Team News Riveting
Raipur, May 24
The Chhattisgarh police had received vital clues about the alleged involvement of Maoist cadres in the Silger clash that resulted in the death of three villagers on May 17.
The sleepy village of Silger suddenly hogged the national headlines after over 5,000 people from some 30 villages resorted to protest against a new security camp set up in the area on May 14. On May 17, the villagers turned violent and tried to raid the camp that comes under the control of Sukma district.
The security personnel had to retaliate when fire reportedly came from the crowd. It resulted in the death of three villagers. The state government had instituted a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, the preliminary investigation of police revealed startling facts underlining that the Maoists cadre were involved in provoking villagers to raid the camp. The video clippings and photographs examined substantiated the claim, the Bastar police spokesperson said.
The police suspect cadres of outlawed CPI (Maoists) that included Erpa Jagdish, Linga, Manila, Shankar, Dinesh and Vinod could be the brain behind the violence. The rebels allegedly used the villagers as a shield to pelt stones on security personnel and set vehicles on fire while making vain attempts to storm the camp.
“The police are identifying the Maoist cadre and militia members from the video clips and photographs,” the police spokesperson said.
The authorities are trying to convince the villagers to disperse and retreat fearing the spread of contagious COVID-19. The officials are concerned about the villagers who are literally vulnerable to the disease and dictate of the rebels.
