.&nbsp;

In today&rsquo;s terminology I imagine Kumar would be called a &quot;super cop&quot;. He was chief of the special task force that finally caught up with the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan.&nbsp;

And there was K Durga Prasad, also a former director general of the CRPF.&nbsp;

The general consensus, broadly speaking, was that movements like this one &ndash; that would include Kashmir and the Northeast - have to be handled &quot;sensitively&quot;. &nbsp;

And more specifically &ndash; this came from Simeon &ndash; that &ldquo;it is not poverty or a lack of development that leads to Naxalism but injustice&quot;.&nbsp;

Simeon joined the Naxal movement in the late 1960s and remained with it for two years, so it would be worth our while to listen to him.&nbsp;

The Naxal movement &quot;began&quot; when police shot dead eight tribal women and three tribal men in the village of Naxalbari on May 25, 1967. That had been preceded by the killing of the sub-inspector of police Sonam Wangdi by villagers and one of the original leaders, Jangal Santhal, of what came to be known as the Naxalite movement.&nbsp;

The villagers had been asking for a larger share of the crop they had harvested from the fields of landowners.&nbsp;

The villagers had in effect been asking for &quot;justice&quot;. &nbsp;

Simeon also said that it was important for all sides &ndash; that would include the State &ndash; to abjure violence. That you cannot denounce one form of violence, say that by the Naxals, while lauding another, say that by the gau rakshaks.&nbsp;

The Naxals, he said, also see themselves as patriots. They believe they are fighting the political class from selling out to the corporates, and the oppression of the weak &ndash; say the adivasis in places like Chhattisgarh &ndash; by the upper classes.&nbsp;

What would you do, he asked, if the Naxals began to do what they do while chanting &quot;Bharat Mata ki jai&quot;? Would that make it alright?&nbsp;

Sundar had an intriguing point to make too. It was the Naxals who had wanted to overthrow the State. That they thought the only way they could do that was violently, by using the power of the gun. That she said is not going to happen any time soon. (She is right, the Maoists just don&rsquo;t have the firepower that would be needed to do so.) But, said Sundar, the gau rakshaks are doing exactly that. Violently overthrowing the government from the inside &ndash; when they take the law into their hands, they undermine the writ of the State.

The statistics back up Simeon, and the others who have made the same argument. &nbsp;

Take for example the fact that 60 million Indians have been displaced, by big projects like dams and mining, or what we would call &quot;development&quot;, between 1947 and 2000.&nbsp;

Of those, 40 per cent were adivasis.&nbsp;

According to the census of 2001, the adivasis make up 8.2 per cent of the population of the country.&nbsp;

That gap between their share of the population and their share of the burden of development is massive. 
&nbsp; 
You&rsquo;re beginning to understand why I started with Rampur Bangar.&nbsp;

What in the world are those people supposed to do now that their land, and therefore their livelihood, has been taken away from them?&nbsp;

Every city dweller I have told their story to understands, intrinsically, that the &ldquo;oral promise&rdquo; made to them will never be kept.&nbsp;

I&#39;d wanted to start with Rampur Bangar because it&#39;s closer to home, only a few kilometres from Delhi.&nbsp;

I could just as easily tell you the story of Punem Bhima and Midium Lacchu, two tribal men from Bastar who spent six-and-a-half years in jail &ndash; they were accused of being Naxals &ndash; before it was discovered that the government had forgotten to accuse them of a crime!&nbsp;

How that happened was that their names were not mentioned in the FIR, the witness statements, or the chargesheet accusing them of being Naxals, but only in the final report. The final report is a precis of the charges that lie in the chargesheet, and which is attached atop the chargesheet.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Punem Bhima (left) and Midium Lacchu at Dantewada court in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. They spent six-and-a-half years in jail before the government discovered it had forgotten to accuse them of a crime. (WION)
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That&#39;s what the judge and the lawyers read.&nbsp;

It was only when a legal aid group took the time to read through the chargesheet that the blunder was discovered.&nbsp;

I remember asking Midium at the district court in Dantewada whether he thought his government owed him and Punem compensation for its mistake.&nbsp;

I got no answer. He didn&#39;t understand the question.&nbsp;

But what really blew my mind was when I asked them how they had got to court, and how they would get back home.&nbsp;

They had left home at half-past-four in the morning, they said, and walked two hours to catch a bus to Dantewada. The bus ride took them five hours.&nbsp;

After finishing with the business of the court &ndash; they still hadn&rsquo;t been acquitted &ndash; there would be no bus back in the evening, so they said they would sleep at the bus stop that night.&nbsp;

I wrote at the time: &quot;My head starts to spin. I have never felt more like I am from a world far, far away than I do at that moment.&rdquo;&nbsp;

And: &quot;Is this really what people have to put up with just to get to a judge?&quot;&nbsp;

