35 villagers beaten by Maoists for not attending meeting in Bastar

The victims from Phulpad village under Kuakonda police station limits were admitted to Dantewada hospital on Saturday and a case has been registered on the complaint of twelve victims

Updated on: Sep 9, 2018, 17:16:59 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Thirty-five villagers in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district in Bastar region were allegedly beaten up on Friday by Maoists for refusing to attend a meeting called by the ultras.

Maoist rebels or Naxalites, raise their arms during an exercise at a temporary base in the Abujh Marh forests in Chhattisgarh. (AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi)

The victims from Phulpad village under Kuakonda police station limits were admitted to Dantewada hospital on Saturday and a case has been registered on the complaint of twelve victims.

“The villagers were tied to trees and beaten for hours just because they had refused to attend the meeting in a nearby village called by Maoists on Thursday,” said Abhishek Pallav, SP Dantewada.

A police team, along with three ambulances, rushed to Phulpad after the incident.

“Twelve of the villagers were admitted to community hospital and one was rushed to the Dantewada district hospital. The condition of the injured is said to be stable,” Pallav said.

Extra police forces have been deployed in the area and combing operation started after the incident.

The SP said this the first time in Bastar that the whole village was beaten by the Maoist.

“There is huge pressure of security forces in that area. Hence the villagers of Phulpad village refused to support the Maoists. Secondly, they were also demanding for road and some of the villagers even approached the collector on Tuesday. This has baffled the Maoists which led to this incident,” the SP explained.

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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