Dantewada: Maoists have executed another civilian in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division. The incident has unfolded in Aranpur Panchayat of Dantewada district, marking second such killing in Aranpur and overall fourth incident of targeted killing of civilian in Maoist-hit Bastar in a weeks’ time.
According to the preliminary information, members of banned group barged into the house of Joga Barse on late Thursday night, February 6 and hacked him to death in front of the family members subsequently.
Barse was reportedly contesting Panchayat elections which is being speculated as the prime reason behind his brutal murder. Barse’s wife was also reported to be the former ‘Sarpanch’ of Aranpur Panchayat.
The extremists attacked Barse with axes and other sharp edged weapon, hacking him to death amidst continuous plea by the family members. Media report suggests that Joga was a former member of CPI who was on radar of Maoists for quite some time. He was reportedly associated with the Congress party.
His cold-blooded murder has once again left the residents of the locality in a state of panic as this was second such killing in Aranpur panchayat, unfolding within a week.
Recent incident of targeted killing of civilians in violence-ridden Bastar division
- Maoists murdered a villager in Dantewada’s Aranpur area on the intervening night of February 4-5. The terrifying incident took place in Kakadi village under Maoist affected Aranpur police station limits, sending shockwaves across the locality.
- Two villagers identified as Raju Karrem, a resident of Talabpara and Madavi Munna a resident of Nayapara.were murdered by members of the outlawed group in separate attacks in violence-hit Bijapur district. The horrifying incident unfolded in Budgicheru village under Tarrem police limits of Bijapur on February 3, leaving the residents terrified.
- Armed cadres of the banned group barged into the house of a 41-year-old villager in Keshmundi village on night of January 26. The ultras dragged Bhadru Sodhi out of his house and subsequently hacked him to death with sharp edged weapons, alleging him for espionage activities.
- Maoists executed a 48-years-old villager in Hallur village under the Miratur police station limits of Bijapur on January 16. The slain individual was identified as Sukku Hapka, who was reportedly abducted from his house and paraded before a Jan Adalat, a self-styled court run by the extremist. Hapka was later strangled to death on charges of espionage. Bhairamgarh Area Committee claimed responsibility of Hapka murder.
- Maoists abducted 40-year-old Sukura Yellam from Loded village on night of December 7. She was subsequently taken to a jungle around three kilometers from their home and presented before a ‘Jan Adalat. Yellam was beaten black and blue before the extremists slit her throat in presence of hundreds of villagers. Her mutilated body was discovered on the outskirts of the village on the next morning. A note left by the Maoists alleged Yellam of providing intelligence to police.
- Armed men stormed Timapur village and barged into the home of 45-year-old Laxmi Padam, an Anganwadi worker. The extremists alleged Laxhmi for being a police informer before strangulating her to death in presence of their family members. The responsibility of Lakshmi’s murder was claimed by Madded Area Committee.
- Two former sarpanchs (village heads) identified as Sukh Ram and Suklu Farsa were killed in separate attacks in Bhairamgarh and Named area on December 4. Both Sukh Ram and Farsa were abducted by the extremists, after which their mutilated bodies were found on December 5.
