The Crossbill Team
A fresh controversy has erupted in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district following the killing of a 38-year-old tribal man, Mahesh Kudiyam, in a recent encounter between security forces and Maoists inside Indravati National Park on June 5.
While police claim Kudiyam was a member of the banned CPI (Maoist) and part of its National Park area committee, his family and local villagers have disputed the allegation, asserting he was a government school cook and not involved in any extremist activity.
According to officials, Kudiyam, a resident of Irpagutta village, had been working as a cook at the local government school since September 2023, earning a monthly salary of Rs 2,000. His employment was confirmed by the district’s education department, which stated he had been on leave due to summer vacation at the time of the incident, The Indian Express reported.
Security forces had launched an operation in the forested area of the national park on June 5, leading to a gunbattle that resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, all of whom the police identified as Maoists.
Among the dead was Sudhakar alias Gautam, a senior CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member.
In the days that followed, the bodies of six more individuals, including Telangana State Committee member Bhaskar and Kudiyam, were recovered from the forest.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), Sundarraj P, said in an official statement that during the inquest, it was confirmed that Kudiyam was affiliated with the Maoist group and carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh. The statement acknowledged his employment at the school but insisted he maintained ties with the banned outfit. Authorities are currently investigating how he came into contact with top Maoist leaders who were present at the encounter site.
The police also issued a public advisory, urging individuals associated with CPI (Maoist) to sever ties with the group, warning of serious consequences to their lives and public safety.
However, Kudiyam’s family has strongly refuted the police’s claims.
His wife, Sumitra, told Bastar Talkies, a local YouTube news platform, that her husband had gone out to graze cattle on the day of the encounter and had no links with Maoist activity.
“Kudiyam was just a cook and a peon in the school. On the day of the encounter, he had gone to graze his cattle,” she told the YouTube channel, appealing for government assistance.
Local villagers also backed the family’s version. Irma Vela, a resident of Irpagutta, told the channel that Kudiyam was widely known as a school worker and had no involvement with Maoists.
His brother Ajay, who works as a labourer in Andhra Pradesh, said he was unaware of the encounter until days later.
“I have studied up to class 6. I do not know what happened. I worked as a coolie in Andhra. I came (days) later and learnt he had gone to graze buffalo and was killed,” Ajay said.
Bijapur Collector Sambit Mishra confirmed that a magisterial inquiry is underway to ensure impartial examination of the events surrounding the encounter. The case has reignited concerns about identification errors in anti-Maoist operations and the vulnerability of local tribal residents living in conflict-prone areas.
While police claim Kudiyam was a member of the banned CPI (Maoist) and part of its National Park area committee, his family and local villagers have disputed the allegation, asserting he was a government school cook and not involved in any extremist activity.
According to officials, Kudiyam, a resident of Irpagutta village, had been working as a cook at the local government school since September 2023, earning a monthly salary of Rs 2,000. His employment was confirmed by the district’s education department, which stated he had been on leave due to summer vacation at the time of the incident, The Indian Express reported.
Security forces had launched an operation in the forested area of the national park on June 5, leading to a gunbattle that resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, all of whom the police identified as Maoists.
Among the dead was Sudhakar alias Gautam, a senior CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member.
In the days that followed, the bodies of six more individuals, including Telangana State Committee member Bhaskar and Kudiyam, were recovered from the forest.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), Sundarraj P, said in an official statement that during the inquest, it was confirmed that Kudiyam was affiliated with the Maoist group and carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh. The statement acknowledged his employment at the school but insisted he maintained ties with the banned outfit. Authorities are currently investigating how he came into contact with top Maoist leaders who were present at the encounter site.
The police also issued a public advisory, urging individuals associated with CPI (Maoist) to sever ties with the group, warning of serious consequences to their lives and public safety.
However, Kudiyam’s family has strongly refuted the police’s claims.
His wife, Sumitra, told Bastar Talkies, a local YouTube news platform, that her husband had gone out to graze cattle on the day of the encounter and had no links with Maoist activity.
“Kudiyam was just a cook and a peon in the school. On the day of the encounter, he had gone to graze his cattle,” she told the YouTube channel, appealing for government assistance.
Local villagers also backed the family’s version. Irma Vela, a resident of Irpagutta, told the channel that Kudiyam was widely known as a school worker and had no involvement with Maoists.
His brother Ajay, who works as a labourer in Andhra Pradesh, said he was unaware of the encounter until days later.
“I have studied up to class 6. I do not know what happened. I worked as a coolie in Andhra. I came (days) later and learnt he had gone to graze buffalo and was killed,” Ajay said.
Bijapur Collector Sambit Mishra confirmed that a magisterial inquiry is underway to ensure impartial examination of the events surrounding the encounter. The case has reignited concerns about identification errors in anti-Maoist operations and the vulnerability of local tribal residents living in conflict-prone areas.
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