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Maoists trying to assemble long-range weapons to hit targets from 300 metres away, police say

After encounter in Abujhmad, security forces have recovered large cache of weapons, explosives and long pipes

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Superintendent of Police for Narayanpur district, Robinson Guria, said, “An encounter took place between our forces and Maoists, but they escaped. We believe some may have been injured.”

After an encounter with Maoists in Abujhmad, security forces on Friday said they recovered a large cache of weapons, explosives and long pipes that were allegedly being assembled by a technical team of the Maoists to hit long-range targets.

After receiving information on the presence of a senior Maoist leader, security forces comprising District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel set out on an operation on August 24, officials said.

Superintendent of Police for Narayanpur district, Robinson Guria, said, “An encounter took place between our forces and Maoists, but they escaped. We believe some may have been injured.”

“We seized a light machine gun (LMG), which could have been very dangerous,” Guria said.

An AK-47, an INSAS rifle, a self loading rifle (SLR), a 51mm mortar, a 9mm pistol, a country-made pistol, eight barrel grenade launchers (BGLs), three .303 rifles, four 12-bore rifles, 49 muzzle-loading guns, 10 bullets of .315 bore rifles, 100 BGL shells of different sizes, eight country-made grenades, a hand grenade and ammunition were found.

Moreover, a Trichy Assault Rifle (TAR), an Indian made firearm, was recovered in the Bastar region for the first time.

Two bundles of cordex wire, 141 bundles of safety fuses, GPS devices, detonators, remote switches and explosive material that could have been used to make over 100 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found.

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Guria said the weapons were found in different areas and were hidden nearly two feet under the ground. Three pipes, which were five feet long, have been seized. Surrendered Maoists told the police that their technical team were working on assembling long-range launchers to fire BGL shells.

“The Maoists were working on making launchers to hit targets that could be over 300 metres away,” said an official.

In the past, Maoists have made several attempts to attack police camps using BGLs.

Jayprakash S Naidu

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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