A video showing Maoists undergoing intensive physical training has been published by Times Now. The video is believed to be from Sukma and is from 2016.
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The video shows Maoist cadre receiving intense training under the supervision of their commanders. Women cadres are also seen undergoing training. A Maoists leader, Bhima, has been identified in the video. He had an Rs 8 lakh bounty on him and as per the report, was killed in a recent operation undertaken by the security forces.
Another Maoist seen in the video, identified as Tirupathi, was also killed in an encounter in 2016. Tirupati, along with another top commander Lokesh, was killed in a police encounter in the Narayanpur region in September 2016.
The current NDA government has handled the Naxal problem in a remarkable manner which has curbed the activities of left-wing terrorists to a great extent. The government’s resolve coupled with aggressive anti-terror operations against the armed outfits, massive infrastructure development has caused a steady decline in the Naxal menace. One of the key achievements of this collective effort of the government and the security forces has been the loss of support and sympathy that these Maoists used to get from the masses.
Earlier this month, a large number of Maoists had surrendered before the security agencies in Chhattisgarh. In the month of September, two Naxal leaders carrying higher rewards on them had surrendered before the senior police officials in Jharkhand and Chattisgarh.