Two days after security forces recovered bodies of 12 Maoists including seven women slain in the encounter in Pujari Kanker area under south Bastar in Chhattisgarh, Maoists’ south Bastar divisional committee purportedly issued a press release on January 18 claiming that Damodar was among 18 Naxals killed in the encounter.
Based on the inputs given in the purported press note issued by the Maoists, Bastar police came out with the startling revelation about the killing of Damodar in the encounter.
Damodar was a Central Committee (CC) member of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and carried a bounty of Rs 50 lakhs.
Interestingly, the south Bastar zonal bureau of Maoists issued a press release on January 22 claiming that Damodar was alive and safe and described the press release issued in the name of Naxals earlier claiming him dead as fake and creation of the police.
Bastar police on Saturday issued a press release saying that the fact that Maoists waited for almost a week to issue a press note countering their earlier claim on the killing of Damodar, itself indicates confusion and disconnect in the Maoist cadres.
The big leaders have fled to jungles to hide after security forces intensified counterinsurgency operations which led them to get disconnected with the lower rung cadres, a senior police officer said.
The two contradictory purported press notes of Maoists clearly suggest that the Maoist movement has become directionless and leaderless, he added.
Trust deficit between the top-level leaders and foot soldiers is growing, leaving the outlawed outfit virtually in disarray, the police officer said.
“Maoist movement is breathing its last”, Bastar range inspector general of police P Sunderraj said.
