Nagpur: On a day chief minister Eknath Shinde touched down in the Maoist hotbed of Dandakaranya forests to bolster confidence of commandos in the high-risk zone, the guerrillas ambushed a former police informer, 150km away, and stoned him to death, leaving a pamphlet on his battered body with a grim message to villagers to fall in line.
The body was found early Thursday on the outskirts of Pengunda village in the highly sensitive Bhamragarh tehsil of Gadchiroli, once an impenetrable Maoist turf.Though the killing of Dinesh Gawde, 27, dubbed a police spy, was viewed as a retaliatory move by Maoists to the chief ministers challenge to the ultras on Wednesday from a remote police station on the Red Corridor transit point, police claimed the murder was a fallout of political rivalry and not a response to the CMs visit.Gawde, a resident of Bhamragarh taluka, owned a tractor fleet and had unsuccessfully contested panchayat elections last year.
The surge in political activity in defiance of Maoist boycott call can be gauged from the mammoth 65% turnout in the recent grassroots polls in Gadchiroli district.Gawde was heading to Nelgonda on his bike late Wednesday when he was intercepted by Maoists of Bhamragarh area committee.
His face was battered with boulders after he fell to a hail of stones.
The Maoist pamphlet on his body termed him a special police officer associated with a cop, Bijju Kumre.
Police sources said, the area committees divisional committee member Raju Veladi had masterminded the killing.This is the second civilian murder by Maoists this year after Sainath Narotes killing triggered a wave of dissent in the tribal belt.
The C-60 commandos had subsequently neutralized Narotes assailant Bitlu Madavi.
We also published the following articles recentlyIndustries to education, Maha pushes for 3600 devpt shift in Maoist hub GadchiroliThe Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, visited Gadchiroli as part of the government's strategy to combat Maoists through economic and social development rather than relying solely on security forces.
The district has seen an increase in police stations and mining industries over the past decade.
The government aims to bring major investments to Gadchiroli and eradicate Naxal violence.
The presence of top leaders indicates a change in the region, with regular updates and implementation of schemes.
The focus is on economic development, particularly in the mining sector, and improving education for tribal children.Day after Shinde visit to Red zone, Maoists kill ex-informerA former police informer was stoned to death by Maoists in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli.
The body of the victim, Dinesh Gawde, was found with a pamphlet on his body warning tribal villagers about the consequences of defiance.
Police initially speculated that the killing was in response to the Chief Minister's declaration of crushing the rebels, but later stated that it was a result of "rivalry".
Gawde had worked as an informer in the past but had no recent links to the police.Thunderbolt squad - Maoists exchange fire in Kannur forestA gunfight occurred between Thunderbolt commandos of Kerala Police and Maoists in the Njettithode forests near Uruppumkutty in Ayyankunnu panchayat in Kannur.
Eight Maoists fired at the police team during a combing operation, but no injured Maoists were found.
The police registered a case against the Maoists and hospitals and clinics in Kannur were put on alert.
The Thunderbolt commandos are continuing combing operations in the area.
In a separate incident, the police custody of two arrested Maoists was extended for nine more days as they are believed to have information about potential attacks.