(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
In a big win for security forces in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, police have nabbed a key Maoist operative who was scouting the dense Tadgaon forest to plan attacks. The arrest comes as part of ongoing efforts to curb left-wing extremism in the region, and it’s a major boost to anti-Naxal operations.
The suspect, Shankar Bhima Mahaka, 32, from Parayanar village in Bhamragad, Gadchiroli, belongs to the Bhamragad Dalam, a notorious Maoist group. He’s no stranger to violence—he’s linked to murders, arson attacks, and even IED blasts that have terrorized locals and workers. The Maharashtra government had put a Rs 2 lakh bounty on his head, and he’s also wanted in a murder case probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Here’s how it all went down: On September 13, 2024, two elite anti-Maoist squads swept through the Tirkameta forest area under the Tadgaon Police Post in Bhamragad subdivision. They spotted a shady figure lurking around and brought him in for questioning at the Pranhita police sub-headquarters. That’s when his real identity came out—Shankar Bhima Mahaka.
Digging deeper, cops found he was on a reconnaissance mission, eyeing spots for a potential Maoist strike. He’s facing charges in four serious cases. Back in 2022, he helped torch 19 road construction vehicles worth Rs 2 crore on the Dhorraj-Irpanar route—booked under Crime No. 01/2022 at Laheri Police Station. The next year, in 2023, he was directly involved in killing an innocent villager in Pengunda. Two more cases tie him to other sabotage and violent acts.
Mahaka joined the Maoist outfit’s Jan Militia in 2016 and got promoted to the Bhamragad Dalam in 2021-22. He’s been a sneaky operator in the Parayanar forests and nearby areas, spying on police patrols and helping his group pull off deadly hits.
The operation was led by top brass including IG (Anti-Naxal Operations) Sandeep Patil, DIG (Gadchiroli Range) Ankit Goyal, SP Gadchiroli Neelotpal, Additional SP (Operations) M Ramesh, Additional SP Aheri (Pranhita) Satya Sai Kartik, Deputy SP (Operations) Vishal Nagargoje, and SDPO Bhamragad Ajay Kokate. Special anti-Maoist squads did the heavy lifting on the ground.
SP Neelotpal couldn’t hide his satisfaction, saying anti-Maoist drives will ramp up in Gadchiroli and surrounding forests. He urged Maoists to drop their weapons, surrender, and rejoin society for a better life. This arrest shows India’s fight against Naxalism is gaining ground, one operative at a time.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
