Naxals strike again, JMM leader dead

THIS IS THE THIRD MAOIST ATTACK IN JHARKHAND IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS

DALTONGANJ: Two persons, including a JMM leader, were killed in indiscriminate firing by suspected cadres of CPI (Maoists) at Pipra Bazar in Jharkhand’s Palamu district Saturday evening.

Maoists claimed the responsibility for the attack through printed pamphlets found on the spot calling for boycott of the state assembly elections.

JMM leader Mohan Gupta (45), who recently switched from the BJP, died on the spot while Suraj Soni (21), a fruit seller standing nearby, succumbed to injuries during treatment at a Daltonganj hospital.

Pipra Bazar shares borders with Bihar and is still considered a Maoist-affected area.

This is the third Maoist attack in Jharkhand in less than 24 hours.

On Friday, CPI (Maoists) killed four police personnel at Chandwa in Latehar. Earlier on Saturday, the CPI (Maoists) torched two earthmovers at a road construction site in Lohardaga district. The place of occurrence is close to Latehar district borders.

According to eyewitness accounts in the latest incident, the suspected Maoists, riding a motorcycle, opened fire at Gupta, also the husband of Pipra Block

Pramukh Sandhya Devi, using AK-47 assault rifles.

Gupta died on the spot while three others, including Suraj Soni, Golu Soni and Rajkumar Soni, sustained bullet injuries.

Later, Suraj Soni succumbed to his injuries during treatment while two others were admitted at Palamu Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

Palamu’s deputy commissioner (DC) Dr Shantanu Agrahari confirmed the death. “Mohan Gupta died in the firing at Pipra Bazar while three more were injured in the incident. They are being brought to Daltonganj for treatment.”

JMM’s Palamu district president Rajendra Sinha said that Gupta had recently joined the party and was functioning as its block head.

Palamu range in-charge deputy inspector general of police (DIG) AV Homkar confirmed the involvement of the CPI (Maoists) in the incident.

Incidentally, Gupta had been on the Maoists’ hit list and had escaped a similar attack in 2012 also by the Maoists.