RAIPUR: A 35-year-old civilian was killed by the cadres of banned CPI (Maoist) in insurgency-hit Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, October 29. The fateful incident has occurred in Putkel village under Usur block marking the second such incident in Bijapur district within a fortnight.
The deceased has been identified as Dinesh Pujari, a resident of Putkel village who was hacked to death with a sharp-edged weapon on alleged charges of espionage on Tuesday night. The horrific murder of the youth has sent shockwaves into the area, leaving the residents in a state of panic.
A handwritten note was also recovered from the spot in which the responsibility for the gruesome murder has been claimed by the Pamed Area Committee. The incident has been confirmed by the officials and an investigation into the matter has been launched by the Basaguda police.
With the latest incident, the total number of civilians killed in targeted attacks carried out by Maoists in the violence-hit Bastar division of the state in the year 2024 alone has reached 53, underscoring the grim reality of areas marred by Red Terrorism.
Notably in a similar incident, the outlaws had also killed a local congress leader in Usur block of Bijapur district, on October 19. The deceased has been identified as Tirupati Bhandari, a former vice village head (upsarpanch). He was reportedly associated with the Congress party.
The incident took place when Bhandari had arrived at a shop in Usur where the Maoists attacked him with sharp edged weapon, leading to his death.
Five Maoists surrendered in Bijapur
Meanwhile in a related development, five Maoists including a female cadre carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on her head have surrendered before the police in Bijapur district, said police on Wednesday, October 30.
The surrender took place before the senior officials of the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Tuesday where all the five Maoist cadres joined the mainstream citing disgruntlement with the Maoist’s hollow ideology.
Those who shunned the path of the violence were impressed by the Niyad Nellanaar Scheme aimed at providing the benefits of several welfare schemes of the Union and the state government to the residents of Maoist-affected areas.
One of the Maoists who surrendered has been identified as Sushila alias Bujji, an active member of the Aheri Area Committee. She has been named in several attacks on the security forces and was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh.
It is noteworthy that the interior areas of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division has long been affected by Maoist insurgency.
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