BJP functionary among two ex-sarpanches killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur

The police have identified the BJP functionary as Suklu Farsa, the block-level head of BJP farmers’ wing Kisan Morcha in Bhairamgarh, and Sukram Avlam, the former sarpanch of Kaderh village.

According to police sources, Farsa, a former sarpanch of the Aadwada-Biriyabhumi village from 2004 and 2009, was abducted as he was visiting his village from his home in Bhairamgarh to attend a family event. His body was found on Thursday morning, with the insurgents allegedly leaving a note threatening to kill BJP workers unless they quit.

Sources claim Farsa’s years as sarpanch coincided with the founding of the Salwa Judum – now-outlawed state-sponsored militia mainly comprising tribal village youth. The militia, meant for counterinsurgency operation, was founded in 2005 but disbanded on the orders of the Supreme Court in 2011.

“While Farsa had moved to Bhairamgarh in 2006, he frequently visited his village but never received threats,” one police officer said.

The second murder allegedly occurred in Gangaloor area of Bijapur, where Avlam, who had reportedly lived in Shantinagar in Bijapur block, was visiting the village for some farm-related work. According to police sources, his body was left on a road outside the village.

In a note they left, the insurgents allegedly claimed that Avlam had given his consent for a police camp in the village.

So far, 65 civilians have died in Naxal violence this year — the highest since 2018, when 79 were killed.

The police officer attributed the latest murders to declining water levels in the nearby Indravati river. Significantly, Bijapur is one of the most Maoist affected districts of the state.

“As the river water level has gone down, Maoists from Abujhmad are crossing into Bhairamgarh. Otherwise, we had conducted several operations this year to push them back from Bijapur,” this official said.

Chhattisgarh local body polls are due to be held next month but have yet to be announced.