Mistaken to be Naxals, group beaten up

In another case of attempted mob justice, this time in Chhattisgarh, a policeman and group of construction workers...

In another case of attempted mob justice, this time in Chhattisgarh, a policeman and group of construction workers were mistakenly identified as Naxalites and mercilessly beaten up by residents of Torfa village under the Balangi police post in Balrampur Police district on Sunday evening.

According to police sources, the party led by Constable Ankit Kumar along with four labourers, who were visiting the village to purchase cement for construction work at the police post, came under attack from about 50 villagers who mistook them to be Naxalites. “The villagers thought that Naxalites were heading towards the Sarpanch’s house and the moment they reached there an alarm was raised and several villagers attacked the group,” said a senior police officer.

“The mob attacked the group with lathis and stones, severely injuring all of them. Taken aback by the sudden attack, all five somehow managed to escape, leaving the tractor they were riding behind,” the official said.

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Meanwhile, the Balangi police post in-charge, who was returning from Ambikapur, came to know of the incident and immediately rushed to the spot and rescued the victims. “The injured persons have been admitted to district hospital and their condition is now stated to be stable,” he added.

In another incident, a hardcore Naxalite zonal commander, Ram Singh alias Pravin, was killed in a road mishap in district Korea. According to SP (Korea) A M Juri, following a tip-off the police had laid a trap to arrest the dreaded Naxalite who carried a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head. “However, on seeing the police party the Naxalite, who was accompanied by two of his accomplices on a motorcycle, panicked and tried to flee, causing the mishap,” Juri added. The extremist was admitted to the district hospital where he later succumbed to injuries.