Maoists killed three of their own, including a militia commander and a woman member, at a jan adalat (people's court) in Pusnar-Idinar area in Bijapur district of Bastar, Chhattisgarh Police claimed.
Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) Sundarraj P. said the killings were the result of a 'gang war' within the western Bastar division of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
There had been reports of the Maoists executing three tribal persons at a jan adalat under Gangloor police station area on Thursday night. The Maoists had reportedly told the gathering that the three were police informers, before killing them with shape edged weapons.
However, in an official statement, IG Bastar said according to available information, “prima facie it appears that on January 6, Maoists have killed two of their own cadre, Kamlu Punem (militia platoon commander) along with militia member Mangi. Both Kamlu and Mangi left the naxal camp in order to get married.”
The statement also said Kamlu Punem has 11 cases pending against him and Mangi is wanted in three cases by the Chhattisgarh police. Both were involved in various Maoist activities under the Gangaloor Area Committee.
The IG said as of now, details of the third person killed was not available and the Bijapur police was trying to gather more information.
Sundarraj said due to a series of setbacks in the last couple of years, the Maoist camp has become highly frustrated and totally directionless. “They have started killing their own cadres on mere suspicion and intolerance. Particularly in west Bastar division this kind of incidents are on rise. In September 2020, senior Maoist cadre Vijja was also killed by his own cadres.”
“All these developments indicate that the CPI Maoist formations are on a self-destructive mode. Police are keeping a close watch over the situation,” the IG said.