Former BSF Jawan killed by suspected Naxals in Jharkhand

Jamshedpur, Sept 8: In a tragic incident, a 48-year-old man, identified as Shukhlal Purti, and a former Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, was brutally killed by an armed squad believed to be associated with the outlawed Naxal outfit CPI-Maoist. The incident took place in the early hours of Friday at Kashijora village, located under the Goelkera Thana area in West Singhbhum, Jharkhand.

Purti, who had served in the BSF, tragically lost his life as he was shot dead by the suspected Naxals on grounds of suspicion that he was functioning as a police informer.

According to sources close to the investigation, the horrifying incident transpired when a group comprising six to seven individuals suspected to be Naxals approached Purti’s residence in the quiet village during the early hours. They knocked at his door, and as Purti opened it, one of the visitors fired a shot at point-blank range, resulting in his immediate demise.

Following the heinous act, the suspected Naxals dragged Purti’s lifeless body onto the road and left it there, accompanying their actions with the distribution of pamphlets. These pamphlets claimed responsibility for the murder and ominously warned that anyone found aiding the police would face similar consequences.

After the assailants vanished from the scene, Purti’s son, understandably distraught by the tragedy, alerted the Goelkera Thana authorities. However, due to the darkness at the time, the police could only reach Kashijora village after daybreak.

It is important to note that this recent incident marks the fifth brutal killing of villagers in the Goelkera and adjoining Tonto thana areas in the past three weeks. The Naxal insurgents have been resorting to such acts of violence against innocent villagers as part of their response to ongoing anti-insurgency operations conducted by the police and paramilitary forces within the Kolhan and Porahat forest divisions, where the Naxals are known to be hiding.

This reprehensible act serves as a grim reminder of the continued threat posed by Naxal extremists in certain regions of Jharkhand, as the authorities remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of the local population.