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Chhattisgarh police recovered arms, ₹46 lakh cash in a Maoist dump

February 28, 2026 4 min read Internal Security GS3 (Internal Security Left Wing Extremism)
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What Happened

  • On February 28, 2026, Chhattisgarh Police conducted a major anti-Naxal operation in the Sansasati mountain range of Gariaband district, busting a Maoist ammunition dump used by the Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada (DGN) division of CPI (Maoist).
  • The joint operation involved the Gariaband E-30 force and Dhamtari District Reserve Guard (DRG), acting on intelligence inputs provided by rehabilitated ex-Maoists.
  • Recoveries included ₹46.31 lakh in cash, a Barmar gun (33 rounds), a Surka rifle, 32 BGL shells, 45 AK-47 rounds, 41 .303 rounds, 11 SLR rounds, 23 single-shot cartridges, 26 12-bore cartridges, INSAS rounds, e-detonators, mechanical detonators, a laptop, two mobile phones, and extensive subversive literature.
  • Security forces reported that sustained anti-Naxal operations over the past two years have effectively neutralised or led to the surrender of the entire listed cadre of the DGN division active in the Manpur-Badegobara sector.
  • The operation was credited to intelligence gained through the state government's rehabilitation and surrender policy, with former Maoists providing details about divisional leaders.

Static Topic Bridges

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India: Origins and Spread

Left Wing Extremism (LWE), commonly called Naxalism or Maoism, is one of India's gravest internal security challenges. It originated in 1967 in Naxalbari, West Bengal, led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal — members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The movement spread across the "Red Corridor," encompassing Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal. The Naxal ideology advocates armed guerrilla warfare to achieve socio-political and economic goals, targeting the state apparatus, security forces, infrastructure, and local administration.

  • CPI (Maoist) is the primary LWE organization responsible for the majority of violence; it is designated a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
  • The number of LWE-affected districts has reduced from 126 (2018) → 90 (2018) → 70 (2021) → 38 (April 2024).
  • The National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE was approved in 2015, combining security measures with development interventions.
  • The Government of India aimed to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
  • The "Red Corridor" historically connected Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Connection to this news: The Gariaband operation reflects the continued effectiveness of the government's multi-pronged strategy — combining security operations with rehabilitation policies — in dismantling the residual Maoist network in central India.

District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Anti-Naxal Strategy

The District Reserve Guard (DRG) is a specialized counter-insurgency force raised by state governments in LWE-affected areas. DRG units are composed primarily of surrendered Maoists and local tribal youth who are inducted and trained to conduct jungle operations. Their intimate knowledge of terrain, Maoist tactics, and networks makes them highly effective in anti-Naxal operations. The DRG has been instrumental in several high-profile encounters and seizures in Chhattisgarh.

  • DRGs were specifically constituted under the central government's LWE policy framework as part of security-related expenditure (SRE) schemes.
  • Key anti-Naxal forces in Chhattisgarh include DRG, Special Task Force (STF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), and Bastariya Battalion.
  • Intelligence-based operations (IBO) using rehabilitated Maoists as informants have become a primary tool for locating Maoist infrastructure.
  • The SAMADHAN doctrine (S-Smart leadership, A-Aggressive strategy, M-Motivation and training, A-Actionable intelligence, D-Dashboard-based KPIs, H-Harnessing technology, A-Action plan for each theatre, N-No access to financing) guides the government's LWE response.

Connection to this news: The Gariaband operation was a DRG-led, intelligence-driven operation — precisely the model envisaged under SAMADHAN and the National Policy and Action Plan — yielding results through information provided by rehabilitated cadres.

Maoist Financing and Logistics Infrastructure

Maoist organizations sustain their armed struggle through a sophisticated financial and logistics network. Sources of funding include extortion from contractors and businesses (often called "levy"), illicit taxation of local populations, seizure of government funds, and support from sympathetic urban networks. Cash hoards like the ₹46.31 lakh recovered in this operation serve as operational war chests for procuring weapons, paying cadres, and funding propaganda. Weapons are typically sourced through theft from security forces, illegal arms markets in border areas, and improvised manufacturing.

  • BGL (Barrel Grenade Launcher) shells, INSAS ammunition (Indian Small Arms System), and AK-47 rounds indicate a combination of stolen security force weapons and smuggled arms.
  • Non-electronic and electronic detonators are used for IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks — a primary Maoist tactic targeting security forces.
  • Laptops and mobile phones recovered from dumps are used for communication, propaganda, and coordination of armed cadres.
  • Subversive literature includes party propaganda and tactical manuals distributed among cadres and sympathizers.

Connection to this news: The recovery of ₹46.31 lakh cash alongside sophisticated military hardware — BGL shells, AK-47 ammunition, detonators — provides a window into the financial and logistical capacity that even a degraded Maoist formation maintains, and demonstrates the continuing importance of dismantling such infrastructure.

Key Facts & Data

  • Location: Sansasati mountain range, Gariaband district, Chhattisgarh (Manpur-Badegobara sector).
  • Cash recovered: ₹46.31 lakh.
  • Weapons: Barmar gun (33 rounds), Surka rifle, 32 BGL shells, 45 AK-47 rounds, 41 .303 rounds, 11 SLR rounds, 10 INSAS rounds, 26 12-bore cartridges, 13 e-detonators, 10 mechanical detonators.
  • Forces involved: Gariaband E-30 and Dhamtari DRG.
  • CPI (Maoist) listed as terrorist organization under UAPA, 1967.
  • LWE-affected districts reduced from 126 (2018) to 38 (April 2024).
  • Naxal movement originated in Naxalbari, West Bengal, in 1967.
  • Government target: complete elimination of Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
  • SAMADHAN doctrine is the overarching framework for LWE response.