The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed five civilians in two separate incidents in Chhattisgarh. In one incident, Maoists killed four civilians on suspicion of being ‘Police informers’, in Gangaloor region of Bijapur District in Chhattisgarh on September 4, reports The Times of India. According to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sunderaj Patilingam, “the deceased were identified as Punem Sannu, Gore Sannu and Aaytu, natives of Pusnar village and Bhusku from Metapal village. They called the villagers, who were supporting the construction work and killed four of them.” The incident took place in forests during a ‘jan adalat’ (People’s/Kangaroo court of Maoists) where the rebels branded the four villagers as ‘Police informers’ and sentenced them to death, the IGP said adding that there were 20 villagers called inside forest who were in support of development activities in the region. All of them were beaten up while 16 of them were released and four asked to wait. The villagers later spotted bodies of four persons killed with sharp-edged weapon and reported to Police.
Separately, Maoists killed a former Sarpanch (village level local self- government institution head) identified as Ghassuram Usendi in Pakhanjur area of Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on September 2, reports Hindustan Times. In a pamphlet found later, Maoists claimed responsibility for the killing.