Chhattisgarh Police dismiss Maoists’ claim of drone strike in 2 Bastar villages

Maoist leader Vikalp earlier released a press note and some photographs alleging a drone strike injured some animals in two villages.

Published on: Apr 22, 2021, 14:56:49 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Chhattisgarh Police have rubbished the Maoists’ claim that two villages in the insurgency-hit Bastar region were attacked on Monday with drones operated by the security forces.

The Bastar IG said Maoists triggered an IED blast in Narayanpur on Wednesday, seriously injuring one Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer and also killing a cow in the process. (AFP)

The chief of police in Bastar region said the Maoists were making “baseless” allegations out of “confusion and fear”. He added that the security forces operate within the legal framework with the single objective of protecting life and property of the native population.

“It is the Maoist cadres who have taken away the lives of thousands of innocent civilians by using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and explosive materials. They haven’t spared even children, women and animals during their desperate attempts to harm the security forces using IEDs,” said Sunderaj P, the inspector general (IG) of Bastar range.

Maoist leader Vikalp earlier released a press note and some photographs alleging a drone strike injured some animals in two villages. “The drone strike was conducted (by) security forces in Bottalanka and Palagudem villages. The strike shows the real face of the central and the state government,” the note said.

However, the Bastar IG said it were the Maoists, who triggered an IED blast in Narayanpur on Wednesday, seriously injuring one Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer and also killing a cow in the process.

“The [Maoists] don’t have any moral authority to level such baseless allegations against the security forces. It is high time they stopped unleashing cruelty against innocent tribals of Bastar and let the native population lead a peaceful life,” Sunderaj said.

Maoists have also abducted an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of state police in Bastar region’s Bijapur district, officials said on Thursday.

Earlier on March 31, they ambushed 22 security personnel and injured 31 others, during a combing operation along the Sukma-Bijapur border. They also abducted Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, a commando with the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) elite CoBRA force. He was released a few days later.

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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