Maoists kill sarpanch, deputy in Bijapur

RAIPUR: Maoists killed a panchayat sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, leaving a ward corporator grievously injured at a ‘jan adalat’ convened by rebels on intervening night of Wednesday at Maoist hotbed Bijapur district in tribal Bastar region.
Bijapur police told TOI that Maoists suspected that Gudsakal village sarpanch Sukhdev Negi and deputy sarpanch Asaram Modiyami were working against them as police informers.
Moreover, they also contested and won recent panchayat elections despite facing resistance and threats to boycott elections, which triggered violence. The incident took place near Bhairamgarh when about 150 Maoists walked in the village and convened 'jan adalat' and called all villagers including the sarpanch, deputy sarpanch and Chihaka village ward corporator Kirsuram.
Accusing them of acting as police informers, Maoists thrashed them in front of villagers and hit them with sharp weapon which caused death of sarpanch and deputy while Kirsuram was severely injured and was admitted at Jagdalpur hospital.
Maoists then fled into the forests. Police was informed later and their bodies were recovered.