The outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) has apologised for killing Shivkumar Sidar, constable with the Chhattisgarh Armed Force, in Sukma district of Bastar last week.
On October 18, the Maoists abducted an ailing Sidar, posted at the Timilwada police camp in Sukma, while he was travelling in a bus to Dornapal town for treatment. The ultras killed the unarmed constable and threw his body on the Dornapal-Jagargunda road.
“One of our guerrilla squads killed him near Timilwada village without the permission of the CPI(Maoist) leadership. We apologise for his death,” said a statement issued by the South Bastar Divisional Committee of the party.
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“He was sick and was travelling to Dornapal for treatment. He was not carrying any weapon. We consider it our mistake to have killed him in such a situation and we regret it,” the outfit said.
The CPI(Maoist) also warned policemen posted in the Timilwada and Chintagufa camps against “troubling and exploiting villagers.”
In a press statement by the Kistaram area committee, the Maoists said a civilian of Mettaguda village in Sukma district was killed by the security forces on October 20.
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“A joint operation was launched by the Central Reserve Police Force, the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), Koya Commandos and Grey Hounds in Kistaram area of Sukma district from October 19 to 21. The forces killed Sodi Masa of Mettaguda village who had come to Palachalma village to visit his relatives, and later on declared him a Maoist,” the outfit said.
The CPI(Maoist) alleged that the security forces damaged properties of villagers in Goddiguda, Kamalafaram, Palachalma, Ampetta, Senempetta, Mangelguda, Sesam, Kasaram and many other villages and demanded transfer of Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Bastar, S.R.P. Kalluri.