Maoists gunned down
Bijapur: District police claimed to have succeeded in gunning down three Maoist insurgents, including Gangalur divisional committee commander Masa, on August 30. In post operation search, police recovered body of an insurgent along with arms, ammunition, explosives as well as daily use items. The Maoists succeeded in carrying back bodies of two slain ultras. He was gunned down in jungles of Karcholi where he was camping along with accomplices. Scattered patches of blood and signs of towing at the encounter site showed as at least three Maoists were killed and some others were injured in the gunfight. Police also recovered two loaded 9 mm pistol, one 12 bore gun, hand grenade, electric wire, detonator, Maoist literature and large quantity of daily use items from the spot.
Naxal couriers held with explosives
Raipur: Two Naxal couriers were held with explosives and other items from the posh Shankar Nagar area on August 26. The accused were held near narrow gauge railway line in a Mahindra Bolero near. The accused were identified as Babulal Sharma (52) and Tarak Kundu (42) both hailing from bus stand Bande village, Pakhanjur Kondagon. In all 32 pieces of detonators, Oxygen Cylinder, cooking gas cylinder, copper wires, 10 dynamites, small nut bolts, battery, torches, DVD, CD along with some documents was held from their possession. Babulal was also involved in the rocket launcher raw material consignment seizure case at Saraswati Nagar last year however due to lack of compelling evidences Sharma managed to remain out of the reach of police.
Bastar Maharaja joins BJP
Raipur: Chhattisgarh’s ruling BJP got a major fillip on July 28 after scion of Bastar’s royal family Kamal Chand Bhanj Deo joined the saffron party at a high-profile function held at State party headquarters. The BJP was trying to woo Bhanj Deo for months as party’s internal updated survey indicated that BJP would suffer jolt on at least 5-6 seats in Bastar region in Assembly polls which is scheduled in the State by the year-end. The Congress which is out of power since December 2003, was also desperate to bring Bhanj Deo into party fold, but it lost to BJP’s poll strategists. The senior leaders of the BJP have termed the entry of Bhanj Deo into the party ‘a big boost for the party’ in the region which holds key for Government formation in the State.
Minister’s chopper made emergency landing
Korba: The helicopter of State Culture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal was forced to do emergency landing at Madanpur village of Korba district after the chopper lost its way in the inclement weather on August 27. All the occupants of the chopper including the crew were safe. The Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, was returning Raipur after participating in the rituals of late Dilip Singh Judeo at Jashpur. He was accompanied with BJP State in-charge JP Nadda, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Beverage Corporation Deojibhai Patel, and two others. “The chopper took off from Jashpur during noon hour for Raipur however after reaching Korba due to bad weather the copter lost its trail and flew for about one-and-half hour. later it had to land at Madanapur village.
127 police officers reshuffled
Raipur: Ahead of Assembly elections scheduled by the end of year a major re-shuffle was done in the police department which affected postings of 127 police officers. The Inspector General of Police, Superintendents of Police, Additional Superintendents of Police, probationary IPS and Sub Divisional officer of police level officers were moved to different locations. With the transfers the administrative preparations for coming elections have begun.