2 policemen posed as Maoists to loot people in Bastar, arrested: Cops

The accused constables, Hirdu Ram Kumeti and Madhav Kuldeep, were arrested along with one civilian Dolendera Kumeti. The third one, Omkar Kumeti is on run. All the accused are from Kondagaon district and were active in the Bastar region for last one month.

Updated on: Aug 14, 2019, 21:10:00 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Two policemen and a civilian disguised as Maoists were arrested on Wednesday in Chhattisgarh for looting traders and passengers in Narayanpur district. Another policeman, also part of the gang, is on the run and police are raiding various spots to nab him.

The items recovered from the arrested policemen in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar. (Photo by Ritesh Mishra/HT)

The accused constables, Hirdu Ram Kumeti and Madhav Kuldeep, were arrested along with one civilian Dolendera Kumeti. The third one, Omkar Kumeti is on run. All the accused are from Kondagaon district and were active in the Bastar region for last one month.

The police in Narayanpur said that the accused were involved in more than six cases of loot in the region and in all of them they looted the residents and traders by posing as Maoist leaders. Two weapons, mobiles and a motorbike were also recovered from the accused.

The accused were also involved in setting ablaze a bus on August 12 and looting the passengers.

“We started investigating the case and found some mobile locations in Kondagaon. We raided several spots and arrested the accused constable and one civilian in the case,” said SP Narayanpur Mohit Garg.

“They use to stop the traders coming from Bazars of jungles and greet them with ‘Laal Salaam’ and then used to loot the money. They told the traders that they are facing financial crisis due to demonetisation hence they need money,” said the SP.

“Most of the people who were looted by these constables did not report to the police out of fear. They did loot in Bastar district on August 5 and got about Rs 18,000. Then we sensed that a gang is operating,” the SP added.

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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