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This is an archive article published on October 20, 2024

Maoists kill Congress worker on police informer suspicion

The deceased 35-year-old Tirupati Bhandari was distributing rice in Usoor village among residents of Marudbaka as part of the Public Distribution System (PDS) scheme

Congress worker killed, police informer suspicion, Chattisgarh police, Maoists killing, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh news, Indian express newsetween 2023 and until March 2024, nine BJP leaders were killed by Maoists in separate incidents in Bastar region, including four in Bijapur district. (File Photo)

A Congress worker was hacked to death allegedly by Maoists Saturday in south Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on suspicion that he was a police informer, the police said.

The deceased 35-year-old Tirupati Bhandari was distributing rice in Usoor village among residents of Marudbaka as part of the Public Distribution System (PDS) scheme when a group of five to six Maoists arrived at the spot, barely a kilometre from Usoor police station, and took rice from him, police said, adding that when it was over, Bhandari was killed.

Bhandari had been politically inactive for a few years. “They suspected Bhandari to be a police informer as his brothers are in the forces,” said a police officer. One of them serves in the state police and another in a CRPF battalion. Police said that the Maoists were from Marudbaka village.

In 2019, Bhandari and his family had relocated from Marudbaka village, of which he was the sarpanch, to Awapalli, about 20 km away, after Maoists threatened him and his family members with dire consequences on suspicion that he was a police informer.

Between 2023 and until March 2024, nine BJP leaders were killed by Maoists in separate incidents in Bastar region, including four in Bijapur district.

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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