Forest ranger paying wages for road work killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh

Police said that the Maoists abducted the ranger and took him to school in the village and then killed him with a sharp edged weapon.

Updated on: Sep 11, 2020, 23:19:11 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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A forest ranger in Chhattisgarh was allegedly hacked to death by Maoists in Bijapur district of Bastar division on Friday, police said. He was 49.

Police said that around 15 militia cadres of Maoists were involved in the attack on the officer. (Representative photo)

As per Inspector General of Police, Bastar range, Sunderaj P, the incident took place at around 3 pm when ranger Rathram Patel had reached Kondronji village under Jangla police station limits, about 45 km away from Bijapur town, to pay wages to villagers for road construction work in the forest area.

Police said that the Maoists abducted the ranger and took him to school in the village and then killed him with a sharp edged weapon.

Patel was posted at the Indravati Tiger Reserve as Ranger of Bhairamgarh forest range and was a resident of Balodabazar district which comes under Raipur division.

Soon after the incident, SP Bijapur reached the spot. Police have registered a case in this connection and investigation is underway.

Police said that around 15 militia cadres of Maoists were involved in the attack on the officer.

“Two forest guards, who accompanied Patel, managed to flee the scene when the Maoists attacked him with sharp weapons,” police said.

A police team reached the spot and recovered the body, the IG said, adding that a search operation has been launched for the Maoists.

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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