A failed attempt on the life of former BJP MLA Gurucharan Nayak by the CPI (Maoist) in West Singhbhum district has confirmed what security agencies had forewarned that Maoists can execute some big crimes to avenge the arrest of their top leader Prashant Bose.
While Nayak had a narrow escape, Maoists killed two of his bodyguards Shankar Nayak and Thakur Hembrom while the third Ramkumar Tudu somehow managed to escape. Maoists looted one AK 47 and two Insas rifles from possession of bodyguards.
The incident took place on Tuesday evening at Project High School in Jhilaura village under Goilkera police station about 60 km from the district headquarter.
Former Manoharpur MLA, Gurucharan Nayak, the former MLA from Manoharpur, visited the village to attend the prize distribution ceremony of two days’ football match as a chief guest. As the programme ended and Nayak approached his vehicle, over 100 Maoists overpowered his bodyguards. “Sensing danger my brother slipped in the crowd. He was wearing an ordinary dress and there was darkness, hence, he escaped undetected,” said Ramesh, brother of former MLA.
Sources in the intelligence agencies said that there were strong inputs about Naxals having some big plans to avenge the arrest of Prashant Bose. “But the plan and target of Naxals were not specific.
To loot arms and ammunitions are the first objectives of Maoists.
After a decade Maoists have targeted a politician and the incident took place in a plain area which is a matter of concern,” said sources in the security agencies.
In 2011, Maoists had carried a similar attack on the convoy of sitting Chatra MP Inder Singh Namdhari to avenge the killing of their leader Kishenji where 10 persons including eight policemen died.
On January 9, 2012, Nayak had escaped a bid on his life when he went to attend a public function in Harta and Khatangbera village under Anandpur police station of the district.
In the past three top leaders were murdered by the CPI (Maoist) during the high noon of left-wing extremism in Jharkhand. On January 16, 2005, the veteran and very popular leader of CPI-ML (Liberation) Mahendra Prasad Singh was shot dead at Durgi Dhabaiya village under Saria police station in Giridih district.
The three Bagodar MLA Singh was so popular among people for his honesty that people of Giridih observed a complete bandh in memory of their leader.
Another popular leader of Jharkhand, the then sitting MP Sunil Mahto was dead by rebels on March 4, 2007.
Mahto who was a senior leader of JMM was watching a football match at Baguria under Ghatsila police station of Jamshedpur when Maoists brutally murdered him. Maoists looted Insas rifle from his bodyguard.
On July 9, 2008, the sitting JD (U) MLA from Tamar Ramesh Singh Munda was shot dead in a similar function at a school at Bundu. CPI (Maoist) led by Kundan Pahan and Rammohan executed the attack. Two of his bodyguards and a student also died in the Naxal attack.
On December 3, 2011, CPI (Maoist) ambushed the convoy of Namdhari at Satwarba in Latehar district. Namdhari escaped unhurt when Maoists triggered landmine blasts.