Maoists Printing Fake Notes, Using In Markets

Bhopal:

An anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district has led to a hanging discovery that will have extreme implications for the native economic system. For the primary time, safety forces have present in Maoist camps gear used to print faux foreign money.

Whereas this means that in depth safety operations within the area have crippled the rebels’ money circulation, use and circulation of such faux foreign money in native markets could create an enormous downside.

The startling discover was made throughout a joint search operation by Sukma Police, District Reserve Guard and the CRPF within the forests of Korajguda yesterday.

District police chief Kiran Chavan advised NDTV that they launched the search primarily based on intelligence inputs about Maoists printing counterfeit foreign money within the forest. Whereas the rebels managed to flee, the forces discovered foreign money printing machines, ink, templates and faux notes of a number of denominations — Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 200 and Rs 500 at their hideout. A number of different objects, together with a gun, a wi-fi set and a big amount of explosives, have been additionally seized.

“The way in which they’re printing notes, it’s understood that the Naxalite group is dealing with a scarcity of cash. The continuing operations within the inside areas have considerably decreased their funding, prompting them to resort to printing counterfeit foreign money,” the senior officer stated.

Maoists are identified to purchase provides from weekly village markets. Their use of faux foreign money in these transactions can doubtlessly destabilise the native economic system. To counter this, native authorities and safety forces are launching consciousness campaigns in villages and asking residents to be vigilant and reject any suspicious foreign money.

Merchants and hawkers, particularly these in distant areas, are being suggested to totally test notes earlier than accepting them.

Based on sources, Maoists adopted a brand new tactic since 2022 to print faux foreign money and handle the organisation’s money crunch. No less than one member from every space committee was skilled to faux notes. This foreign money was then utilized in native markets and entered the money system.