Key Maoist leaders captured in Chaibasa; IED plot foiled by Police and CRPF in Saranda Forest

In a major breakthrough against Naxal insurgency, Chaibasa Police and the CRPF’s elite 209 Cobra Battalion apprehended two senior CPI (Maoist) members during a high-intensity operation in the Saranda forest on Monday.

The arrested have been identified as Sandeep alias Hidima Padayam, a Sub-Zonal Committee member from Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, and Shiva Bodra, an Area Committee member from Jharkhand’s Saraikela district.

According to officials, police received credible intelligence on August 30 that senior Maoist leaders and their cadres were planning large-scale violence in the region, including planting landmines, targeting security forces, and forcibly recruiting local youth.

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Acting swiftly, a joint operation was launched in the hilly and densely forested stretches of Saranda. The operation led to the arrest of Sandeep and Shiva, while several other Maoists managed to flee. Security teams recovered arms, detonators, journals, and IED-making materials from the site.

Police records revealed that Sandeep is wanted in 35 cases, while nine cases are registered against Shiva.

Revelations During Interrogation

During interrogation, the captured leaders reportedly provided critical intelligence. They alleged that Ramesh, a Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist), had been sexually exploiting women squad members, exposing deeper criminal activities within the outfit.

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Official Statement

Chaibasa SP Rakesh Ranjan said, “Based on precise intelligence that Maoists were preparing to plant IEDs, a joint team was formed with the CRPF Cobra 209 Battalion. In today’s operation, two key Maoists were captured while nearly five others managed to escape. Subsequent investigation has confirmed the identities of the arrested as Sandeep, a Sub-Zonal Committee member, and Shiva, an Area Committee member.”