Odisha's Nabrangpur district declared 'Naxal-free'

Nabrangpur district in Odisha is now free of Naxal activity. This follows the surrender of nine Maoists, including seven women, in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. These individuals carried a bounty of Rs 47 lakh. Their operations spanned Nabrangpur and Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district. This development aligns with the Centre's goal to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism nationwide.

Nine Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarhs Dhamtari, rewards worth Rs 47 lakh

Five of the cadres surrendered with two Insas rifles, two Single Loading Rifles (SLRs), a carbine and a muzzle-loading gun, the official said

Nine Naxalites with Rs 47 lakh bounty surrender in Chhattisgarhs Dhamtari

Nine Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district. The group included seven women and carried rewards totaling Rs 47 lakh. They cited disillusionment with Maoist ideology and forest life hardships. The state government's rehabilitation policy also influenced their decision. This development marks a significant blow to Maoist activities in the region. Authorities continue efforts to encourage further surrenders.

Nine Maoists Carrying Rs 47 Lakh Reward Surrender In Chhattisgarhs Dhamtari

9 Maoists including Jyoti and Usha surrendered in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, giving up arms and 47 lakh bounty, citing disillusionment and praising the states rehabilitation policy.

9 Maoists, Carrying Total Bounty Of Rs 47 Lakh, Surrender In Chhattisgarh

Nine Maoists carrying a cumulative reward of Rs 47 lakh surrendered before police in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district on Friday, a senior official said.

After breach in two dams, Centres show-cause notice to Chhattisgarh on safety norms

NEW DELHI: Following safety breach in two dams in Chhattisgarh, the Centre has issued a show-cause notice to the state government over its failure to comply with the provisions of the Dam Safety Act of 2021. The latest notice, served by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), relates to the breach of Rajadera dam in Dhamtari district on November 2. The breach raised concerns over public safety and infrastructure governance, as a large volume of stored water rushed out, causing flooding in several villages and damaging standing paddy crops. The notice demands an explanation from the state within 30 days, or else legal action will be initiated under Sections 41 and 42 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, officials said. On September 2, the state experienced another dam failure at Luti Tank, which resulted in the loss of five lives and left a dozen people missing, in addition to damage to property and livestock. During that incident, the NDSA raised questions about the systemic compliance with dam safety norms. During a pre-monsoon inspection, NDSA found multiple operational deficiencies in Rajadera dam and directed the state to address them immediately. Inspectors noted issues such as deformation and instability in both the upstream and downstream areas, presence of unwanted vegetation and animal burrows on embankment slopes, cracks on the dam crest, and degraded slope protection. There were also problems with drainage and structural integrity. The notice stated, Despite documented warning signs, no effective remedial measures were undertaken prior to the monsoon.

12 members of an inter-state fraud gang posing as IT officials busted in Chhattisgarhs Dhamtari

RAIPUR: Dhamtari police on Tuesday arrested twelve members of an inter-state fraud gang who posed as Income Tax officers, conducting a fake raid in Raipur. According to authorities, An inter-state gang involved in organised crime had entered the house of a doctor without carrying any valid search warrant or identification cards and pretended to be IT officials. Following a complaint,the Kotwali police registered a case and launched an investigation. Separate police teams were dispatched to different districts of Chhattisgarh and adjoining Maharashtra. With consistent efforts, searches and technical analysis of available details gathered, all the accused were taken into custody and brought to Dhamtari, said Suraj Singh Parihar, the district police chief. During interrogation, the accused persons admitted that they had learned about Rs 200 crore reportedly kept at the house of complainant Dilip Rathore. They planned to carry out a fake IT raid but failed to locate the cash and fled in their vehicles. The complainant identified all the accused involved in the incident. Based on substantial evidence, the police arrested the gang members and sent them to jail. Vehicles, mobile phones, and a jute sack allegedly used to carry cash were also seized. Dhamtari Police urged citizens to verify identification cards and valid orders or warrants when approached by officials of any government department and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

41 Maoists with a cumulative bounty of Rs 1.19 crore surrender in Bijapur

RAIPUR: A total of 41 Maoist cadres carrying a cumulative award of Rs 1.19 crore surrendered in an edgy district of Bijapur, about 400 km south of Raipur, on Wednesday. Twelve among the 41 are women cadres who took a decision to renounce the armed and violent ideology of CPI (Maoist), joined the path of peace and progress under the Poona Margham - Rehabilitation to Rebirth initiative in Bastar division, the police said. As many as 39 Maoist cadres were from the South Sub-Zonal Bureau. In addition to those Naxalites belonging to the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), the cadres who surrendered were also from the Telangana State Committee and the Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapad division. Citing their frustration over the hollow ideology of the banned outfit and impressed by the governments rehabilitation policy, they decided to join the mainstream, the officer added. 28 Maoists including 19 women cadres surrender in Chhattisgarhs Narayanpur According to the Bijapur district police press release, the surrendered Red rebels included five members of the PLGA (Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army) battalion and different companies, three Area Committee Members, eleven Platoon and Area Committee Party members, four Militia Platoon Commanders, six Militia Platoon Commanders and other lower rung members. Official legal procedures are being carried out for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the surrendered cadres into society. Poona Margham has turned into a significant step toward lasting peace and positive transformation in the Bastar region. Under the Poona Margham, the Maoists are increasingly choosing the path of peace, dignity, and sustainable progress, said Sundarraj Pattilingam, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range. This year in Bijapur district alone, as many as 144 Maoist cadres have been eliminated in various encounters, 528 were arrested, and 560 surrendered before the police. Since the BJP came to power in December 2023 in Chhattisgarh, around 2,300 Maoists have surrendered in the state.

