Story of Communist Terrorism Chapter 8

In the last chapter, Devika was killed by the Maoists and Purshottam Sethi was found dead.

Purshottam Sethi was on his morning walk with his secretary Prashant when he was shot in the head by a sniper. Keshav explains that Maoists do not have snipers which is why Sethi’s security had failed to think of that possibility.

Story of Communist Terrorism - Chapter 1

Story of Communist Terrorism - Chapter 2

Story of Communist Terrorism - Chapter 3

Story of Communist Terrorism - Chapter 4

Story of Communist Terrorism - Chapter 5

Story of Communist Terrorism - Chapter 6

Story of Communist Terrorism - Chapter 7

The guard of the building from where the sniper had shot Sethi, was found unconscious, and one of the walls of the rooftop had the words ‘Lal Salaam’ spray painted on it. The DGP calls and pressures Vikram to fasten the investigation as a popular businessman being shot will result in fewer investments in the state.

Keshav proposes that in order to get instant results they could shoot suspicious people in a fake encounter and Vikram chides him for the suggestion. The rifle used by the sniper is also used by the security and the special forces; the team concludes that the Maoists could have looted the gun from any such force. Chandrakar informs Vikram that the MLA Kashyap has demanded Bhoomi for his protection.

Vikram meets Shravan Kumar Mathur in Raipur regarding Devika’s case and Mathur reveals he was the DM of Ambuja when he met Devika’s father, Madho and Devika. He also discloses he had mentioned his coming meeting with Devika to Kailash Shukla, an old colleague of Ambuja.

Shukla was the SP of Ambuja during Mathur’s time in the town. He is now retired and an alcoholic. During Vikram’s briefing with Chandrakar, they are informed that Shukla has been found dead in his home.

Kailash Shukla was found lying on the floor, dead with a bottle of alcohol beside him. Vikram’s theory is that Shukla was going to retire for the day but his acquaintance had arrived to visit him. Both sat for an evening drink and Shukla was then poisoned by his acquaintance.

The unknown murderer had also removed all the evidence from the scene. Vikram requests for the autopsy report to be shared with him. In Chandrakar’s office, Vikram asks the DIG to increase Mathur’s security and Chandrakar’s office staff informs that a note with the text ‘Lal Salaam’ was found in Shukla’s clothes.

In a recent case relating to the Maoists, in April 2023 three businessmen, Pradeep Baghel, Pradhan Sunani, and Gopal Baghel, were severely beaten up by the Maoists under the suspicion of being a Police informer, which resulted in Pradeep’s death.

The incident took place in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh when the three businessmen were going to an area to sell groceries and other items on an evening. When they reached the Kumarpara village, a group of Naxalites came out and started accusing the traders of supplying materials and leaking information to the police.

The Naxalites then started assaulting the traders, looted them, and set their motorcycles on fire. After receiving the information, the Police launched a search operation during which an encounter between the Police and the Naxals broke out. According to the Police, 4 Naxalites were shot in the gunfire.

In 2020, a brick dealer in Jharkhand, Parameshwar Saav was killed by the Naxals in a busy marketplace. The Police suspected that the man was shot under the suspicion of being a Police informer. Parmeshwar’s father, Thankurmani Saav was also shot to death by the Naxals in the year 2004.

In 2016 in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Naxalites attacked and killed a local businessman, Mukkali Gundu Rao. Rao was on his way home with his younger brother Ramana, when Maoists had attacked and slit his throat, killing him instantly. Ramana was permitted to go by the Maoists after being threatened.

The Police found a note near Rao’s body, left behind by the attackers, which stated that Rao had been in contact with the District Police and had shared their activities and information, which led to his death. Rao was in the business of supplying tiles in the construction sector.

In 2013, an IPS officer, Amarjit Balihar was killed in a Maoist ambush in the Dumka district of the state of Jharkhand. Amarjit Balihar was posted as the SP of Pakur, a town in Jharkhand a month before the attack.

He was returning with eight policemen in two cars back to the town of Pakur from Dumka when their vehicles were ambushed. The Police officers were attacked with bullets which resulted in the death of the SP and five others on the spot.

In a recent incident, in February 2023, two policemen, Rajesh Singh Rajput and Anil Kumar Samrat were killed by the Naxalites in the Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh. Rajesh was the head constable of the district force and Anil was the constable of Chhattisgarh Armed Force. Both were on a bike, carrying no weapon, when they were attacked by the Maoists.

In the next review analysis, Vikram receives insider information about the Maoists from a surrendered Naxalite.