Chhattisgarh man killed for hoisting tricolour at Maoist memorial: Police

Police said Manesh Nuruti was dragged out of his house and brought before villagers, who were gathered for a so-called “jan adalat” (people’s court)

Published on: Aug 22, 2025, 10:36:15 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Maoists killed a man branded as a police informer at Binagunda in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district for hoisting the national flag at a Maoist memorial in his village on Independence Day, police said.

Police said the Maoists punished the man for raising patriotic slogans and hoisting the tricolour.

The victim, Manesh Nuruti, was dragged out of his house and brought before villagers, who were gathered for a so-called “jan adalat” (people’s court). Another person was beaten at the gathering.

Police said the Maoists punished Nuruti for raising patriotic slogans and hoisting the tricolour at the memorial on August 15.

The Paratapur Area Committee of Maoists put up banners in the region, claiming responsibility for the execution. They accused police of deploying tribals as covert operatives and threatened people, including Pankhajur police station in-charge Lakshan Kevat, sarpanch Ramji Dhurva, and District Reserve Guard members.

Inspector general (Bastar Range) Sunderraj P said Nuereti was a resident of Binagunda village. “A short video has also surfaced in which Manish Nuereti is purportedly seen participating in Independence Day celebrations on 15th August. Further information is being collected, and appropriate action will be taken after due verification of facts and details.”

The proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist) or CPI (Maoist) has suffered heavy losses in intensified operations against Left-wing insurgents as the government has set a target of eliminating Maoism by next year.

A June 23 Maoist Central Committee document acknowledged the killing of 357 Maoists over the last year. Maoist chief Nambala Kesava Rao alias Basvaraju was killed on May 20 in Chhattisgarh. Basvaraju’s killing inside a dense forest marked the most significant success against the Left-wing insurgency in years.

Basvaraju, the general secretary of the Maoists and the backbone of the insurgency in central India, was accused of masterminding attacks, including an ambush that left 76 security personnel dead in 2010.

The Maoist movement began in India in 1967 in West Bengal’s Naxalbari village. It spread to what is now Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Maoism has been described as the biggest threat to India’s internal security. It has suffered setbacks, but retained the capacity to launch attacks.

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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