Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
In a tragic incident highlighting the ongoing Maoist violence in Sukma district, Maoists executed a brutal killing of a local teacher, Doodhi Arjun, during a Jan Adalat (People’s Court) held on September 14 in the Jagargunda area.
The Maoists, angered by the ongoing losses inflicted by security forces, targeted Arjun, accusing him of supporting the government’s initiatives to reopen schools in the Maoist-dominated region.
According to Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, Arjun, a resident of Gondpalli village, was severely beaten with sticks before being strangled with a rope in front of a large gathering.
The teacher had played a significant role in reviving educational institutions that had long been shut due to the threat of Maoist violence.
His efforts to restore normalcy in education had made him a target of the insurgents, who saw his actions as a challenge to their influence in the region.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, as the Maoists further threatened to harm Arjun’s family, forcing them to cremate the body immediately, out of fear for their safety.
The Jan Adalat, a tactic often used by the Maoists to deliver their brand of “justice”, has become a means for intimidating locals into submission, especially those seen as aiding government-led efforts.
SP Kiran Chavan confirmed that a case has been registered, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. This act of violence is being seen as a response to the mounting pressure on Maoist groups, with security forces ramping up anti-Maoist operations across Sukma.
Recent successes in these operations have led to significant losses for the Maoists, leading to heightened desperation and retaliatory attacks on civilians.
This is not the first time the Maoists have used Jan Adalats to exert control over the local population. In recent months, similar incidents have been reported, where civilians have been targeted for opposing the Maoist agenda or collaborating with the authorities.
With increasing police presence and new security camps being set up in remote areas of Sukma, the Maoists have found themselves pushed into a corner, resorting to violence against unarmed civilians as they struggle to maintain control over their territories.
The situation remains tense, and local residents are urged to exercise caution as security forces intensify their operations against the Maoists.
This brutal act has sparked widespread condemnation, and efforts to bring the culprits to justice continue.
