Gadchiroli Police in Maharashtra have destroyed a Maoist arms-manufacturing unit and seized equipment and materials allegedly hidden underground in a forest area of the district during a special anti-Naxal operation, officials said on Friday.
The operation was carried out based on confidential information received from surrendered Maoists during interrogation under Operation ‘Antim Prahar’.
According to the police, Maoists used to secretly bury weapons, explosives, and related materials in forest areas to target security personnel during various Naxal observances, election periods, and other operations. Officials said the hidden stockpile was intended for use in sabotage activities against security forces.
Police said Maoist influence in Gadchiroli district has significantly weakened and efforts are underway to trace and destroy materials concealed in forest areas.
Officials said the surrendered Maoists, who laid down arms before the Gadchiroli Police on May 16, revealed during questioning that weapons manufacturing equipment and other materials had been hidden in the forest area under the Pomke Binagunda limits.
Following the inputs, six joint teams of the Gadchiroli and Pranhita special operation squads along with two Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) teams were dispatched to the area on Thursday under the guidance of Superintendent of Police M Ramesh.
Maoist arms-manufacturing unit busted
During the search operation conducted on Friday in the forest area north of Pomke Binagunda, the teams recovered a lathe machine, BGL pipes, 12-bore pipes, inverter, generator, battery, grinding and drilling machines, jig saw machine, pressure pump, solar panel, and a 20-foot football pipe, among other Maoist materials.
Under the directions of senior officers, all the recovered Maoist equipment and materials were destroyed on the spot with the assistance of security personnel.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Superintendent of Police M Ramesh, Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Kartik Madhira, Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Gokul Raj G, and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Vishal Nagargoje.
The operation was successfully executed by personnel of the Special Operations Squad, Gadchiroli and Pranhita units, along with the BDDS teams. Ramesh also appreciated the efforts of the personnel involved in the operation.