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Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Chhattisgarh tribal family alleges school cook killed in encounter was not Maoist
Bijapur (Chhattisgarh): A tribal family in Chhattisgarh's Maoist-hit Bijapur district has alleged that their sole breadwinner, a mid-day meal cook at a local government school, was killed in a 'staged encounter' by security forces- a claim the state police have rejected. Mahesh Kudiyan had been working as a mid-day meal cook at a local government school since 2023, according to his family and the school's headmaster. (Sourced) On June 10, security forces said they had killed seven Maoists, including a wanted cadre named Sudhakar, during an operation inside the dense forests of Indravati National said that among the bodies later identified was that of Mahesh Kudiyam, a 35-year-old resident of a remote village under the Madded block. However, Mahesh's family alleged that he had no connection with Maoists and he was a cook at a local school. Mahesh's widow, Sumitra Kudiyam, said, 'My husband had gone to the forest to fetch our cattle. By evening, he hadn't returned. Later, we heard from villagers that he had been taken by security forces and the next day, he was declared a Maoist and shown dead in the encounter.' 'He was innocent. We are poor but law-abiding. My children (seven, four of whom are school-going) keep asking when their father will return. I don't know how I will raise them alone,' she said. Another villager, Irma Veladi, said, 'We saw security personnel take him from near the forest. He was unarmed, simply looking for his cattle. The next thing we heard was that he was killed as a Maoist. It is wrong.' Ramesh Uppal, the headmaster of the local government school and Mahesh's employer, confirmed his identity and role in the school. 'Mahesh joined us as a mid-day meal cook in 2023. He worked regularly and earned ₹ 1,200 per month. He was last present at the school in April this year,' said Uppal. However, the Bastar police in a statement on Sunday said that the killing took place during a series of anti-Maoist operations carried out in the National Park area of Bijapur district. The operations, the statement said, were based on intelligence inputs and resulted in the recovery of seven bodies after exchanges of fire with Maoists. Among the deceased were two top Maoist leaders — Gautam alias Sudhakar, a Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist), and Bhaskar Rao, a State Committee member of the same group. According to the press statement, one of the other deceased was identified as Mahesh Kodiyam, a resident of Irpagutta village under Farsegarh police station limits. The statement said that, based on inquest proceedings, Mahesh was a party member of the banned CPI (Maoist) and was associated with the outfit's operations in the National Park division. It further noted that Mahesh had worked as a cook assistant at the primary school in Irpagutta, appointed by the local school management committee, and had received wages until March 2025. The note stated that an investigation was underway to determine how he came into contact with top Maoist leaders like Sudhakar and Bhaskar Rao. IG Bastar Range Sunderraj P, quoted in the release, said: 'The security operation was based on credible intelligence inputs and local-level information. Weapons, Maoist literature, and other items were recovered from the encounter site. Regarding Mahesh Kodiyam, available intelligence indicates his links with the outlawed organisation. However, if any suspicious or contradictory circumstances come to light, we are committed to conducting a fair and impartial investigation.' The statement also reiterated a call to all individuals with direct or indirect links to the banned CPI (Maoist) to sever ties with the outfit, warning that continued association poses a threat not just to public safety but also to the lives of those involved.
Time of India
8 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.
Mint
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Seven Maoists, including two top leaders killed during first week of June in major operation in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
During the first fortnight of June 2025, Security forces launched a major operation against Maoist insurgents in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, leading to the deaths of seven Maoists, including two high-ranking leaders of the CPI (Maoist) after a series of fierce encounters in the National Park area, police said on Saturday. Gautam alias Sudhakar, a Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist), and Bhaskar Rao, a State Committee member of the CPI (Maoist) were two top Maoist leaders among those killed. The bodies of those were recovered following fire exchanges between security personnel and Maoist cadres, the official release said. Another recovered body has been identified as Mahesh Kodiyam, a resident of Irpagutta village under the jurisdiction of Farsegarh Police Station in Bijapur District. During the inquest proceedings, it was confirmed that Mahesh Kodiyam was an active member of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation, operating in the National Park Area division, and had established links with the proscribed group, the statement mentioned. It came to be known that Mahesh Kodiyam used to work as cook assistant at the primary school in Irpagutta village. The village school management committee had designated him, and he was being paid remuneration for this role until March 2025, it said. According to the release, authorities are currently investigating the circumstances under which Mahesh Kodiyam came into contact with senior Maoist leaders, including Central Committee member Gautam and State Committee member Bhaskar. A comprehensive, unbiased, and professional inquiry is underway, covering all facets of the case. The police have once again appealed to all individuals who are directly or indirectly linked to the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation to immediately cut all ties. They emphasised that continued involvement with this extremist group endangers public safety, disrupts regional peace, and jeopardizes the lives and futures of those associated with it.
