Reports of killing of seven people by the CPI (Maoists) at Badang village in Gumla put the entire police department on toes for several hours on Tuesday night followed by extensive search operation in the area after the hoax was sparked by a drunkard villager. According to the police, the matter was finally closed on Wednesday after verification was done at various levels.
“Basically it was a rumour sparked by a drunkard villager who was also not mentally sound. He said that some of the rebels around 50 in numbers killed 5-7 criminals before him while he was tilling his land on Tuesday evening,” said Gumla SP Bhimsen Tuti. When an investigation was conducted at the place of occurrence, not a single trace of killing was found at the spot, Tuti added.
Turti further added that despite extensive search operation the police could not find any clue regarding the incident. “The person who first claimed to have seen persons being killed has been traced and was identified as Gopi Maht and was also found to be mentally unsound,” he added. Reportedly, seven persons of criminal background had been killed in Sehar Badang village of Gumla on Tuesday by the rebels, allegedly in a war of supremacy. The police however, taking no chances are still camping in the area and keeping a close eye on movements of any suspected element in the area.