Naxals kill supporter for abandoning their cause

Raipur, Aug 26 (PTI) Naxals today shot dead one of theirsupporters, who had reportedly distanced himself from thearmed movement led by outlawed CPI (Maoist), after producinghim before a ‘jan adalat’ in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district. The Maoists were miffed with the victim, Sandeep KumarRathore, for abandoning their cause, a police officer said. "Rathore was this evening shot dead by armed rebels in theforests near Mukram nullah under Chintalnar Police Stationlimits," S R P Kalluri, Inspector General (Bastar Range), toldPTI. "As per records, he was a staunch supporter of Maoists butfor the last few months he had started distancing himself fromthe banned outfit. He had joined the mainstream and wasleading a normal life," the IG said. A native of Chintalnar village, the 25-year-old hadshifted to Dornapal, also in Sukma district, a few months backand started some business for which he had to visit localweekly markets. This evening, while he was on his way back to Dornapalalong with other traders and villagers from Chintalnar market,he was stopped by a group of around 60 rebels near Mukramnullah, about 450 km from here, he said. According to eyewitnesses, the victim and other traderswere subsequently taken inside the forest by the rebels whothen held a ‘jan adalat’ (people’s court or kangaroo court)where they pumped bullets into him for not supporting theircause, the senior police officer said. Naxals fled from the spot leaving Rathore in a criticalcondition. The victim was later brought to Chintalnar policecamp for treatment but he succumbed to injuries, Kalluri said. Meanwhile, a combing operation was launched in the regionto nab the ultras, he added. PTI TKP RSYDIPJMF