The most significant recent recovery took place in Narayanpur district, where a joint team comprising local police and the 129th Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) uncovered an old arms dump in the forests of Adnar on Sunday. The cache, reportedly buried and covered with plastic in dense terrain, contained ten rifles—including one .303, four .315, and five 12-bore models—two barrel grenade launchers (BGLs), 13 live BGL shells, 16 rounds of 12-bore ammunition, approximately two kilograms of explosive material, and a telescopic sight. Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Patel confirmed the recovery, noting that despite significant operational progress against active insurgent units, agencies remain vigilant regarding weapons hidden in remote areas to prevent their potential reuse by remaining cadres.
In Sukma district, a separate operation launched on August 30 by a joint team of the District Force, District Reserve Guard (DRG), and Bastar Fighters resulted in the recovery of two tiffin bombs weighing approximately five kilograms and three kilograms, respectively. The devices were found near the Belpochcha-Gompad road under Konta police station limits. Sukma Superintendent of Police Mayank Gurjar stated that the operation was based on intelligence from surrendered Maoists indicating a concealed dump in the vicinity. In addition to the improvised explosive devices (IEDs), security personnel recovered 10 detonators, 17 gelatin sticks, codex wire, fuse wire, electrical wire, a battery, and other materials suspected of being intended for explosive assembly. Police noted that both tiffin bombs were found without wires attached, suggesting they were stored in a pre-assembled or semi-assembled state.
Simultaneously, in Bijapur district, a joint team of Basaguda police and the DRG detained a suspected Maoist aide, Bogam Lakhmu, 39, during a search near Pegadapalli village. According to police, Lakhmu, a resident of Chinnagelur, admitted during interrogation to being associated with the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (DAKMS), an organization linked to the CPI-Maoist. He was alleged to have been involved in transporting and concealing Maoist-related materials. A subsequent search led to the recovery of ₹50,050 in cash, one BGL launcher, 18 BGL cells, 12 arrow bombs, one hand grenade, 15 live .303 rounds, 31 BGL cartridges, and an empty INSAS magazine. Additionally, electrical wire, three-round chargers, and an emitter lead were seized. Lakhmu was booked under the Explosives Act and other applicable laws and sent to judicial remand, with investigators continuing to examine the logistical network he allegedly supported.
These recent seizures are part of a sustained campaign to disrupt the Maoist logistical infrastructure in Bastar. Police records indicate a consistent pattern of recoveries since March 31. Notable previous operations include the retrieval of seven cooker IEDs in Kanker on April 29, an explosives dump in Dantewada on May 3, and a major cache in Narayanpur on May 12 that included approximately ₹1.0164 crore in cash, three AK-47 rifles, and 132 BGL cells. On May 13, security forces recovered ₹65.52 lakh in cash and 32 weapons from three hideouts in Bijapur.
The strategic focus of these operations has shifted from direct engagement with active combat units to the systematic dismantling of storage and supply networks. By utilizing intelligence from surrendered cadres, security agencies aim to neutralize the material resources that could allow the insurgency to regroup. The recovery of cash, particularly in large denominations, underscores the continued financial networks supporting the organization, while the seizure of BGL components and IED materials highlights the specific types of weapons employed by the group. Officials maintain that these operations will continue in vulnerable forest areas to ensure that residual Maoist infrastructure does not pose a future security threat.
