BJP worker hacked to death by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

A small group of Maoists, reportedly 4 to 5 in number, attacked and killed BJP leader Tirupati Katla (40) while he was returning from a marriage function in his native village Toynar gaon, some 20 km from Bijapur district headquarters on Friday night. Katla was rushed to the hospital in critical condition where he succumbed to the injury and was declared dead by the doctors.

The maoist group ambushed and carried out the brutal attack on Katla and then fled the spot after the crime.

Katla, r/o Bijapur was a local BJP functionary holding important portfolios as district committee member (Janpad sadasya) and cooperative cell member.

This marks the eight instance of BJP leaders falling victim to Maoist violence since 2023. Others who fell victim includes Neelkanth Kakem r/o Bijapur (Feb 2023), Sagar Sahu, r/o Narayanpur (Feb 2023), Ramdhar Alami, r/o Dantewada (Feb 2023, Ramji Dodi, r/o Narayanpur (March 2023), Arjun Kaka, r/o Bijapur (June 2023), Birjhu Taram, r/o Mohla-Maanpur (Oct 2023), Ratan Dubey, r/o Narayanpur (Nov 2023).

Slain Ratan Dubey was district vice president and important functionary in the BJP whose loss just before assembly election was termed as severe blow to the party. Many eyebrows were raised on these deaths at the time of the Congress government under Bhupesh Baghel.

SP Bijapur Jitendra Kumar Yadav on Saturday said the accused reportedly 4 to 5 belonged to a small Maoist group and were still at large. A hectic combing operation by the security forces to nab them is under way. The situation was under control, stated Yadav.

Meanwhile state Home Affairs Minister Vijay Sharma while condoling the death of Katla by Maoists termed the incident as unfortunate. On Saturday talking to DH Sharma said, “attempt is being made to bully the party just before Lok Sabha election, but here I want to make one thing very clear that BJP is not scared or will never be afraid of such foul/bogus alarms”.

He also said that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh aims to bring about or transform the state towards path of growth and development and on the other also bring peace in the state. We have launched a series of measures/schemes to benefit villagers/dwellers living in far-flung areas such as health care, housing, electricity, food grain, gas cylinders, drinking water, aadhar card etc.

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai in his X post expressed deep grief over the 'cowardly' act of Naxalites of killing BJP leader Tirupati Katla in Bijapur. "I pray to God to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in this hour of grief. The government is waging a decisive fight against Naxalites, and we will never allow them to succeed," said Sai.