Amid mounting pressure from security forces, Naxals are now carrying out attacks with traditional tribal weapons like axe and bows and arrows after mixing with locals on Abujmadh forest periphery in Chhattisgarh, prompting authorities to impose a ban on carrying them in public places.
Narayanpur district superintendent of police Mayank Srivastava issued orders prohibiting carrying of weapons by people especially tangia (axe) in public places after a constable was hacked to death by Naxalites in the market, official sources said.
The sources said Naxals have been on the run from these forests after a joint operation by CRPF and police. This has irked some of the political parties .
However, senior police officials said the tribals coming to the market could always deposit their weapons at a nearby police post and carry it along after their return to their villages located within the jungles.
Naxals have been having a tough time ever since CRPF under the command of the then Chhattisgarh Inspector General (Operation) Pankaj Singh led an operation of clearing the dense forests.
The penetration of the Abujmadh forest was the biggest success for counter Naxal forces which led to eviction of the Maoists from the heartland of their strong holds in the unmapped jungles of Chhattisgarh.
This area, which was not accessed by security forces for long and had no maps or photographs so far which could facilitate launching of operations, has been successfully penetrated by the CRPF.
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