BJP leader hacked to death by Maoists while campaigning in poll-bound Chhattisgarh

Ratan Dubey was the vice president of the BJP’s Narayanpur unit and the area’s assembly convener.

Updated on: Nov 5, 2023, 06:46:04 IST

By S Kareemuddin, Ritesh Mishra, BASTAR

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A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, who was on a campaign trail, was killed by Maoists in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh – three days before the first phase of polling in the state, police said.

Ratan Dubey was the vice president of the BJP’s Narayanpur unit and the area’s assembly convener.

According to police, he was hacked to death with a sharp-edged weapon in the market area at Kaushalnar village.

Dubey was campaigning for Kedar Kashyap, who is contesting from the Narayanpur seat against Congress leader Chandan Kashyap, police said.

A police team rushed to the spot and efforts are underway to nab those involved, an official aware of the matter said.

Read Here: BJP worker shot dead in Maoist-affected Ambagarh Chowki

“At around 05:30 pm, Dubey had gone to Kaushalnar village, about 5km east from Jhargati police station, for campaigning, when he was attacked and killed with a sharp weapon by unidentified Maoists,” Sundarraj P, inspector general of police of Bastar range, said in a statement.

“On receiving information about the incident, police and security forces were sent to the spot, and the deceased’s body is being brought to the district headquarters at Narayanpur...,” Sunderaj said.

“I am deeply saddened by the brutal murder of Chhattisgarh BJP’s Narayanpur Assembly convenor and Narayanpur district vice president Ratan Dubey ji by Naxalites during the campaign. The entire party condemns this cowardly incident,” BJP leader Om Mathur posted on X (formerly Twitter).

On October 20, BJP worker Birju Taram was shot dead by suspected Maoists in Sarkheda village in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district.

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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