Bijapur: A group of 4-5 Maoists have executed two civilians in violence-hit Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division, said police on July 21.
The deceased individuals have been identified as Kawasi Joga (55), a resident of Chutwahi village, and Mangalu Kursam (50), a resident of Bada Tarrem, who were hacked to death by Maoists.
The freighting developments have unfolded reportedly on the intervening night of July 20-21 under the jurisdiction of Tarrem police station, when members of the banned outfit forcibly picked up both the civilians and hacked them to death with sharp-edged weapons. The incidents are being verified and investigated further by the authorities.
Maoists on July 14 had brutally murdered two education volunteers (Shikshadoot) in separate incidents of targeted killing reported from Bijapur district itself.
Naxal cadres forcibly picked up Shikshadoots Vinod Made from Pailur village and Suresh Metta from Tekameta village under the jurisdiction of Farsegarh police station on July 14 night. Both the Shikshadoots were later executed on charges of alleged espionage activities.
It is to be noted that targeted killing of civilians by Maoists have continued in Bastar despite intensified anti-Maoist campaign of security forces.
Over two dozen unarmed civilians have been so far executed in separate incidents of targeted killings carried out by the Maoist group in Bastar since January alone, underscoring the gravity of situation in the areas dominated by the outlawed group.
Teenager injured in IED blast
In a related development, a 16-year-old villager was seriously injured in a pressure IED explosion planted by Maoists in Kondapadgu village of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, said police on July 20. The incident occurred while the teenager was grazing cattle in the forest.
According to police, the explosion occurred around 5:00 PM on Saturday, when the boy, identified as Krishna Gota, son of Fakir, a resident of Kondapadgu village, accidentally triggered the device.
He sustained severe injuries to his leg and face and was immediately rushed to the district hospital in Bijapur, where he is undergoing treatment.
The incident follows another IED explosion that occurred in forest area near Dhangol village under the jurisdiction of Maded police station on July 14, resulting in injuries to three civilians including a 16-year-old girl.
Condemning the incident, the officials described it as a “cowardly act,” stating, “Even innocent children are no longer safe from Maoist IEDs. In their attempt to spread fear and violence, Maoists have begun targeting children too.
“The police have urged residents to remain extremely vigilant in forested areas and to report any suspicious activity or objects to the nearest police station or security camp.”
“We urge residents to exercise utmost vigilance in jungle areas and immediately inform the nearest police station or security camp about anything unusual,” the police said in a statement.
Maoists gunned down in Abujhmad encounter were members of platoon no 1
Meanwhile police have disclosed that the Maoists gunned down in encounter in Abujhmad area of Narayanpur district on Friday were responsible for providing safe passage to top Maoist leaders.
Officials informed that those killed in the gunfight were cadres of the CPI (Maoist) platoon no 1 and were assigned with the task of ensuring safe passage to the Maoist’s top brass. They were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 48 lakhs, as announced by the government.
The operation launched on specific inputs resulted in a notable success for the security forces after they gunned down 6 Maoists including 4 female cadres in an exchange of fire in Natayanpur’s Abujhmad region.
The operation involved personnel of DRG from separate districts, who along with jawans of Special Task Force (STF) and Border Security Force (BSF) neutralised 6 hardcore Maoists in a gun battle that took place along Pariya-Kakur forest area on Friday afternoon.
The security team after the gunfight also recovered arms and ammunition in significant quantity. The recovery included automatic weapons like AK-47, SLR rifle and BGL launchers.
Over 220 Maoists, including several top leaders of the outlawed group were neutralised in separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh since January this year. The Union Government has vowed to eliminate Maoist terror from the country by March 2026. (With inputs from agencies)
