Two women among five Naxals held in C'garh

Raipur, Feb 3: Five Naxals, including two women, were today arrested during a search operation conducted by security forces in insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said.

The cadres were apprehended between Gandharpara and Muler villages under Gadiras police station limits, Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh told PTI.

A joint team of Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Group (DRG) and district force launched a combing operation in the forests of Gadiras, located around 450 kms away from the state capital, based on a tip-off about the movement of the rebels, he said.

While passing through Gandharpara-Muler, security forces spotted five suspects and rounded them up after a short chase, the ASP said adding that during the interrogation, they admitted to their involvement with CPI (Maoist).

Those arrested were identified as Vanjam Bandi (28), Madkam Sapa (45), Vanjam Joga (25) and two women ultras- Madvi Deve (25) and Kalmu Bhime, he said. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, two powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs), allegedly planted by Naxals, were recovered today from an under-construction road in neighbouring Dantewada district.

A joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and district force found the explosives between Sameli and Aranpur villages under Aranpur police station limits, a senior police official told PTI.

"The explosives weighed 5 kgs each," he added. While patrolling on the under-construction Aranpur road, security forces spotted the IEDs, kept in a steel container, along with detonators and electric wire.

"The explosives were planted to harm security personnel involved in ensuring security to the construction works," the official added. The explosives were immediately destroyed by the bomb disposal squad.

PTI