Congress sarpanch candidate killed by Maoists in Dantewada of Chhattisgarh

Joga Barse, who was contesting for the sarpanch post in Aranpur panchayat, was killed on Thursday night when Maoists forcibly entered his home and slit his throat in front of his family, accusing him of being a police informer. Barse, who had previously been a member of the CPI party, had joined the Congress just a few years ago.

Kothagudem: A Congress party sarpanch candidate was killed by CPI (Maoists) in Aranpur panchayat under the limits of Aranpur police station in Dantewada district.

The deceased Joga Barse was contesting for sarpanch post from Aranpur panchayat. On Thursday night the Maoists entered his house forcefully and slit his throat in front of his family branding him as a police informer. He was earlier in the CPI party and joined the Congress only a few years ago.

---

It might be noted that the three-tier panchayat elections were scheduled to be held on February 17, 20 and 23 in Chhattisgarh while counting would be done on February 18, 21 and 24 respectively. Elections were being conducted to elect 433 district panchayat members, 2,973 janpad panchayat members, 11,627 gram panchayat sarpanchs as well as and 1,60,180 ward members.

It might be recalled that Maoists have killed two villagers, including a former naxal in Bijapur district four days ago, accusing them of being police informers. On Monday night two villagers of Budgicheru were taken out of their house by Maoists and were killed by cutting their throats with sharp weapons.

One of the deceased Karam Raju (32) was earlier active in the Maoist organisation and left it some time ago to live a normal life. Another villager killed by Maoists, Maadvi Munna (27) was beaten up by Maoists in the past accusing him giving information to police. Madavi Munna’s elder brother was also killed by Maoists in village Potali district Dantewada a few years ago.