4 Naxals arrested after fierce gunbattle between Maoists-security forces in Bijapur

Four Naxals, including a self-styled military company member who was allegedly involved in Tadmetla incident in which 76 troopers were killed and carrying a cash reward of Rs One lakh on his head, were arrested after a prolonged gun-battle in Maoist-hit Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, police said on Monday.

Those arrested were identified as Budta Gonde (26), Lakhmu Kadiyam (35), Sannu Lekam (28) and Lakshman Uike (25), who were allegedly handling the Maoist's activities on national highway in south Bastar region, Bijapur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sukhnandan Rathore told PTI.

"A cache of ammunition, commodities of daily use and Naxal-related items were recovered from them," he said. "The cadres were nabbed from the restive forests under Bijapur police station limits on Sunday during a search operation following the face-off," he added.

While the joint party of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and district police reached the forests between Kaika and Ghumra, about 10-15 armed rebels ambushed the police party and opened indiscriminate firing on them following which they retaliated, the DSP said.

Immediately after the gunfight, security forces launched a search in the region during which four ultras were arrested, he said.  A five kg tiffin bomb, a couple of detonators, bags, Naxal uniforms, their literature, other ammunitions and commodities of daily use were recovered, he said.

According to the official, Gonde was a member of regional military company II of CPI (Maoist) and was carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head.  During interrogation, he admitted that he had joined the movement in 2009 and was involved in the deadly 2010 Tadmetla (now in Sukma district) attack in which 76 security personnel were killed in Dantewada district, the DSP said.

Lakhmu was a militia platoon commander of Japeli area, while Sannu and Lakshma were militia platoon members. They were handling several Naxal activities like sticking anti-government posters, blocking roads for operations and others on national highways, he said, adding they were involved in several incidents of crime in the region.

In a separate incident in the district, Semla Bheema - a sangham member of Maoist - was arrested during a joint search operation in Koraguda village forests under Basgaguda police station limits on Sunday, the DSP added.