Bijapur: Security forces have recovered 14 Maoist dumps containing weapons, explosives, communication equipment and other material from forested areas of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, highlighting the continued presence of concealed Maoist logistical caches in the Bastar region despite the Centre’s March 2026 declaration that India had become free of Left-Wing Extremism.
The recovery was made during an intelligence-based search operation conducted by the 199th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in forest areas around Edri, Harra, Nayapara and Sarpanchpara in the Pidia and Kuppaguda areas. The operation involved personnel from the B and F companies and the Young Platoon of the battalion.
Weapons, IEDs and Maoist Material Seized
Security personnel recovered 99 items from the 14 concealed dumps. The seizure included:
- 7 rifles, including a .303 bolt-action rifle, muzzle-loading/Bharmar rifles and a country-made 12-bore rifle
- 10 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
- 8 detonators
- Cordex wire and electrical components
- Wireless communication sets
- Plastic and steel containers
- Materials used in the preparation of IEDs
- Maoist clothing and other operational supplies
The search was conducted in phases after the area was cordoned off, with security personnel taking precautions because of the presence of suspected explosives. No casualties were reported during the operation.
Intelligence-Based Operations Continue in Bastar
The latest recovery is part of continuing intelligence-led operations to locate and dismantle Maoist arms and logistics networks hidden in forested areas of Bastar.
Bijapur has remained one of the districts most affected by Left-Wing Extremism. Earlier government material identified Bijapur, Sukma and Narayanpur as the three districts that remained in the highest-affected category during the final phase of the Centre’s anti-LWE campaign.
Recent operations indicate that security forces are continuing to locate caches even after the Centre’s March 31 deadline and subsequent declaration.
Recent Recoveries in Bastar
- September 6, Kondagaon: Security forces recovered explosives, a pistol and other Maoist-related material during a search operation in the Mardapal area.
- September 6, Sukma: A Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with security forces in the district, with a firearm and ammunition recovered from the spot.
- August 29, Bijapur: Security forces recovered explosives, ammunition and other material from a suspected Maoist dump near Pegadapalli. A suspected Maoist associate was also arrested.
‘Naxal-Free’ Declaration and Ground-Level Operations
On March 31, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha that India had become “Naxal-free”, following the Centre’s target of eliminating Left-Wing Extremism by the end of March. The government has attributed the decline in Maoist violence to a combination of security operations, intelligence coordination, development initiatives and rehabilitation measures.
Shah reiterated the declaration during his May 2026 visit to Bastar, saying that the achievement was the result of sustained operations by security forces.
However, the discovery of concealed weapons and explosive-making material in Bijapur and other Bastar districts shows that security forces continue to conduct operations to locate residual Maoist infrastructure and hidden caches.
The CRPF has indicated that intelligence-based searches and area-domination operations will continue in sensitive forest areas to prevent the recovery of such material from being used against security personnel or civilians.
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