Team News Riveting
Raipur, June 24
The guerillas of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoists) are desperately combating the COVID-19 in the pockets that they claimed to be under their sway.
The rebels received a big blow two days ago when its Central Committee Member and Telangana State Committee Secretary Haribhusan succumbed to the contagious disease. Another senior woman cadre Siddaboina Sarakka also died of Corona. The CPI (Maoists) issued a press note, admitting for the first time that COVID-19 had attacked their territory that killed Haribhusan and Sarakka. The photographs were also released.
According to police officials, Haribhusan’s death had come as a big jolt to the party. He was carrying a reward of Rs 40 lakh on his head and had been involved in deadly ambushes in the terrain straddling between Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Being the member of the central committee, he had been the brain behind many fatal operations against the security forces. He died in Meenagatta village of Sukma district.
“The outbreak of COVID pandemic has been reported in the camps of Maoists in the interior areas of Bastar and is out of control,” Bastar Inspector General of Police Sunderraj P said. At least, the top Maoist leaders and their sympathizers must admit it and avoid misleading its own cadre and innocent people, he added.
In fact, the reluctance of top leaders to provide timely medical care to COVID-infected had resented the cadre, who also believed no necessary action was taken to contain the spread of deadly disease.
The Police had also received vital tips that hardcore Maoists Hidma, Sujata, Sonu, Vinod, Jaiman, Nandu besides large number of junior cadres had been infected by the virus. Their condition was reported to be critical. The police officials said they were verifying the information.
