'Biggest underground hideout': Cops uncover 130-metre-long tunnel made by Naxals in Chhattisgarh
PTC News Desk: Security forces returning from a gunfight with Maoists on Tuesday discovered a 130-metre-long tunnel used as an underground hideout in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, according to people familiar with the situation.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Rai said the 10-foot-deep tunnel was discovered by a jawan from the district reserve guard (DRG), which is made up of local tribal youth. "The hideout was camouflaged, and no one noticed it until one of our district reserve guard jawans discovered it. This is probably the biggest underground hideout we've discovered in the region so far," Rai said.
"We believe it served as a Maoist hideout during the movement of force. However, it can be used for other purposes, such as ambush trapping police force," the SP stated.
Rai stated that the security personnel were returning to their base camp in Bhairamgarh after engaging in a gunfight with Maoists in the Abujhmad forest area, 12 kilometres from the Bhairamgarh Police Station.
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Security forces were mobilised in response to intelligence reports indicating the presence of 25-30 armed Maoists, including CPI (Maoist) divisional committee member Mallesh, in the area bordering Dantewada and Bijapur districts.
"The forces clashed with the Maoists near Tadopat village, forcing them to flee into the jungle. When they returned, they discovered this tunnel meticulously built by the Maoists," Rai explained.
According to a statement from the Dantewada police, some Maoists were likely killed in the gunfight, but no bodies were found.
The district police shared a video of the tunnel, showing how the Maoists had covered the tunnel's access points with mud and sticks. The narrow tunnel had an opening every six metres.
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