Two members of the Central Reserve Police Force’s CoBRA unit were killed when Naxalites detonated an improvised explosive device in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Sunday. The incident occurred near Timmapuram village, targeting a truck carrying security personnel on patrol duty. A separate encounter between security forces and Naxalites is also underway in the area.
The Chhattisgarh government has extended summer vacation for all schools until June 25 due to the intense heatwave affecting the state. This decision aims to prioritize the health and safety of students during the scorching temperatures.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in 10 out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh. This decisive win solidifies the BJP’s dominance in the state, where it had previously shown strength in the 2023 assembly elections. The Congress party managed to secure only one seat, highlighting the widening gap between the two parties.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has secured a Rs 3,500 crore order from Adani Power Limited for setting up a 1,600 MW thermal power plant (TPP) at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. BHEL will supply equipment such as boilers, turbine generators, and associated auxiliaries, as well as control and instrumentation systems. The boilers and turbine generators will be manufactured at BHEL’s Trichy and Haridwar plants respectively.
A tragic explosion at an explosive factory in Bemetara, Chhattisgarh, claimed the life of one individual on Saturday morning and left six others with varying degrees of injuries. The incident prompted immediate action from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who ordered a thorough investigation and announced financial aid for the affected families.
Eight Naxalites were killed in a gun battle with security forces in a forest along the Narayanpur-Bijapur inter-district border in Chhattisgarh. The encounter began on Thursday and continued into Friday morning. Security forces recovered eight weapons, including arms and ammunition, from the slain Naxalites. This brings the total number of Naxalite fatalities in the state to 113 so far this year in separate encounters with security forces.
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has labeled Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘liar’ and accused him of having no knowledge of history. Baghel made these remarks in response to Modi’s criticism of Congress on the issue of wealth redistribution. The two leaders are engaged in a fierce electoral battle in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, with the other constituencies in the state also voting on Friday. Amidst the elections, Baghel appealed to voters to cast their ballots and exercise their right to save the Constitution and preserve democracy.
In Janjgir Champa, a reserved constituency in Chhattisgarh, fear and discontent are brewing among Dalits and marginalized communities. Rumors about changes to the Constitution and the abolition of reservation have spread through WhatsApp and YouTube, fueling concerns among voters. The BJP’s carefully crafted balance between Dalits and other backward classes appears to be shifting, and the Congress is making inroads in the area.
In a significant development, 18 Naxalites, including a militia platoon section commander and three women, have laid down their arms in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. The surrendered individuals were identified as Hidma Oyam, the Hurrepal Panchayat Militia Platoon section commander, Sambati Oyam, a deputy commander of HPMP, Gangi Madkam, vice president of Kakadi Panchayat Krantikari Mahila Adivasi Sangthan, and Hungi Oyam, a member of the cultural wing of CPI (Maoists).
Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel is contesting the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat in Chhattisgarh for the third time, aiming to redeem his political standing after the party’s loss in the 2023 Assembly election. Despite the Congress’s modest performance in previous Lok Sabha elections in the state, the party is banking on Baghel’s experience and appeal to boost its prospects in the upcoming polls.
