Chatra: The death of the woman, branded as a ‘police informer’ and killed by Maoists, in Chatra’s Pathalgadda village, has brought back memories of early 90s when such killings by the rebel forces were common in order to instil fear among villagers.
An elderly person, unwilling to be named, said, “In 1991, a villager called Binay Dangi was killed by Maosits on the third day of Navratri when a group of rebels entered the village to loot rifles from the villagers. Later, many youths were shot dead by the Maoists to instil fear among the villagers. Those were dark days.”
On Sunday night, 40-year-old Nageshwari Devi was dragged out of her home and shot at by the Maoists. She succumbed to her injuries on Monday at Hazaribag Medical College and Hospital. Although police have intensified combing operations and are camping at the village as a confidence building measure, villagers are afraid of a backlash.
“Things look like before in this village when bloodbath and such incidents were common,” said another villager requesting anonymity.
On the part of the administration, police have set up a picket and a joint team with CRPF is carrying out raids in the forest. Chatra SP Rishav Kumar Jha said he is personally monitoring the operations since Monday.
According to a police source, involvement of the squad of Maoist sub-zonal commander Karu Yadav alias Deepak Yadav is suspected behind the murder of Nageshwari. “Police were getting information about Deepak’s activities in areas of Hazaribagh and Chatra. With other rival outfits like Tritiya Prastuti Committee and Jharkhand Prastuti Committee losing their grounds due to police action, Maoists are trying to make their presence felt, but we are on alert,” said a police personnel.
Sub-divisional police officer Vachandev Kujur said, “We will foil all Maoist plans through sustained operations that are underway. The woman who was killed wasn’t our informer and was an innocent civilian.”