Palamu: Security forces and police are on high alert after it came to be known that Maoists are transplanting a bomb in the stomach of Chottu Kharwar, a top commander. Some incision marks have been found in his abdomen which raised the suspicion of the security establishments. The bomb squad is currently scanning the torso of the top commander.
Top Maoist commander Chottu Kharwar was allegedly gunned down in a fight between Maoists in the Bhimpav forest of the Chhipadohar police station area in the Latehar district of Jharkhand. After receiving information about the incident, police and security forces launched a search operation in the area on Wednesday and a team of security forces reached the spot in the afternoon.
The security forces recovered the body of the deceased. Upon close examination, suspicious marks were found in the stomach area of Kharwar's body. The bomb squad was called in to ascertain whether an explosive was planted on his stomach.
"Some suspicious marks have been found on the stomach of Naxalite Chhotu Kherwar, based on which the bomb squad is examining his body. Police and security forces are conducting search operations and keeping an eye on the area," Palamu DIG Y S Ramesh said.
It is worth noting that in 2013, there was an encounter between the Naxalites and security forces in Katia, Latehar where Maoists had planted a bomb in the stomach of a slain CRPF jawan. After this incident, the police conducted a thorough investigation of the bodies recovered after every encounter.
Mrityunjay Bhuiyan and Manish Yadav were included in the team of Maoists who planted the bomb in 2013. The names of Mrityunjay and Manish came up in the Kherwar incident.
There are various discussions on the reasons behind the murder of Kharwar. One of them is that he was murdered because of his growing stature in the organisation and the amount of levy, leading to growing rivalry among the members. However, the true reason will come out only after the police conclude the investigation.
Latehar was infamous as a Maoist hotbed for a decade. Gradually, the organisation became very weak left with a minuscule members. But some other Naxalite commanders including Kharwar, Mrityunjay Bhuiyan, and Manish Yadav were still active in the area and Kharwar's clout was continuously increasing due to violent actions.
If reliable sources are to be believed, a dispute brewed in the organisation for the last few days regarding the amount of levy collection. Other comrades of the organisation alleged that Kharwar also collects levies from the area of other commanders and does not provide its account. The internecine feud had reached its peak.
According to sources, a meeting was called to end the mutual rivalry. For the last few days, the squad of Kharwar and other commanders was roaming in different areas of Bendi, Kumandih, and Hehegada of Latehar to hold a compromise meeting. On Tuesday, the Maoist commanders had gathered for the meeting where the dispute grew further and reached such a point that other members of the organisation united against Kharwar and shot him dead. However, if sources are to be believed, some other reasons are also coming to the fore for the murder.
It is said that after murdering Kharwar, his body was thrown on a dirt road in Bhimpav forest. On Wednesday, some villagers spotted the body and informed other villagers and the police about it.
Kharwar was known to be a notorious Naxalite with a Rs 15 lakh award on his head. It is said that there was also a plan to increase the amount of reward on him. He was the main accused in dozens of encounters and violent incidents.
He had taken refuge in Davna-Durup in Mahuadanr but continued with violence, prompting police to raid his house in Sikit village several times.
Ramesh said Kharwar was killed due to personal enmity and the police are investigating the case. Clear information about the murder will be available only after the investigation is over. (with agency inputs)
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