Naxalism not out: Forces seize huge explosive cache, destroy IEDs in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi: Nearly three months after the home minister, Amit Shah, declared India free of Naxalism, security forces in Dantewada carried out a major anti-Naxalite operation in a densely forested region, successfully neutralising multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unearthing a large cache of explosives, weapons and insurgent equipment.

The weapons recovered included barrel grenade launchers (BGL) and related equipment, a .303 rifle, an air rifle, magazines, charger clips and ammunition. The seizure also yielded Naxalites’ uniforms and combat accessories, literature on Naxalism, ammunition pouches, bombs and bomb shells, among other lethal items.

During a combing exercise, security personnel detected suspicious objects concealed in the forest. Following standard safety procedures, the area was immediately secured and the bomb-disposal squad was summoned. A detailed examination revealed two five-litre pressure cooker-based IEDs and a 10-kilogram pipe bomb. All three devices were safely neutralized and destroyed on site using specialized disposal techniques. Officials said the timely detection averted a potentially serious incident.

The operation was launched on the basis of specific intelligence. Units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with local police personnel, conducted a joint search operation in the forest near Todna village, under the limits of Barsur Police station. Search operations began at around 6am and were supervised by second-in-command Vikrant Verma and assistant commandant Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. All personnel returned safely upon completion, and legal formalities pertaining to the recovery have been initiated.

The operation underscored the state’s continued focus on dismantling Naxalite infrastructure across the Bastar region through intelligence-based field operations.

Shah had, in August 2024, declared a resolve to rid India of Naxalism before March 31, 2026. On March 30 this year, he announced that the goal had been achieved, crediting a zero-tolerance policy backed by security initiatives and development programmes. The District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CoBRA commandos played an active role in that effort. Around 3,000 Naxalites surrendered over the past two years, with thousands more arrested and hundreds neutralised. The government has assured rehabilitation for those who surrender, with civil society members, journalists and public representatives engaged in that process.

The home minister reiterated the end of the insurgency as recently as May. However, while the violent movement has been largely eradicated, it persists in some of the more vulnerable pockets of Chhattisgarh.