A former Sarpanch (head of the Panchayat, village level local self-Government institution) was killed by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on August 27, reports India TV. Dadu Singh Parotiya (50) was attacked by the Maoists outside his house at Konde village under Durgkondal Police Station limits, 200 kilometres away from Raipur, Kanker, Superintendent of Police (SP), K L Dhruv said. As per the preliminary probe, Maoists asked him to come out of the house and shot him in the leg. Then they hacked him to death, the SP said. In the pamphlet left by the North Bastar Divisional Committee (CPI-Maoist), Parotiya has been cited as an active Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ‘pracharak’ (activist) and an antagonist to the interests of Dalits and tribals. “He was killed owing to his involvement in anti-tribal activities and we warn the senior leaders and workers of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the RSS to desist from such activities”, the seized pamphlet further stated.
Meanwhile, Security Forces (SFs) and cadres of the CPI-Maoist, exchanged fire at two locations in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on August 25, reports News 18. The encounters took place in Narayanpur and Dantewada Districts of the State in the morning hours on the first day of the ‘martyrs’ week’ being observed by the Maoists, and no casualty was reported from either side, Police said. "In Narayanpur district, the gun-battle took place at around 11:30 am in the forest near Batumpara village under Orchha police station area when a joint team of security forces was out on a search operation," Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Sundarraj P said. He said a joint operation was launched on intelligence input that Maoists were planning to carry out a major attack on SFs near Raynar-Batumpara area during the ongoing ‘martyrs’ week’. Maoists had laid an ambush with multiple Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) near Batumpara, around 350 kilometres away from Raipur, he said. "However, security forces spotted the Naxal presence and tried to encircle them. Meanwhile, the Naxals triggered two IED blasts and opened indiscriminate firing," the DIG said, adding that the Maoists fled after around 40 minutes of heavy firing taking advantage of rains. However, nobody was injured in the exchange of fire from either side, he added.
In the other incident, the encounter took place at around 8 am in the forest near Marjum village under Katekalyan Police Station area of Dantewada District, the DIGP said. He said the blood stains found at the spot indicated that some Maoists might have sustained injuries in the encounter. Maoist-related materials, including items of daily use, were recovered from the encounter spot, he added.
Separately, fourteen lower-rung cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including a woman, surrendered at Phulbagdi Police Station in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on August 25, reports The New Indian Express. A senior official said, "This surrender is crucial as it took place on the first day of the 'martyrs' week' being observed by the ultras from July 28 to August 3." Most of the surrendered cadres were active as members of 'jan militia' (people's army) squad of Maoists, he said, adding that "In their statements, they said that they were disappointed with the Maoist hollow ideology and hardships of the jungle." The surrendered cadres were allegedly involved in offences like torching vehicles deployed in road construction, loot and others, the official added. The identities of the surrendered Maoists are yet to be established.