Brave cop led into Maoist trap by friend

Interrogation of arrested Naxal leader Kosa reveals the plot

On February 28, police sub-inspector (PSI) Vivek Shukla, posted at the Kuwakonda station of Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, and four constables were killed by Maoists near the Shymagiri hill area of the district.

After the incident, many questions were raised over the decision of the young PSI to travel with only 11 policemen when there was sufficient deployment of district police jawans and the Central Reserve Police Force at the Kuwakonda station.

But recently arrested Maoist leader Kosa has said that Shukla was led into the Maoist trap by the son of a road contractor from Nakulanar whom the officer considered his friend.

Kosa has revealed that the contractor’s son told the PSI that the Maoists set ablaze some vehicles near Shymagiri and asked him to come for help.

Shukla, who had reached his station only a few minutes before he received the call, left for the spot with 11 other policemen on six bikes.

“Shukla was a brave and energetic officer. The place where the incident took place comes under the jurisdiction of the Bacheli police station but he decided to go to the spot only out of the concern for his friend who instead back-stabbed him,” said an officer who interrogated Kosa.

The father of a six-months-old baby, Shukla was known for his commendable work in the area.

“The PSI provided all possible help for road construction under his area. He would personally go for guard duty. His fellow officers’ morale was boosted by his presence,” said another police officer.

“The Maoists basically wanted to loot the weapons of the policemen and Shukla fell into the trap,” said Bastar Inspector-General of Police S.R. Kalluri.