In a tragic turn of events, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Triupati Katla, fell victim to a brutal attack by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. The incident occurred on Friday night as Katla was returning from attending a wedding in Toynar village, situated approximately 15 kilometers away from his residence in Bijapur headquarters.
Reports indicate that a small action team of Naxals ambushed Katla on his way back home, wielding sharp weapons to execute the attack. Despite efforts to rush him to the district hospital in headquarters area, Katla succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead upon arrival.
This incident marks the first BJP leader’s murder this year and the eighth such tragic occurrence since last year, highlighting the persistent threat posed by Maoist insurgents in the region.
The unfortunate trend of targeting BJP members by Maoists has been ongoing, with instances of violence and loss within the party’s ranks. Last year saw seven similar incidents, including the murder of Komal Manjhi in December in Narayanpur district, and Ratan Dubey in November, who served as the BJP poll coordinator in Narayanpur district.
Earlier incidents include the killing of Birjhu Taram in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district in October, and Kaka Arjun, a former sarpanch in Bijapur district, in June.
The beginning of this year witnessed a disturbing escalation in violence against BJP members. In February alone, three BJP leaders met tragic ends at the hands of Maoist assailants. Neelkanth Kakem, BJP’s divisional head of Awapalli in Bijapur district, was stabbed to death on February 5. On February 10, Sagar Sahu, deputy chief of BJP’s Narayanpur district unit, was shot dead at his home. The following day, Ramdhar Alami was ambushed and killed while returning from conducting religious rituals in Hitameta village.
The series of targeted attacks underscores the grave security challenges faced by political figures in Maoist-affected regions of Chhattisgarh, demanding immediate attention and concerted efforts to ensure the safety and protection of individuals exercising their democratic rights.
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