41 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur; 32 of them carried Rs 1.19 crore bounty

BIJAPUR: Forty one Naxalites, 32 of them collectively carrying a reward of Rs 1.19 crore on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Wednesday, officials said. The cadres, including 12 women, turned themselves in before senior police officials here, citing they were impressed by the government's new surrender and rehabilitation policy and Poona Margham (rehabilitation for social reintegration drive of Bastar range police), Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said. Among them, four were members of PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) battalion no.1 and different companies of Maoists, three of area committees, 11 platoon and area committee party members, two PLGA members, four militia platoon commanders, one deputy commander, six militia platoon members, and the remaining belonged to frontal outfits of outlawed CPI (Maoist), he said. Thirty-nine of these 41 cadres belonged to the south sub-zonal bureau of Maoists. They all were associated with the Dandakaranya special zonal committee, Telangana state committee, and the Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada divisions of the banned outfit, the official said. The surrendered cadres have expressed faith in the Constitution and pledged to live a dignified and secure life within the democratic framework. Under the rehabilitation policy, each cadre was given an immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000 as an incentive, he said. Among those who surrendered, Pandru Hapka alias Mohan (37), Bandi Hapka (35), Lakkhu Korsa (37), Badru Punem (35), Sukhram Hemla (27), Manjula Hemla (25), Mangali Madvi alias Shanti (29), Jairam Kadiyam (28) and Pando Madkam alias Chandni (35) carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, he said. Besides, three cadres carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each, 12 cadres Rs 2 lakh each, and 8 cadres Rs 1 lakh each, he said. Yadav said the state government's rehabilitation policy has been encouraging Maoists to give up violence and return to the mainstream. He appealed to the remaining Maoists to abandon the path of violence. Maoists should shed misleading and violent ideologies and return to society without fear. The 'Poona Margham' drive ensures a secure, respectable, and self-reliant future for those who surrender, he said. With this surrender, a total of 790 Maoist cadres have quit violence and joined the mainstream in the district since January 2024, the SP said. During the same period, 202 Naxalites were killed in separate encounters and 1,031 cadres arrested in the district, he said. More than 2,200 Naxalites, including top cadres, have surrendered in Chhattisgarh in the last 23 months, according to police. Naxalites quitting path of violence, joining mainstream of development: President Murmu

Seven Maoist cadres, including four women, surrender in Chhattisgarh under state rehab policy

RAIPUR: In an apparent promising outcome causing a jolt to an active regional Udanti Area Committee of banned CPI (Maoist) in the forested terrain of Gariaband district in eastern Chhattisgarh, the entire seven hardcore members associated with it have surrendered, police officials said on Saturday. Those who renounced the banned outfit belonged to the Udanti Area Committee under the Gariaband-Dhamtari-Nuapada division and were active for over a decade. They were involved in several violent incidents in the region from 2018 onwards, carrying a combined reward of Rs 37 lakh. The secretary of Udanti Area Committee had earlier expressed their readiness to shun the path of armed movement, Nikhil Rakhecha, Gariaband district police chief, told TNIE . The cadres, including four women who surrendered, have been identified as Arjita Tekam alias Suresha, Budhru alias Anita, Sule alias Jagat Singh, Vidhya Sodi alias Jamli, Kanti alias Mavali, Nandni, and Mallesh. They narrated how gradually they realised the hollow, anti-development ideology of the Maoist organisation and were yearning for a dignified life. They surrendered before the police on Friday evening. The district police are hopeful that the remaining Maoist cadres in the region will equally respond positively and have issued a mobile phone number of Maoist Cell-Gariaband for the Naxalites wishing to lay down their arms. The surrendered cadres, besides the initial financial incentive, will get an opportunity to undergo skill training or set up a small business, provided with housing and healthcare among other amenities under the new surrender rehabilitation policy of the state. Gariaband, adjoining Odisha state, is among the Maoist-affected districts of Chhattisgarh. The Udanti Area Committee covers adjoining regions along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border.

Did It Because Of Her Parents: 22-Year-Old Man Kills Wife, Dies By Suicide

A 22-year-old man allegedly killed his wife and later died by suicide after posting a confession on Instagram in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh, police said on Wednesday.