Raipur: In stepped up violence during their ongoing protest week in Chhattisgarh, Maoist guerrillas have killed a labourer, triggered a powerful blast on a highway and threatened to kill village heads since Friday morning, officials said.
The ultras are observing 'Jan Pituri week' that will end on June 12. During this period, they remember their leaders and cadres killed in fight with security forces, and usually avoid violence.
But this year they have not only indulged in violence but also vigorously opposed the presence of security forces in the Bastar region.
The rebels triggered a powerful blast on Friday on a key highway between Ramaram village and Borguda, six km from Sukma district headquarters. The explosion took place just a few hours ahead of the weekly market held at Ramaram, police said.
No loss of life or property was reported in the incident. However, traffic was disrupted for some time as a large crater was created by the powerful blast.
In a separate incident, the Maoists shot dead a labourer, Ramesh Markam of Masuri village, mistaking him for a police jawan while he was erecting the boundary of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Golaband post in Kondagaon district on Friday.
Meanwhile, in Konta area of Sukma district, the ultras pasted pamphlets on the house adjacent to the house of Maraiguda sarpanch Hapsa Masa threatening to kill the village heads of the area who were earlier leaders of 'Salwa Judum' - an armed vigilante group.
The Maoists also put up a banner on Narayanpur-Antagarh road, near Raoghat, demanding that the security forces be sent back to their barracks. They also wanted jobs for the unemployed.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, June 09, 2012, 16:34