CoBRA scans Abujmaad forest for key Maoist meet

Sources said the security forces had strong intelligent inputs about the organisation of the event and the movement of Maoists from across the country as well as abroad to the designated place.

The operation has been planned to trap the participants as the suspected gathering was seen as a big opportunity to strike a major blow to the Reds.

It has been gathered that the idea was to allow the delegates to converge at their venue and then encircle the location to prevent them from escaping.

CoBRA or Commando Battalion for Resolute Action has been chosen for the operation as it is one of the few units of the CRPF which is specifically trained in guerilla warfare.

The security personnel have moved in from different directions and penetrated deep into the forests in a carefully planned manoeuvre. Till Wednesday, no report of any major action have come barring a skirmish with a group of Naxals somewhere in Narayanpur along the border with Maharashtra.

It also has been learnt that the security forces were equipped with sophisticated gadgets, including drones, and had carefully zeroed in on the places where they had planned to make advancements.

With no action reported for the last three days after the possible conclusion of the Maoists’ congress, there were doubts that the event had taken place. The last congress was held in 2007 and the 10th had been waiting due to security operations launched in 2009 under Operation Green Hunt.

ADG (anti-Naxal operation), Chhattisgarh, R K Vij while talking to The Indian Express confirmed that they had inputs about a large gathering following which an operation was launched from three sides, but nothing substantial has happened. The operation is likely to end in two-three days.