Maoists claim air strike by forces in Bijapur using drones and helicopters; release photos

Maoists in Chhattisgarh have claimed that the joint forces of the state and the Centre conducted air strikes in Bijapur district in the wee hours of April 19 using drones and helicopters. 

Calling it as the first such air offensive against 'people's movement' in the country, the Maoists have claimed that they shifted in time 'to avert massive danger'. 

They claimed that 12 bombs were dropped using drones and helicopters causing losses to wildlife and damage to forest. They also released two photographs—apparently of the place of airstrike and debris of the bombs allegedly used in the strike.

The Bastar Inspector General (IG) of Police, Sundarraj P., has however denied the Maoist allegations as 'totally baseless' and added that the Maoist organisation will be finished off soon.

In a press statement released on Wednesday, Vikalp, the spokesman of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DSZC) of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), said that the attack was undertaken around 3.00 am of April 19 between the Bottalanka and Palagudem villages under Pamed police station area in Bijapur.

It may be mentioned that it was under the Pamed police station area that the Maoists had ambushed a joint team of security forces on April 3, killing 22 security personnel and injuring 31. Maoists had accepted that four of their cadre were killed in the encounter, though Bastar police claimed the Maoist casualty to be at least 12 to 14.

Calling April 19 'a black day', the Maoists asked the ministers and people's representatives of Bastar region to condemn the airstrikes and stand up against 'fascist ways of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The statement also claimed that the governments are trying to keep the airstrikes under wrap.

Meanwhile, in a statement shared with THE WEEK, IG Sundarraj said, “In a press statement of April 20, Vikalp, the spokesman of DSZC has levelled allegations of airstrikes on Maoists by security forces using drones. This allegation is totally baseless. In the past few days, the CPI (Maoist) organisation, feeling its stronghold to be slipping, is engaging in anti-people and anti-development activities like killing innocent villagers, causing damage to properties and arson.”

“The truth is that the illegal and inhuman Maoist organisation that has made failed attempts of showing its fake strength by engaging in coward activities like killing thousands of innocent villagers and burning machines and vehicles used in development works, will be finished off soon and the people of Bastar will be rid of the terror of the Maoists,” the IG added.