So long as there is injustice, there will be Naxalism. Perhaps not of the violent kind but as Simeon said &ndash; &quot;a Naxal is someone who protests&quot;. In that sense, I suppose every second one of us is a Naxal. Or at least I would like to delude myself into believing that when I see what I think is injustice, I too will protest.&nbsp;

Fighting the Naxals is a bit like like fighting the symptoms of a disease rather than the disease itself. And that too is a tough job. Or as K Vijay Kumar put it: &quot;It&rsquo;s like trying to deal with a child with a knife. Deal with him badly, and you&rsquo;re a brute. Get hurt, and you&rsquo;re dumb.&quot;

In 2013, after the Jat-Muslim riots in Muzaffarnagar, I remember visiting Muslim refugee camps that the government said did not exist on paper. The government said they had rehabilitated the refugees and sent them home.&nbsp;

But the camps were there on the ground.&nbsp;

But the government said that if the camps did not exist on paper, on official documents, then how could they offer the refugees living there relief? 
&nbsp; 
Later, back in Delhi, I read news reports that the government had finally allegedly bulldozed the camps.&nbsp;

Problem solved.&nbsp;

No camps on paper, no camps on the ground.&nbsp;

India is very often an unjust place. And it&rsquo;s not just the government which is to blame. We do it too, when for example we pay the people who work in our homes salaries that are impossible to live on and then expect them to live in inhuman conditions.&nbsp;

As long as we are okay with that, there will be Naxals. By which I mean &ldquo;protesters&rdquo;.&nbsp;

(WION)

 
&nbsp;

Fighting Naxalism then, rather than the underlying injustice, is like fighting the symptoms of the disease rather than the disease itself

