
Maoists kill deputy sarpanch in Chhattisgarh's Sukma
Maoists have killed a deputy sarpanch of a village panchayat in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
The incident occurred at Benpalli village under the Jagargunda police station limits around 3 pm on Monday, an official said.
22 Maoists killed in twin Bastar encounters in Chhattisgarh
As per preliminary information, a group ofMaoists asked the victim, Muchaki Rama, the deputy sarpanch of Tarlaguda village panchayat, to step out of his house and took him with them, he said.
The official said the victim was later found murdered, and the police were alerted, following which the body was sent for post-mortem.
With this incident, Maoists have killed nine people at separate places in the Bastar division, comprising seven districts, including Sukma, this year.
According to police, 68 civilians were killed last year in separate incidents of Maoist violence in the Bastar region.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Rice, food vanish from homes along Sabarimala forest fringe
PATHANAMTHITTA: Imagine returning home after a long day out to find there has been a break-in. However, instead of money, jewellery, or appliances, the thieves have decamped with your rice and other food items! This 'grocery heist' has been unsettling villages of Seethathode panchayat in Pathanamthitta, bordering the forests of Sabarimala and the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The mysterious thefts of cooked food and edible items have been a regular affair in Angamoozhi, Valooppara, Kochu Koikkal and Gurunathan Mannu during the monsoon season for the last two years, says panchayat president P R Pramod. This year, a little over a week after the monsoon onset on May 24, one theft has been reported. Many residents suspected the hand of Maoists due to the area's proximity to the jungle and the fact that food items were being stolen. However, both the police and the forest departments have denied this. 'There are no reports of Maoists in the area. In places where they are active, they usually make their presence known to local people. Maoists stealing food items is unheard of,' said Goodrickal range officer Ashok A S. Speculation of armed hunter gangs venturing out into the vast forest lands spanning three districts has also been repudiated.


New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Collector, SP visit LWE-hit village in Malkangiri
MALKANGIRI: Malkangiri collector Ashish Iswar Patil and SP Vinod Patil visited the Left Wing Extremism-affected Tulsi village under Mathili block bordering Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. The duo along with Mathili BDO Pramod Behera and other officials inspected the progress of the ongoing road construction from Temurupally gram panchayat to Tulsi village. The collector instructed the Rural Division-I officials and the executing agency to ensure that the under-construction culvert on the road is completed before the monsoon so that the Border Security Force (BSF) deployed in the area doesn't face communication disruptions during the rainy season. Both the collector and SP engaged with the villagers on various local issues and assured them of continued government support. Ashish directed the Mathili block administration to ensure that benefits of all government schemes reach the village. Tulsi village is a strategically important location due to its proximity to Chhattisgarh. The presence of BSF there aims to prevent the possible influx of Maoists from the neighbouring state.


New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Greener side of Bastar as forest cover increases
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, in recent years, has been making headlines for Maoist-related campaigns involving security forces. At the same time, the extensive area has also witnessed the Chhattisgarh forest department's diligent engagement in achieving a remarkable feat of improving the forest cover density, reinforcing the region's reputation as a thriving green landscape. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR), published by the Forest Survey of India in Dehradun, reflects the results of these consistent efforts, including the utilisation of a satellite-based sensor with a spatial resolution of 23.5 metres. The report highlighted a significant enhancement in forest cover across multiple regions of the Bastar zone—an area larger than the state of Kerala and boasting several tourist attractions and sightseeing spots. With the acknowledged commitment to sustainable forest management and associated conservation initiatives in recent years, the forest department has undertaken various measures to enhance forest cover, thereby strengthening the green footprint. The progress in forest cover density is attributed to multiple factors, including continuous monitoring by the forest department, an effective soil and water conservation programme, removal of invasive weed species and community-led afforestation initiatives, as well as the deep-rooted environmental ethos of Bastar's tribal communities. 'The inspired vision of the Chhattisgarh government gave a boost to the state forest department's proactive and scientific approach that yielded impressive conservation results. The ISFR 2023 data reaffirms the state's commitment to sustainable forest where strategic interventions and active community participation has yielded a major boost on augmenting the forest cover', V Sreenivasa Rao, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, told this newspaper. Several areas in Bastar have shown an upward transition in forest classification. Notable improvements are seen in Jagdalpur Circle — covering forest divisions of Bastar, Bijapur, Sukma and Dantewada and Kanker Circle that includes Keshkal, Bhanupratapur, south Kondagaon and Narayanpur forest divisions', a senior officer elucidated quoting the ISFR report. The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis confirmed that approximately 152 sq km of forest area have transitioned from Moderate Dense Forest to Very Dense Forest. Additionally, 93 sq km of land have improved from non-forest to open forest, while 156 sq km have progressed from open forest to moderate dense forest.