Latest news with #Kudiyam
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Man killed in anti-Naxal operation is not Maoist, was a govt. school cook, says family
The family members of a 38-year-old man killed in an anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur earlier this month have claimed that he was not a Maoist. The family and other residents in Irpagutta village say Mahesh Kudiyam used to work as a cook in a government school for more than a year. The police had declared that Kudiyam was a Naxalite with ₹1 lakh bounty. Kudiyam was among the seven alleged Maoists killed by the security forces in Indravati National Park area in Bijapur in an operation in which CPI (Maoist) central committee member (CCM) Sudhakar alias Gautam and Telangana State committee (TSC) member Bhaskar were among the killed. The operation lasted for several days and multiple encounters were reported on June 5, 6 and 7. On June 10, the police issued a press release stating that one of the slain men was identified as Mahesh Kudiyam. They had described him as a party member from the National Park area committee of Maoists who had a reward of ₹1 lakh on his arrest. However, speaking with a Bastar-based YouTube channel, Bastar Talkies, Kudiyam's wife and brothers said the man was not a Maoist. Irma Vela, a local resident, told the channel that Kudiyam was just a cook and a peon in the village government school. According to one of Kudiyam's brothers, the man had gone to graze his cattle on the day of the encounter. The family also shared images of a bank passbook showing purported transactions documenting Kudiyam receiving his remuneration from the government. Kudiyam's wife Sumitra expressed concerns about raising the couple's seven children on her own, with her husband, the sole breadwinner of the family, now dead. Police's response While the police acknowledged that Kudiyam had worked as a government school cook, they maintained that he was a Maoist. An official statement released by Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, reads, 'During inquest proceedings, it was confirmed that Mahesh Kodiyam was a party member of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation operating in the National Park Area division, and he had clear links with the proscribed group. It has also come to light that Mahesh Kodiyam was working as a cook assistant at the primary school in Irpagutta village. His appointment had been made by the village school management committee, and he was being paid remuneration for this role until March 2025.' It further stated, 'The circumstances under which Mahesh Kodiyam came into contact with senior Maoist leaders such as Central Committee member Gautam and State Committee member Bhaskar are currently under investigation. A thorough, impartial, and professional inquiry is being conducted into all aspects of the case. Police once again urges all individuals directly or indirectly associated with the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation to immediately sever all such ties. Continued association with this extremist outfit poses a serious threat not only to public safety and regional peace but also to the lives and future of those involved.' On Kudiyam's recruitment as a government cook despite his alleged association with a banned outfit, Bastar Collector Sambit Mishra told The Hindu that such appointments are made on ad-hoc basis and the process is decentralized. 'It is the school management committees which hire them and no police verification is done. We have asked the block education officer for a report in this case,' he said.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Maoist killed in Bijapur encounter was a mid-day meal cook in Chhattisgarh govt school, say Basta police
RAIPUR: One of the seven Maoists killed during an anti-Naxal operation earlier this month in Bijapur district of Bastar division worked as a cook in a govt school, police revealed on Saturday. Seven Maoists were killed in multiple encounters by a joint team of security personnel during an anti-Naxal operation in Indravati National Park area of Bijapur between June 4 and June 7. While one of them was identified as Mahesh Kudiyam, who served as an active party member of the national park area committee of Maoists, it was later known that he was working as an assistant cook at a primary school in Irpagutta village too. The matter came to light on Saturday when few villagers from Irpagutta claimed before a scribe that Kudiyam was not associated with the Maoist organisation, rather worked as a cook in a village school for preparing mid-day meal. It was found that Kudiyam also got remuneration in his bank account and was appointed by the village school management committee. He was paid the salary till Marc 2025 and is survived by his wife and seven children. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo Police had to then issue a statement saying that Kudiyam was a CPI (Maoists) party member and had clear links with the group. 'The circumstances under which Mahesh Kudiyam came in contact with senior Maoist leaders including Central Committee member Gautam and State Committee member Bhaskar, are currently under investigation. A thorough, impartial, and professional inquiry is being conducted into all aspects of the case,' a statement issued by Bastar police said. During the first fortnight of June 2025, a series of intensive anti-Naxal operations were conducted by security forces in National Park Area of Bijapur district. Following exchanges of fire between security personnel and Maoists, the bodies of seven cadres were recovered. Among the deceased were two senior Maoist commanders Narasimha Chalam alias Sudhakar - a Central Committee member of CPI (Maoist) carrying cash reward of Rs 40 lakh and Bhaskar Rao, a State Committee member who carried Rs 20 lakh reward. One of the other recovered bodies was identified as Mahesh Kudiyam who worked as a cook and continued his association with Maoists. He carried Rs 1 lakh cash reward. Police have once again urged all individuals directly or indirectly associated with the banned organisation to immediately sever all such ties. 'Continued association with this extremist outfit poses a serious threat not only to public safety and regional peace but also to the lives and future of those involved,' police said.