The village of Rampur Bangar in Uttar Pradesh is not far. It is only about 70 kilometres from Delhi, but it is a world far, far away. It lies to the left of the Yamuna expressway, close to Greater Noida. To the right of the expressway lie the Buddh International Circuit, where the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix was held till some time ago, and new upscale housing colonies built by the government of Uttar Pradesh and private developers. The land on which the race track and housing colonies were built used to be farmland. It was acquired from villagers. Rampur Bangar and the other villages near it have also had their land acquired. Rampur Bangar has had all its land taken away, half by the government, the other half by a large infrastructure company. The village is three kilometres to the west of Bhatta Parsaul, where two villagers and two policemen were killed in 2011. The villagers had been protesting against the (forced) acquisition of their land. You might remember it as the time Rahul Gandhi wended his way to Bhatta Parsaul on the back of a motorcycle. I followed a few days later, going to Rampur Bangar to ask its residents how they were going to cope with what was happening to them. The people of Rampur Bangar said they had been given a lifeline. That the large infrastructure company had told them it would give jobs to one member of every family that had lost all its land. But when I was leaving at the end of the day, they told me that their “agreement” with the company had been "oral". You might wonder why I am writing about the villagers of Rampur Bangar in a piece about Naxalism, but there is a link. At a "brainstorming session" at the Observer Research Foundation on "50 years of Naxalbari" on Friday, a panel of people who are supposed to know about these things discussed why the spectre of Naxalism continues to remain with us. The panel included Dr Dilip Simeon, historian and former Delhi University professor, and the Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar. It was Sundar’s petition that led to the Supreme Court banning Chhattisgarh’s Salwa Judum. The Judum, which roughly translates into "Purification Hunt" in the Gondi language, was a civilian militia allegedly armed and encouraged by the Chhattisgarh government which wanted it to take on the Maoists. On the "other side" – by which I mean they are or have been part of the administration – were K Vijay Kumar, senior security adviser to the ministry of home affairs, and a former director general of the CRPF. In today’s terminology I imagine Kumar would be called a "super cop". He was chief of the special task force that finally caught up with the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan. And there was K Durga Prasad, also a former director general of the CRPF. The general consensus, broadly speaking, was that movements like this one – that would include Kashmir and the Northeast - have to be handled "sensitively". And more specifically – this came from Simeon – that “it is not poverty or a lack of development that leads to Naxalism but injustice". Simeon joined the Naxal movement in the late 1960s and remained with it for two years, so it would be worth our while to listen to him. The Naxal movement "began" when police shot dead eight tribal women and three tribal men in the village of Naxalbari on May 25, 1967. That had been preceded by the killing of the sub-inspector of police Sonam Wangdi by villagers and one of the original leaders, Jangal Santhal, of what came to be known as the Naxalite movement. The villagers had been asking for a larger share of the crop they had harvested from the fields of landowners. The villagers had in effect been asking for "justice". Simeon also said that it was important for all sides – that would include the State – to abjure violence. That you cannot denounce one form of violence, say that by the Naxals, while lauding another, say that by the gau rakshaks. The Naxals, he said, also see themselves as patriots. They believe they are fighting the political class from selling out to the corporates, and the oppression of the weak – say the adivasis in places like Chhattisgarh – by the upper classes. What would you do, he asked, if the Naxals began to do what they do while chanting "Bharat Mata ki jai"? Would that make it alright? Sundar had an intriguing point to make too. It was the Naxals who had wanted to overthrow the State. That they thought the only way they could do that was violently, by using the power of the gun. That she said is not going to happen any time soon. (She is right, the Maoists just don’t have the firepower that would be needed to do so.) But, said Sundar, the gau rakshaks are doing exactly that. Violently overthrowing the government from the inside – when they take the law into their hands, they undermine the writ of the State. The statistics back up Simeon, and the others who have made the same argument. Take for example the fact that 60 million Indians have been displaced, by big projects like dams and mining, or what we would call "development", between 1947 and 2000. Of those, 40 per cent were adivasis. According to the census of 2001, the adivasis make up 8.2 per cent of the population of the country. That gap between their share of the population and their share of the burden of development is massive. You’re beginning to understand why I started with Rampur Bangar. What in the world are those people supposed to do now that their land, and therefore their livelihood, has been taken away from them? Every city dweller I have told their story to understands, intrinsically, that the “oral promise” made to them will never be kept. I'd wanted to start with Rampur Bangar because it's closer to home, only a few kilometres from Delhi. I could just as easily tell you the story of Punem Bhima and Midium Lacchu, two tribal men from Bastar who spent six-and-a-half years in jail – they were accused of being Naxals – before it was discovered that the government had forgotten to accuse them of a crime! How that happened was that their names were not mentioned in the FIR, the witness statements, or the chargesheet accusing them of being Naxals, but only in the final report. The final report is a precis of the charges that lie in the chargesheet, and which is attached atop the chargesheet. Punem Bhima (left) and Midium Lacchu at Dantewada court in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. They spent six-and-a-half years in jail before the government discovered it had forgotten to accuse them of a crime. (WION) × That's what the judge and the lawyers read. It was only when a legal aid group took the time to read through the chargesheet that the blunder was discovered. I remember asking Midium at the district court in Dantewada whether he thought his government owed him and Punem compensation for its mistake. I got no answer. He didn't understand the question. But what really blew my mind was when I asked them how they had got to court, and how they would get back home. They had left home at half-past-four in the morning, they said, and walked two hours to catch a bus to Dantewada. The bus ride took them five hours. After finishing with the business of the court – they still hadn’t been acquitted – there would be no bus back in the evening, so they said they would sleep at the bus stop that night. I wrote at the time: "My head starts to spin. I have never felt more like I am from a world far, far away than I do at that moment.” And: "Is this really what people have to put up with just to get to a judge?" So long as there is injustice, there will be Naxalism. Perhaps not of the violent kind but as Simeon said – "a Naxal is someone who protests". In that sense, I suppose every second one of us is a Naxal. Or at least I would like to delude myself into believing that when I see what I think is injustice, I too will protest. Fighting the Naxals is a bit like like fighting the symptoms of a disease rather than the disease itself. And that too is a tough job. Or as K Vijay Kumar put it: "It’s like trying to deal with a child with a knife. Deal with him badly, and you’re a brute. Get hurt, and you’re dumb." In 2013, after the Jat-Muslim riots in Muzaffarnagar, I remember visiting Muslim refugee camps that the government said did not exist on paper. The government said they had rehabilitated the refugees and sent them home. But the camps were there on the ground. But the government said that if the camps did not exist on paper, on official documents, then how could they offer the refugees living there relief? Later, back in Delhi, I read news reports that the government had finally allegedly bulldozed the camps. Problem solved. No camps on paper, no camps on the ground. India is very often an unjust place. And it’s not just the government which is to blame. We do it too, when for example we pay the people who work in our homes salaries that are impossible to live on and then expect them to live in inhuman conditions. As long as we are okay with that, there will be Naxals. By which I mean “protesters”. (WION)

'Naxalism is not caused by poverty or a lack of development but by injustice'

Home minister Rajnath Singh said Monday that the &quot;foundation principle&quot; of fighting Naxals &quot;is through financial choking&quot;.&nbsp;

He was meeting with the chief ministers of Left-wing extremism-affected states.&nbsp;

On April 24, 25 personnel of the CRPF lost their lives in a Maoist attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

&quot;Foundation principle of fighting the Left-wing extremism is through financial choking,&quot; the Press Trust of India reported Rajnath as saying.&nbsp;

&quot;Naxal problem cannot be resolved through &#39;silver bullets&#39; or any shortcut but through short-term, medium-term and long- term solutions,&quot; PTI reported Singh as saying.&nbsp;

