RAIPUR: Two former sarpanchs in insurgency-hit Bijapur have been murdered by Maoists for continuing to work for BJP despite threats from cadres. “Quit BJP or die,” say leaflets left by Maoists on their bodies.
The bodies of Suklu Farsa and Sukhram Avalam were found dumped at separate locations on Thursday. Both of them were abducted on Wednesday.
Eleven BJP functionaries and three Congress workers have been murdered in Bastar division since Feb 2023. Maoists have warned BJP workers that they, too, will be killed unless they leave the party. Around 43 BJP netas and workers were given police protection in March.
Farsa was with his wife when three masked men surrounded them and dragged him into the forest. Since the family wasn’t sure the kidnappers were Maoists, his daughter released a video for his release.
Around 20km away, the body of another former sarpanch, Sukhram Avalam, was found on the roadside near Kader village.