Journalism of Courage
Over a hundred Maoists attacked a Bihar lawmaker’s ancestral village in Aurangabad Saturday, shooting his uncle dead and torching about a dozen vehicles after accusing the BJP MLC of “not returning Rs 5 crore taken during demonetisation for exchange”, and “not paying Rs 2 crore levy”.
Rajan Singh, the lawmaker, was not present during the attack.
The incident at Sudi Bigha village -around 2 km from Deb police station and a CRPF camp – took place at 9.30 pm, when the Maoists started torching vehicles and knocked at several houses at the village. Rajan Singh’s uncle Narendra responded to a knock at his door, and was shot dead.
The Maoists planted IEDs at Rajan Singh’s house and at an under-construction community hall. They also left pamphlets, which said, “Rajan Singh ko notebandi ke samay Maowadi dwara badalne hetu diya gaya Rs 5 crore tatha levy ka bakaya Rs 2 crore party ko wapas karo (Return the Rs 5 crore given to Rajan Singh by the Maoists during noteban for exchange, as well as the levy of Rs 2 crore).
While the bomb at the community hall exploded, those planted at the legislator’s house did not go off and was later removed by a bomb squad team.
Inspector General of Police (operations) Kundan Krishnan said: “The way the Maoists planted IED bombs at Rajan Singh’s house suggested his family and house were the target… ”
Rajan Singh dismissed the allegations against him. “…Maoists can make any irresponsible statement….”
