Naxals turn 'contract killers' in Chhattisgarh

Bhopal: A gram panchayat officer in Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar district of Sukma made a startling revelation of “hiring” Naxals to kill the local sarpanch for allegedly exposing his corrupt practices, the police claimed on Wednesday.

This was perhaps the first time in almost three-decade history of Left-wing insurgency in Bastar, the shocking case of Naxals turning “supari” (contract) kill-ers came to light, a police officer of Sukma district said.

Bade Satte gram panchayat secretary Nandlal Idi has been arrested on charges of hiring Maoists to kill the local sarpanch Kamlu Hunga on April 10, the police officer said.

“Nandlal who has earlier been placed under suspension following charges of misappropriation of government funds levelled against him has confessed to his role in the killing of the sarpanch,” a press release issued by Sukma district police said.

According to Sukma district ASP S Mahadev, the accused was upset with the deceased over the latter’s exposure of corrupt practices by him and hence hired the Maoists to eliminate him.

The sarpanch had earlier lodged a complaint with the local administration alleging that the secretary had taken advantage of his illiteracy to get a cheque of Rs 5 lakh signed by him giving him the impression that it was a cheque of Rs 3 lakh.

The police said Nandlal and picked up the armed Naxals in his car at Bade Setting and accompanied them to the home of the deceased after parking the vehicle at a distance at Tungaldam.

The rebels attacked the sarpanch with sharp weapons killing him on the spot.