Maoists declare Kanha and Bhoramdeo sanctuary new ‘division’

The MMC zone was created by Maoists in 2016-17. It includes districts situated at the tri-junction of three states and has seen the presence of Vistaar Dalam, which has around 200 armed cadre in its ranks.

Updated on: Oct 1, 2019, 16:49:14 IST

RAIPUR | By Ritesh Mishra

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A document recovered from an encounter spot on the border of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh suggest that Maoists have declared a new division comprising Kanha national park and Bhoramdeo wildlife sanctuary and named it as ‘KB’.

Kanha national park comes under Mandala and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh while Bhoramdeo comes under Kawardha district of Chhattisgarh. Police believe that because of the dense forest and tough terrain the Maoists have declared this area as a division.

‘KB’ is now the second division under newly formed MMC zone (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh), the first being GRB (Gondia, Rajanandgaon Balaghat).

The MMC zone was created by Maoists in 2016-17. It includes districts situated at the tri-junction of three states and has seen the presence of Vistaar Dalam, which has around 200 armed cadre in its ranks. The MMC is presently headed by a central committee member of CPI (Maoist) Deepak Teltumbde.

The document was among Maoist literature found at a spot where 46-year-old Maoist Jamuna alias Sagan Bai was killed in an encounter in February 28 this year. Jamuna was allegedly involved in 1999 in the killing of Likhiram Kavre, a minister in the then Madhya Pradesh government. Jamuna carried an award of ₹20 lakh on her head.

Maoist leaders have been directed to focus on the ‘KB’ division and two area committees have been created under the new division, document said. It also showed that “displacement” and “bamboo rates” are the key issues of the division and Maoists have already started recruiting locals.

Sunderraj P, DIG of anti-naxal operations, said security forces are now focusing on the Kanha-Boramdeo area and expect “positive results” in the next few months.

The DIG said due to operations in the Bastar region, Maoists are now moving towards MMC zone. “We have opened more than a dozen camps in MMC zone in the last couple of years to intensify operations,” the DIG added.

People closely watching the spread of Maoist activity in Chhattisgarh believe that winning the hearts of the people of the area can help contain it.

“Security forces should run grievance redressal cells by employing their retired personnel. These areas are still relatively new, though Maoists were trying to spread their influence here for decades. Security forces should arrive a new avatar else highhandedness will push people towards Maoists,” said writer Shubhranshu Chaudhary.

Intelligence officers posted in Chhattisgarh said that the new division is a cause of concern because Maoists usually send cadres to new areas to spread their ideology. “They try to develop a network so that they could get information about movement of security forces,” said an intelligence officer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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