Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 14: In a significant boost to ongoing anti-Naxal operations, Gadchiroli Police on Sunday arrested a wanted Maoist operative during a routine combing operation in the dense forests of Tirkameta, under the Tadgaon area of Bhamragarh subdivision.

The arrested militant has been identified as Shankar Bhima Mahaka (32), a resident of Paraynar village in Gadchiroli and an active member of the notorious Bhamragarh Dalam, a specialised Maoist unit responsible for several deadly attacks in the region.

According to officials, Mahaka was caught in suspicious circumstances while conducting reconnaissance in the area — allegedly to prepare for an ambush on security personnel. The Special Operations Team (SOT) apprehended him after a detailed search.

Mahaka, who was carrying a Rs 2 lakh bounty announced by the Maharashtra government, has been linked to multiple serious crimes, including murder, arson, and acts of sabotage. Among his most notable offences is the 2022 arson attack on 19 construction vehicles, collectively worth Rs 2 crore, involved in the development of the Dhodraj–Irpanar road. A criminal case for the same incident had been registered at the Laheri police sub-post.

A total of four criminal cases, ranging from murder to bombings, have been filed against Mahaka. His arrest marks another successful step in the region's push to dismantle Naxal networks.

Police confirmed that the suspect was actively scouting the region to plan attacks on security forces, reinforcing concerns about continued Naxal efforts to disrupt infrastructure and development projects.

Widening Anti-Naxal Operations

Sunday also saw successful anti-Maoist operations outside Maharashtra. In Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, a high-intensity encounter between security forces and Maoists ended with the neutralisation of a senior Maoist leader carrying an Rs 8 lakh bounty. The gunfight took place deep inside the Bijapur forests during a combing operation. Security forces recovered weapons, including a BGL launcher, from the encounter site.

Another operation unfolded in Jharkhand, further intensifying the pressure on Maoist outfits across the so-called “Red Corridor”.

Since January 2022, Gadchiroli Police have arrested 109 Maoists, reflecting a systematic and focused approach to counterinsurgency in one of Maharashtra's most sensitive districts.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to continue high-intensity operations until the last trace of Maoist insurgency is uprooted from the region.