Four Naxals were today arrested and explosives seized from their possession during a search operation by security forces in Chhattisgarh’s insurgency-hit Bastar district, police said.
The cadres were apprehended by a composite team of security personnel from the restive forests of Drabha police station limits, Bastar Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Vijay Pandey told PTI.
A joint squad of Central Reserve Police Force, state’s District Reserve Group and a team of local police while undertaking the operation in Darbha area spotted four suspects between Urukpal and Badhanpal forests axis who were trying to escape along with bags, the ASP said.
After a short chase they were nabbed, he added.
The accused were identified as Aytu Mandavi – head of Sautnar Jantana Sarkar group, Muka Kashyap – Sautnar Janmilitia Commander and two lower rung cadres- Ayta Mandavi and Huga Mandavi, he said.
A bag with low intensity improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was also seized from Aytu’s possession besides an IED, weighed 10-15 kg, planted at a nearby hill was seized based on the instance of Muka, the ASP said.
All the four were allegedly engaged in planting explosives in the region to harm security forces during which they were nabbed, he added.
The ultras have admitted their association with the red-movement. They were also allegedly involved in various other crimes including murder attempt, dacoity, damaging roads and others in the region, located around 350 kms away from here, Pandey added.