Rahul Gandhi in Bastar
Jagdalpur: In the first-ever rally by any top Congress personality in insurgency-hit Bastar after the May-25 deadly attack on party leaders, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on September 26 claimed in insurgency-hit Bastar region that he was fighting for the common people. My fight is for the common people, for the poor and weaker sections and I want them to be empowered, Gandhi said at a rally at the historic lalbag ground in Jagdalpur headquarters of tribal-dominated but impoverished Bastar region which is plagued by leftist militancy since the late 1980s. Pointing towards tribal youths at the rally, Gandhi urged them to join politics and he was ready to
support them. Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, Rajya Sabha member from Chhattisgarh Mohsina Kidwai, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, State Congress chief and union minister of State Charandas Mahant also addressed the rally and urged tribals to vote out the ‘corrupt' BJP Government in Chhattisgarh where Assembly election is scheduled by November-December.
Arms workshop found
Bijapur: In a major blow to Maoists in the insurgency hit district, incursions of security personnel carried out in separate hiding-holes of Naxals led to the finding of an arms workshop along with seizure of large numbers of guns, ammunitions, explosives, Maoist literature, machines used in making of arms, engineering books along with other items in the district. Few suspected persons have also been arrested in this connection, informed Superintendent of Police Bijapur Prashant Agrawal on September 26. The team of 208 CoBRA battalion and district police had face-off with Naxals after which an arms making workshop was discovered where 12 bore guns, country made pistols, barrel of country made pistols, tools used in making arms, engineering drawing books along with several other minor items were found.
Maoist couple surrender
Narayanpur: A Maoist couple surrendered before the SP Narayanpur on September 25 who were working with Naxals for past 7 to 8 years. The surrendered couple was identified as Sido and Budhu both residents of Kutul village of the district. They had joined Maoist groups in year 2005-06 and were mostly associated with the cultural wing of Maoists. Sido was the president of Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangathan active in Kutul area while Budhu was vice president of banned Maoist organisation Jantana Sakar in Kutul. Budhu was also an active member of ‘Mar Bachao Samiti’ formed by ultras in Kutula and also held the post of vice president in Samiti, police informed.
Mayor directs to slap notice on CTB
Raipur: The tussle between Mayor Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) Dr Kiranmayee Nayak and Tourism Minister Brijmohan Agrawal took a fresh turn on September 23 after the Mayor directed RMC officials to serve notice to Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) over proposed construction of ‘Choupati’ on ‘Budha Talab Parikrama Path.’ Noteworthy here is that the tug of war between the
Tourism Minister and Mayor was publicly seen in a program at New Rajendra Nagar during the dedication of a community hall and garden on September 22. Both the leaders had indulged in mudslinging during the program. The Mayor had reached Madhav Rao Supre Higher Secondary School along with RMC officers to review the progress various developmental work underway at the school. She expressed deep displeasure over digging the circular road around Budha Talab for construction of ‘Choupati’. The
RMC officials told Mayor that they had already sent few letters to CTB in this connection. Over this the Mayor told Zone Commissioner and Executive Engineer to send an official notice to CTB.