Raipur: In a deeply concerning event, two villagers from Nelakanker village in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district have been allegedly killed by Maoists. The incident, which occurred late Friday night, involved sharp-edged weapons, according to police statements released on Saturday.
The victims have been identified as Ravi Kattam, aged 25, and Tirupati Sodhi, aged 38, both residents of Nelakanker village. Police reports indicate that a group of armed Maoists entered the village under the cover of darkness and carried out the brutal attack, resulting in immediate fatalities for both men.
While the exact motive behind the killings is still under investigation, initial intelligence suggests that the deceased may have been targeted due to suspicions of being informers for the police. This has been a recurring reason for violence in the region.
A police team from the Usur police station has been dispatched to the area to conduct a thorough verification of the incident and gather more details. “The information about the killings was received late at night. The matter is being verified, and a team has been sent to the spot to ascertain details,” an officer stated.
This tragic incident brings the total number of civilian deaths attributed to Maoist-related violence in the Bastar region this year to 41, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the area. The event occurs amidst heightened anti-Maoist operations, with security forces intensifying patrols and surveillance across the conflict-affected Bastar region.