3 villagers allegedly killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur: Police

Police said they have confirmed one death while their teams have been sent to the jungle to identify the other two deceased

Published on: Dec 23, 2024, 17:03:43 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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The Maoists have allegedly killed three villagers in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district in the last 48 hours accusing them of being police informers, officials familiar with the matter said on Monday. Police said they have confirmed one death while their teams have been sent to the jungle to identify the other two deceased.

Police said that there has been a sudden increase of civilian killing incidents by Maoists in recent times. (Representational image)

According to police, in the first incident on Sunday, Mukesh Hemla, 32, a resident of Kammaknar village, had gone to the local bazaar when he was allegedly abducted by unidentified Maoists from the market area. Later, his body was discovered near Reddy Talab, where he was attacked with knives and axes, resulting in his death.

Inspector general of Police, Bastar range, Sunderaj P said, “Hemla was a petty contractor engaged in constructing an Anganwadi centre in Kammaknar village. A pamphlet recovered from the scene, reportedly issued by the Gangloor Area Committee of Maoists, accused him of being a police informer and justified the killing on these grounds.”

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In the second incident, two members of a single family in Korcholi village of Bijapur district were allegedly killed on Saturday in a jan-adalat (Kangaroo court) by Maoists, who accused of being police informers.

People familiar with the matter said that the family members cremated the bodies on Sunday in fear of Maoists.

Police are yet to confirm the incident.

“We have sent teams to Korcholi to find out the facts about the details regarding the civilian killings in the village,” said the IG

He further said that in recent times there has been a sudden increase of civilian killing incidents by Maoists in the region.

“It is a frustrated and desperate attempt to review their lost ground in Bastar Region, Maoists are targeting innocent civilians including women and students. This is an indicator of their weakness rather than their strength. We would give a befitting reply to the cowardice act of those Maoist cadres involved in such inhumane and shameful acts of targeting innocent civilians,” said the IG.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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