&quot;I am sure that attempts to stall development and to throttle democracy at gunpoint will not be successful ever,&quot; Singh added. &nbsp;

But he added that: &quot;I am confident that we will successfully confront the Naxalites with full force and a new strategy.&quot;&nbsp;

There has been a seeming uptick in Maoist attacks on the security forces this year. The CRPF for example has lost more men in the first four months of 2017 than it did on average in a year over the last five years. &nbsp;

The government says this is because the Maoist insurgency is standing on its last legs.&nbsp;

The Maoists, in an audio statement, said the Sukma attack was reprisal for the gang rape of tribal women and the murder of tribal men.&nbsp;

Other commentators have said the seeming uptick in attacks are the result simply of road-building activity by the state in Maoist-controlled areas. And that the Maoists are trying to stall the road building. &nbsp; &nbsp;

On Sunday, the Indian Express carried a front-page report saying that the army would train security forces in LWE-affected states and that helicopters there would fly more hours.&nbsp;

(WION)

 
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He was meeting with the chief ministers of states affected by Left-wing extremism

Home minister Rajnath Singh said Monday that the "foundation principle" of fighting Naxals "is through financial choking". He was meeting with the chief ministers of Left-wing extremism-affected states. On April 24, 25 personnel of the CRPF lost their lives in a Maoist attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. "Foundation principle of fighting the Left-wing extremism is through financial choking," the Press Trust of India reported Rajnath as saying. "Naxal problem cannot be resolved through 'silver bullets' or any shortcut but through short-term, medium-term and long- term solutions," PTI reported Singh as saying. "I am sure that attempts to stall development and to throttle democracy at gunpoint will not be successful ever," Singh added. But he added that: "I am confident that we will successfully confront the Naxalites with full force and a new strategy." There has been a seeming uptick in Maoist attacks on the security forces this year. The CRPF for example has lost more men in the first four months of 2017 than it did on average in a year over the last five years. The government says this is because the Maoist insurgency is standing on its last legs. The Maoists, in an audio statement, said the Sukma attack was reprisal for the gang rape of tribal women and the murder of tribal men. Other commentators have said the seeming uptick in attacks are the result simply of road-building activity by the state in Maoist-controlled areas. And that the Maoists are trying to stall the road building. On Sunday, the Indian Express carried a front-page report saying that the army would train security forces in LWE-affected states and that helicopters there would fly more hours. (WION)

'Foundation principle of fighting Maoists is financial choking'

Naxals in Odisha attacked the Doikallu railway station in Rayagada district&nbsp;in early morning hours of Friday.

More than 30 naxals attacked the railway station and caused two explosions protesting Prime Minister&#39;s Narendra Modi visit to the state on April 15, ANI reported.

The naxals caused two explosions and fled with two walkie-talkie sets.

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Odisha: More than 30 naxals attacked Doikallu Rly Station in early morning hours and caused two explosions, fled with two walkie-talkie sets <a href="https://t.co/2hJKx6DySA">pic.twitter.com/2hJKx6DySA</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/847652880148381697">March 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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They also put up posters protesting Prime Minister Modi&#39;s upcoming visit to the state.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash">#UPDATE</a> More than 30 naxals attacked Doikallu Rly Station causing 2 explosions &amp; left posters protesting PM Modi&#39;s upcoming visit to Odisha. <a href="https://t.co/1qWCrrYJSU">pic.twitter.com/1qWCrrYJSU</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/847654693840998401">March 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Bhartiya Janata Party will hold a two-day national executive meet in Odisha&#39;s capital from April 15. The meeting will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, senior leaders LK Advani among others.

(WION with inputs from ANI)

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More than 30 Naxals attacked the railway station and fled with walkie-talkie sets

Naxals in Odisha attacked the Doikallu railway station in Rayagada district in early morning hours of Friday. More than 30 naxals attacked the railway station and caused two explosions protesting Prime Minister's Narendra Modi visit to the state on April 15, ANI reported. The naxals caused two explosions and fled with two walkie-talkie sets. Odisha: More than 30 naxals attacked Doikallu Rly Station in early morning hours and caused two explosions, fled with two walkie-talkie sets pic.twitter.com/2hJKx6DySA — ANI (@ANI_news) March 31, 2017 × They also put up posters protesting Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to the state. #UPDATE More than 30 naxals attacked Doikallu Rly Station causing 2 explosions & left posters protesting PM Modi's upcoming visit to Odisha. pic.twitter.com/1qWCrrYJSU — ANI (@ANI_news) March 31, 2017 × Bhartiya Janata Party will hold a two-day national executive meet in Odisha's capital from April 15. The meeting will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, senior leaders LK Advani among others. (WION with inputs from ANI)

Naxals attack Odisha railway station, set off two explosions

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