Maoists Threaten to Kill Nitish; Shot Down 14

The outlawed rebel organization CPI (Maoists) has threatened to kill Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar if two of their top commanders were not set free from prison, said media reports citing official sources. Earlier, at least 14 villagers were shot dead in Khagaria district by suspected rebels.

An sms sent by ‘Dabloo’ from the mobile phone number – 09308670993 – to a reporter of a private TV channel, claimed that a plan was in place to kill the chief minister and State Home Department Principal Secretary Amir Subhani.

In the message, release of naxalite leaders ‘Raviji’ and Diren Singh was demanded.

“Director General of Police Anand Shankar and IGP (Operations) S K Bhardwaj are probing the issue,” Subhani said. “We have tightened the security for the CM.”

Earlier, scores of suspected Maoists, armed heavily, struck Khagaria district of Bihar, forced sleeping villages out their homes, tied them up and opened fire at them indiscriminately, killing nearly 16 people.

“Around 100 people, suspected to be Maoists, armed with automatic weapons attacked Amosi Dharen Biara village, 245 kms from Patna, and fired indiscriminately late last night,” Inspector General (Operations) S K Bharadwaj was quoted as saying by PTI.

ADG Headquarters Neelmani said that the rebels forced the victims out of their houses, tied them up and shot them dead from point blank range. Among victims, five teenagers were included.

According to him, suspected Maoists attacked the villagers with the intention of snatching land belonging to the backward classes.

The victims belonged to Amdaicharua village and had been camping on the land, he said.