Sukma (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 2 (HBTV): Security forces recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and Naxal-related materials from forest and hilly areas of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, police said.
According to officials, the recovered weapons and materials had been dumped by Naxalites in the area with the intention of causing harm to security personnel. The recovery was made during a joint anti-Naxal operation conducted by the 159th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force and Sukma District Police.
The operation was launched on the morning of December 30, based on specific inputs about the presence of Naxalites in and around Gondpalli village. Security forces searched the surrounding forested and hilly terrain, leading to the recovery of the concealed arms dump.
As per an official statement issued by Sukma police, the seized cache included one bolt-action rifle, three shotguns, one 12-bore single-barrel rifle, 150 rounds of 7.62 mm SLR ammunition, 150 rounds of 5.56 mm INSAS ammunition, 100 rounds of .303 rifle ammunition and one magazine.
Officials said sustained anti-Naxal operations in the district have caused significant setbacks to the Naxal organisation. A senior official stated that Maoists now have only one option left — to abandon violence, pursue peace and development, and join the rehabilitation and reintegration programme.
The statement further said that the weapons, explosives and other Naxal materials had been hidden with the intent of inflicting heavy damage on security forces, and their recovery had successfully thwarted the Maoists’ plans.
All security personnel involved in the operation returned safely to their camp after completion of the search operation.