Naxals killed two villagers, an uncle and nephew duo, in a brutal late-night attack in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Friday (24 October). The Maoists dragged the victims out of their home in Nelakanker village and attacked them with sharp-edged weapons, leaving the local community terrified.
Police identified the deceased as 25-year-old Ravi Kattam and 38-year-old Tirupati Sodhi. Tirupati’s brother serves as a constable in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Officials said the Maoists murdered the two men out of revenge and suspicion of police informant activity. Following the incident, police and security forces launched an intensive search operation in the region under the Usur police station area.
The killing took place just days after Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma visited Bijapur and Usur to review security deployment and ongoing development works. Senior officers said the Naxals, angered by the government’s increased operations and the shrinking influence of their network, have started targeting villagers out of frustration.
According to local reports, Tirupati had studied up to Class 8 and worked as a farmer, while Ravi had completed his Class 12 and frequently travelled between Bijapur headquarters and Awapalli market. Naxals accused both men of informing security forces about their movements and executed them publicly. Officials confirmed that this was not an isolated case. The Maoists have killed five villagers in October alone.
The latest killings come barely three weeks after a similar attack ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Bastar visit on 4 October. Just before his arrival, Naxals murdered two villagers in Sukma and Bijapur districts. On 28 September, they killed 27-year-old Suresh Korsa in Bijapur after abducting him from his home under the cover of darkness.
This year, Naxals have also killed nine “Shiksha Doots” (education volunteers) in Bijapur and Sukma districts, accusing them of being police informants. The victims included Vinod Madde, Suresh Metta, Ashok Muchaki, Baman Ram Kashyap, Kujam Bhima, Lallu Tati, Arjun Dodi, Kawasi Sukka and Laxman Badse. Police officials stated that such murders reflect the Maoists’ desperation as their presence continues to decline in Bastar.
Since Chhattisgarh’s formation in 2000, Naxals have killed over 1,820 people, including civilians, public representatives and government employees, across the Bastar region. Bijapur district has recorded the highest number of such killings over the past 25 years.
Security forces have now intensified anti-Naxal operations in Bijapur and Sukma. State and central governments have vowed to eliminate the insurgency from Bastar by 2026. Officials said joint teams of CRPF, DRG and CoBRA units are combing forested areas and tracking Maoist routes to dismantle their remaining hideouts.
Authorities said the Naxals are striking back out of fear as their network weakens. Meanwhile, local villagers and security forces continue to stand united against the “red terror” that has long haunted southern Chhattisgarh.
