Chhattisgarh: Maoists ‘execute’ their own senior member over rape of a village girl

Maoists in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh ‘executed’ one of their own senior members after a 'jan adalat' (people’s court) for allegedly trying to escape after raping a village girl.

The body of the Maoist, Manu Dugga, with his throat slit, was found near Kesokodi village under Koyalibeda police station of Kanker district of Bastar division on Wednesday.

Dugga, a member of platoon number 17 of the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) – the armed wing of the Communist Party of India (Maoists)– carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh, Kanker police said.

An official statement issued by Kanker police said Dugga, a resident of Bharanda in Narayanpur was killed by his associates, and his body, clad in ‘Maoist uniform’, was dumped near the village. Dugga was also a member of the Kiskodo area committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoists).

The police note said a leaflet found near the body of Dugga mentioned that he was killed due to “indecent behaviour with females of the organisation.” Further probe was on, police said.

However, the handwritten Maoist leaflet that THE WEEK accessed, mentions that Dugga was “caught while trying to escape after raping a village girl and given death sentence by organising a jan adalat (people’s court) as per the opinion of the people.”

The leaflet in Hindi, issued by the North Bastar Division Committee of the CPI (Maoist), said Manu Dugga, a resident of village Tumrinar in Bharanda of Narayanpur district had enrolled in the PLGA troop in 2006. However, his behaviour was indecent and anarchical right from the beginning and he attempted to harass women several times. Because of this, there was an atmosphere of insecurity among women and Dugga was admonished ‘politically’ several times as per the party’s policy, and also disciplinary action was taken. However, there was no change in his behaviour, the note said before mentioning the attempt to escape after rape and the “death sentence at jan adalat.”

Sources told THE WEEK that of late, Maoists have started taking serious note of atrocities/sexual harassment of women within and outside the cadre. They initiate strict action against the accused. They also intervene in sexual harassment/exploitation cases among civilians and make the accused marry the victim or face some form of penalty.

BJP leader killed in Bijapur

In another incident, a man, reported to be a BJP leader, was allegedly killed by the Maoists in Bijapur district of Bastar division. The deceased has been identified as Kaka Arjun and the incident occurred at Ilmidi village in Usur tehsil of Bijapur district.

Arjun was killed late on Tuesday night and the body was found on Wednesday on a road near the village. Sources said leaflets were left at the spot of the incident, and Madded Area Committee of the CPI (Maoist) took responsibility for the murder. The leaflet also reportedly warned political leaders against working with the BJP, sources added.

More details awaited.