Police in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Sunday claimed to have received information about the death of a senior Maoist cadre due to suspected coronavirus infection.
As per preliminary information, Madkam Ramesh alias Gonche Ramesh (50), a member of Kerlapal Area Committee of Maoists, who was active along the border of Dantewada and Sukma districts died on Saturday evening, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava said.
“He was reportedly suffering from fever and breathlessness following which he was shifted by Maoists from Kerlapal to his native area Jagargunda in Sukma where he died. His body was handed over to his family for cremation,” he said.
“According to villagers, he was having symptoms of COVID-19. Although, his test was not done, any sudden death with fever and breathlessness is deemed to be suspected Covid death till tests are done”, Pallava said.
Ramesh, who was also heading an LOS (local organisation squad) of Maoists as commander, was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, he said.
Expressing concern over possible spread of Covid-19 in interior areas of Bastar division due to Maoist activities, Pallava said, “Naxalites should have followed the safety norms in view of the pandemic. They do not wear face masks and they have been convening mass meetings of villagers in interior areas ignoring social distancing protocols. They should not assume that they cannot get infected".
“Negligence on their part could lead to spread of the viral infection among villagers in the interior areas of Bastar division. It would be difficult to contain the transmission of coronavirus once it would spread in remote areas, which lack proper health infrastructure”, Pallava said.
As on Saturday, Bastar division, comprising seven districts including Dantewada, had reported 15,081 COVID-19 cases and 60 deaths.