CRPF’s Major Anti-Naxal Op: IED Conspiracy Averted; 3 Maoists Killed in Gumla Encounter

In a major anti-naxal operation, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recently foiled a bomb plot in Odisha. The personnel also arrested 4 Maoists in Sukma district’s Bodanguda village in connection with the case. The arrests were made during a joint operation conducted by the police and the CRPF on July 23.

The accused have been identified as Tamu Joga, Punem Budhra, Madkam Bhima, and Medium Ayatu, all aged between 23 and 25, and residents of Bodanguda. They have now been apprehended over an improvised explosive device (IED) conspiracy near Camp Bedre.

What was the IED conspiracy in Sukma?

Joga, Budhra, Bhima and Ayatu, now arrested, were reportedly involved in planting an improvised explosive device near Bedre security camp on June 29. The 4 accused were reported absconding in multiple cases registered at Jagargunda police station and are known operatives.

The conspiracy apparently involved a tiffin bomb, which has been confirmed by police officers, which was intended to target security personnel, media reports said. The explosion was aimed at disrupting patrols and instilling fear in remote tribal belts.

According a senor office involved in the case, the Sukma operation was based on strong actionable intelligence. These arrests are a blow to underground IED cells active in the region. All the 4 accused have been booked under sections of the Explosive Substances Act and UAPA.

What is Jharkhand’s Gumla encounter about?

Meanwhile, in another big anti-naxal operation, 3 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces at the Ghaghra forest in Jharkhand’s Gumla on Saturday (July 27). Jharkhand Jaguar and Gumla Police acted on intelligence inputs that members of Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), a splinter group of CPI (Maoist), were planning an attack on forces.

A gunfire took place during the operation in which several rounds of bullets were fired from both sides. The police also recovered an AK-47 and 2 INSAS rifles.

Notably, the encounter marks a significant breakthrough as it comes amidst the ongoing anti-insurgency efforts in the state.