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Bijapur villager helps CRPF find explosives from Maoist area, later ‘dies by suicide’ out of fear rebels may target family

The 48-year-old tribal man was found dead near Vatevagu CRPF camp, around 50 km from Bijapur headquarters

2 min readRaipurDec 8, 2025 07:20 AM IST

Bijapur villager helps CRPF find explosives from Maoist area, later ‘dies by suicide’ out of fear rebels may target family

The district, spread across 6,500 sq km, is one of the largest districts in the country and is also the most Maoist-affected one.

A 48-year-old tribal man, who helped the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) find hidden explosives in a Maoist-affected area in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, later died by suicide, purportedly out of fear that his family may be harmed by Maoists, officials said. An inquiry has been initiated into the incident.

On Saturday, a CRPF team on a search operation reached Rekhapalli, a village that is inaccessible by road, around 10 kilometres away from the Vatevagu CRPF camp — 50 km from the Bijapur headquarters.

From the village, the security personnel took a few villagers with them on the search operation, including 48-year-old Madvi Bhima, officials said. According to them, the security forces found medicines and materials used to make IEDs from a location around 4 km from the village with the help of information provided by Bhima.

Bhima later had dinner with the forces at the camp and then left for a walk, officials said, adding that sometime later, he was found hanging from a tree. Security personnel immediately pulled him down and tried to resuscitate him, but he could not be saved, they said.

Bijapur police said the village is still a hotbed of the Maoist party and that it falls under the rebels’ Pamed Area Committee of South Bastar division, which has, over the years, seen several murders of villagers by Maoists for allegedly being police informers.

“We suspect Bhima was scared that he or his family would be harmed by Maoists. An inquiry is being conducted,” said a police official.

The district, spread across 6,500 sq km, is one of the largest districts in the country and is also the most Maoist-affected one. Out of the 463 Maoists killed since 2024 in the Bastar region, which comprises seven districts, 219 (47%) were killed just in Bijapur. The district also has the highest number of militia cadres, with 1,049 Maoists being arrested and another 790 Maoists surrendering since 2024.

Jayprakash S Naidu

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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