Cop and Ex-Maoists Caught Retrieving Rs 21 Lakh from Secret Dump
A newly recruited constable and two surrendered women Maoists were caught retrieving Rs 21 lakh from a hidden dump in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband.
In a shocking twist of betrayal and greed, the Gariaband Police in Chhattisgarh have arrested a newly recruited police constable and two women who had previously surrendered from the Maoist movement. The trio was apprehended while they were allegedly in the process of retrieving Rs 21 lakh in cash from a hidden Maoist dump in the Rajadera forest area of Mainpur.
The Secret Cache in the Hills
According to Additional Superintendent of Police Karan Kumar Uke, the money had been stashed underground in the hills of Kulhadighat earlier in 2024. The funds were hidden by Chalapathi, a high-ranking Central Committee member and Maoist commander. The police revealed that this substantial amount of cash was not legitimate, having been collected through extortion from local residents and contractors.
A Trap is Set
The operation to recover the money turned into a police trap. The two women, who had formally surrendered to the state, teamed up with a newly recruited constable, Nohar Markam, to locate and retrieve the hidden loot. However, the police received a tip-off regarding their movements in the forest.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the police laid an ambush and caught the three suspects red-handed as they were digging out the cash from the underground Maoist dump.
Profiles of the Accused
The backgrounds of the arrested individuals highlight a complex web of associations:
- The Former Guards: One of the arrested women had previously served as a personal guard for the Maoist commander Chalapathi. The second woman held a significant position as a former commander of the Sinapali Dalam.
- The Inside Man: Constable Nohar Markam's involvement has added a layer of irony to the case. Police officials noted that before joining the police force, Markam had worked as a police informer.
The arrest underscores the ongoing challenges in the region as security forces continue to dismantle the financial networks of Maoist insurgents and monitor those who have transitioned from the jungle to the mainstream.