Bastar: ‘Maoist plot’ to kill cop revealed

Documents purportedly seized in a Naxal camp at Dabbakunna in Chhattisgarh’s conflict zone of Bastar during counterinsurgency operations on Wednesday has uncovered the reported plot by Maoists to assassinate local inspector general of police S.R.P Kalluri.

The letter, dated March 8, 2016, written by “Maoist commander Vergese” to another “Naxal leader Jagdish” dropped hints on the plan by rebels to hire contract killers to eliminate Bastar range inspector general of police S.R.P.Kalluri to ensure retaining of their fast eroding base in the region.

Mr Kalluri, who has also been targeted by civil rights activists for alleged excesses on tribals during anti-Naxal operations in Bastar, on Thursday confirmed seizure of the letter in the Dabbakuna Naxal camp.

The police officer said he was no stranger to such threats ever since he was posted in Naxal-infested regions of Bastar and Sarguja in Chhattisgarh in 2004.

“This is a professional hazard. We are not scared of such threats”, he added.

Meanwhile, death of a tribal under-trial Arjun, what security forces have claimed as encounter, in Chandometa in Bastar district a couple of days ago, has landed Bastar police in a controversy with civil rights activists dubbing it a “cold blooded murder of an innocent adivasi youth in a fake encounter”.

Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group (LagLAG), which is fighting cases of under-trials accused of involvement in Naxal activities in Chhattisgarh, said the deceased, was undergoing trial before a juvenile justice board after his arrest in May last year and had been out on bail since December.

“Had been a dreaded Maoist, why he would keep attending hearing every month”, the outfit questioned.

Bastar police however claimed that the slain tribal was the Jan Militia commander of Chandometa area and member of local operational squad (LOS) of Machhkot.