Naxals planning Sukma repeat: Intelligence

Bhopal: Maoists are planning a repeat of the April 24 Sukma attack, in which 25 CRPF jawans were massacred, by launching a major operation against security forces in Chhattisgarh’s conflict zone of Bastar, an alert issued by intelligence has said.

Over100 armed guerrillas from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have sneaked into south Bastar and were spotted in the jungles of Bijapur-Sukma region, intelligence sources told this newspaper on Thursday. “We are keeping a vigil on their movements after a tip-off. The rebels are planning a major attack of the scale of the April-24 ambush on the CRPF at Burkapal in Sukma,” sources disclosed.“We have information about the infiltration of outsider Naxals into south Bastar. Superintendents of police (SPs) of all seven districts in Bastar have been told to remain prepared for any eventuality or a possible counter attack,” a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity.

“In fact, security forces have already been mobilised to corner the rebels,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bastar police on Thursday seized a huge cache of explosive materials in Jiram Ghati, where 27 Congressmen were massacred by Naxals in 2013.

“Three people, including two from Malkangiri district in Odisha and one from Sukma district in south Bastar, have been arrested,” the police said. The police recovered around 150 gelatin rods, 200 detonators and four bundles of wires from them.