NAGPUR: The cadres of banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) murdered a youth on Wednesday night after labelling him a police informer in the troubled tribal district of Gadchiroli in eastern Vidarbha . This is the eighth such murder by the Naxals in the region in last fortnight. Incidentally, the Naxals had in 2010 also killed the father of the youth killed on Wednesday on the same suspicion.

Anandrao Madavi, the latest victim of Maoist’s wrath, was found dead with a gun shot injury on his chest outside Visamundi village near Nargonda in Bhamragadh early on Thursday morning. The victim was branded ‘Special police officer (SPO)’ by the reds, who left pamphlet stating the reason behind the action near the body.

A couple of days ago, two cousins had been killed near Gyarapatti by Maoists. They too had been labelled ‘SPOs’. The police department has denied any association with Anandrao or the earlier victims.

Anandrao was sleeping with his family on Wednesday night when the Maoists knocked on his door, calling him ‘dada’. There were around 15-20 cadres who had come to summon Anandrao. The Maoists told his wife Nirupa that they were taking Anandrao with them for some work. The reds had assured Nirupa that Anandrao would return shortly. However, on Thursday, his body was found in the forest.

The Maoists had killed Anandrao’s father Santu in 2010.

The responsibility of the latest murder was claimed by Perimili Area Committee, which is led by commander Soma after the death of Shreenu. Soma was one of the survivors of the Kasnasur encounter of April last year, where 34 reds were killed in an encounter with security forces. The latest murder is also being viewed by the police department as an effort to spread terror among tribals and send a strong message cautioning them against helping the police.

Last year, the Maoists had suffered heavy setbacks including 40 of their cadres killed in two back-to-back encounters at Kasnasur and Nainer.

DIG, Naxal range, Ankush Shinde said the latest killing validates the police claim that Maoists are wiping out the tribal presence in the remote district for their vested interests. “Maoists will not gain anything by these mindless murders of tribals. In fact, the latest victim (Anandrao) was one of their sympathizers,” he said.

Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Bhamragadh, Tanaji Barde confirmed that Anandrao had been charged with preventive action under Criminal Procedure code (CrPC) for helping the Maoists. It’s learnt that Anandrao used to frequent SDPO’s office as he had been booked under CrPC 110, which may have made the Maoists suspicious of his links with the department.

