Chhattisgarh: Maoists kill 50-year-old civilian on alleged charges of espionage activities in Bhejji of Sukma

RAIPUR: A 50-year-old civilian has been brutally killed by armed cadres of the banned Maoist outfit in conflict-ridden Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. The fateful incident has taken place on late Wednesday evening, September 26.

Soyam Pandu, a resident of Bhandarpadar village under Bhejji police station limits of Sukma district was attacked by a group of insurgents when the former was at his home. The extremist thrashed Pandu black and blue before attacking him with sharp weapon which eventually proved fatal for the elderly man.

According to the inputs, the Maoists suspected the deceased for being an informer of the police, a charge often labelled against the civilians executed by them. Following the gruesome murder, the ultras fled the scene, issuing a warning to the residents not to report the crime to the police.

Though, the news somehow reached the police after which a team was dispatched to the location, the case is currently being investigated by the officials. The incident marks yet another civilian being executed on alleged charges of espionage, terrifying the locals who are forced to live with the constant fear of being chased and killed by the Maoists.

Speaking with the TOI, Inspector General (IG) of Police, Bastar Sunddarraj P said “Killing of innocent civilians and attacks on soft targets are indication of weakness in the Maoist camp. In an attempt to boost up the shattered morale of the cadre, Maoist leadership are indulged in such cowardice act. But they should realise that targeting the native population would be a huge reason for their downfall.”

Notably, as per the figures available at South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP), a total of 54 civilians have been so far killed in violence pertaining to the Maoist insurgency in this year alone. This comes amidst persistent operations carried out by the security forces in insurgency-hit zones, particularly in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, culminating in neutralisation of around 160 Maoists cadres.

Recent killing of civilians by Maoists: –

• Maoists abducted Dudhi Arjun, a resident of Gondpalli and produced him before a Jan Adalat, a self-styled Kangaroo court of the Maoists. Dudhi was beaten black and blue by the members of the proscribed outfit who later strangulated him to death on suspicion of espionage related activities. The deceased was a Shikshdoot (A contractual government employee tasked with teaching children of remote areas) under Jagargunda police station limits of Bijapur district.
• On September 9, Maoists abducted Madavi Suja and Podiyam Kosa from Jappemarka village under Mirtur police station limits of Bijapur. Both Kosa and Madavi were later paraded before a “Jan Adalat”, and hanged to death in full public view on alleged charges of espionage. The responsibility of the gruesome incident was claimed by Bhairamgarh Area Committee of the outlawed CPI (Maoist).
• On August 28, a civilian identified as Sudru Karam was picked up by Maoist cadres from Timnar area, under Mirtur police station limits of Bijapur. The ultras forcibly took him to the nearby forest and executed him by alleging him for being an informer. Sudru’s body was later recovered from the outskirt of the village.
• On August 25, Maoists produced another villager, Situ Mandavi, a resident of Bhairamgarh before a Jan Adalat and announced a capital punishment for him subsequently. Following the public hearing, Mandavi was reportedly kept as hostage after which his body was recovered from the outskirts of the village. A hand written note was also recovered near his body in which the Maoist had alleged Mandavi for being an informer of the police.
• An elderly villager was executed by the Maoist on charges of spying activities on August 24, the deceased was identified as Lancha Punem, a resident of Poosnar village under the Gangloor police station limits of Bijapur district.