Maoists go on rampage in Bastar, kill constable, set buses on fire

The Maoists stopped buses and asked the passengers to get down from the vehicles before setting them ablaze.

Updated on: Mar 6, 2018, 13:48:35 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra, Raipur

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Maoists shot dead a former police constable and burnt three buses in south Bastar region on Monday, sending security forces into a tizzy.

The buses were set on fire at around 9.45 pm on Monday, according to special director general of police, (anti-naxal operations), D M Awasthi. (HT PHOTO)

Police suspect the killing of the constable Munna Sodhi could be an act of revenge by his brother-in-law, a Maoist, for allegedly killing his sister in 2012.

“The Maoists were searching for Sodhi only when they stopped the buses,” a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity on Tuesday.

However, special director general of police, anti-naxal operations, D M Awasthi said the Maoists were frustrated over constant operations against them in Bastar. “The recent encounter of Pujari Kanker has shaken them and hence, they are now burning vehicles,” he said, adding that a combing operation has been launched to hunt for the ultras.

Awasthi said the Maoists reached national highway 30, connecting Chhattisgarh with Telangana capital Hyderabad, at around 8 pm on Monday and an hour later started stopped the buses.

They burnt three buses heading towards Hyderabad — one from Jagdalpur, Bastar district headquarters, another from Dantewada, and the third, on its maiden run, from Malkangiri in Odisha.

At least 10 Maoists, including six women rebels, and a constable of the elite commando force, Greyhounds, were killed in an encounter in the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district bordering Telangana, the police said on Friday.

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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