Maoists say Telangana State secretary Damodar is safe; call earlier statement on death ‘fake’

It might be recalled that in a statement on January 18 by the Maoist South Bastar Divisional Committee secretary Ganga stated that Damodar died in an operation by security forces south Bastar division Pamed-Basaguda-Usur area in Chhattisgarh.

Kothagudem: CPI (Maoist) South Sub Zonal Bureau (SSZB) spokesperson Samatha released a statement stating that its Telangana State secretary and in-charge of Maoist action teams Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar was safe.

In the statement dated January 22 and released to the media on Saturday, she said that a fake statement using the Maoist party South Bastar Divisional Committee name was issued claiming that Damodar and some other naxals were killed in an encounter to misguide the public. It was done at the behest of Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma and some police officers as part of psychological warfare.

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It might be recalled that in a statement on January 18 by the Maoist South Bastar Divisional Committee secretary Ganga stated that Damodar died in an operation by security forces south Bastar division Pamed-Basaguda-Usur area in Chhattisgarh.

Samatha maintained that the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) foiled a major operation by resisting them successfully. About 8, 000 security personnel of District Reserve Guards, Bastar Fighters, CRPF, CoBRA and Indian Army carried out an attack on the villagers at Singavaram, Tumdepalli, Mallempenta, Poojari Kanker and Temlabatti. In the attack, four villagers were killed. When the Maoist doctor team members went to treat the injured people they were caught unarmed, tortured and killed. The PLGA forces fought with the security forces six times, during which six police were killed and eight were injured. Uike Aythu, Madkam Lacchi, Madkam Jogi (ACM- South Bastar Division doctor team) , Madvi Deve, Nuppo Somadi, Doddi Vasu, Madkam Sonal and Poonam Mangali were the naxals killed by the security forces.

Thousands of villagers have also resisted the security forces attack on the people and to suppress them security forces killed the villagers Sodi Ram, Podium Deva, Madkam Batti and Sodi Bhima. Hundreds of villagers were away by the police and their whereabouts were not known yet, the Maoist spokesperson said.

There was a likelihood showing the captured villagers as surrendered naxals or killing them in the pretext of naxals carrying reward. During the operation the security forces damaged household goods, tractors, motorcycles, flour mills, sewing machines and food items, she added.