11 hours ago
Relatives of surrendered Maoist leader among three killed in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
Three residents of a village — two related to a senior Naxal cadre who surrendered this year and another related to a security personnel — were killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Tuesday evening, police said.
Around 4 pm, a group of Maoists went to Nayapara in Pedakorma village, about 15 km away from Bijapur police headquarters and four kilometers away from a security camp, where they allegedly also assaulted several other villagers.
Two of the victims were related to a senior Naxal cadre, Dinesh Mudiyam, 36, a former Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) Member from Gangaloor area who surrendered in March this year along with his wife. The third victim is related to an officer from the state police force.
Police claimed that the leader of the accused in the case was once a subordinate of Mudiyam.
Mudiyam, who is from Nayapara, has 26 murder cases against him and was also allegedly involved in attacks where seven security personnel were killed and three were injured. Police sources said the cases against Mudiyam 'could be withdrawn, depending on his cooperation and behaviour'.
This year, at least 18 civilians whom Maoists alleged were police informers have been killed. Last year, 71 civilians were killed by Maoists, with 20-odd deaths caused by IED blasts.
The number of Maoists killed this year so far in Chhattisgarh is 211, including 194 in Bastar region. Last year, 219 Maoists were killed in Chhattisgarh, including 217 in the Bastar region.
Maoists have also killed 18 security personnel, including an Additional Superintendent of Police from Sukma district, Akash Rao Girepunje.
Police say many Maoists from Gangaloor have surrendered in the last two years. The area has been a major recruitment ground for Maoists, with several of these allegedly being killed not only in Bastar but also neighbouring states such as Odisha, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
