Maoists kill police informer in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada

Dantewada police superintendent Abhishek Pallava said Umesh Markam was killed on Tuesday night when he was returning from his native Tetam village

Updated on: Nov 11, 2021, 11:49:33 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Suspected Maoists killed a police informer in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh’s Left-wing insurgency-hit Bastar region, police said on Wednesday.

A file photo of security forces in the middle of a search operation against Naxals in Bijapur, Chattisgarh. (HT photo/ File)

Dantewada police superintendent Abhishek Pallava said that Umesh Markam was killed on Tuesday night when he was returning from his native Tetam village.

“A small action team of the Katekalyan area committee of Maoists attacked Markam with sharp-edged weapons. Markam died on the spot,” Pallava said in a statement.

Police cited the preliminary probe and added a group of Maoists led by Pradeep, an area committee member of the rebels, attacked Markam. A police team rushed to the scene on Wednesday and sent his body for postmortem.

“Markam helped the security forces in setting up a police camp last year in Tetam village. Subsequently, he started working as ’gopniya sainik (secret informer)’ with the police,” Pallava said.

The informers are appointed at the district police level for helping in anti-Maoist operations.

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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