Gadchiroli contractors go on strike after attacks

Road contractors have stalled the developmental works in the tribal areas of Gadchiroli after the Maoists killed two of their colleagues in the past week. The contractors called for a ‘bandh’ across the Maoist-infested district on November 26 after the district administration did not pay heed to their demand to provide them with protection at work.

The decision came a day after armed Maoists killed a 30-year-old contractor in north Gadchiroli. On November 24, Umesh Vishwanath Bhivapure had gone to inspect  a site near the Irupdhodhri village, about 50km from the district headquarters. The Maoists intercepted him and led him to the forest. According to reports, the Maoists had beaten him up, then shot him before slitting his throat.

Two letters were found on the victim’s body saying that he was killed since he was a police informant. A week before, the Maoists had killed another contractor, Nagireddi Chinchureddi.

 “We can’t work in such an environment,” said Dilip Uttarwar, president of the Gadchiroli District Contractors’ Association. “We can’t risk our lives without support from the police and the district administration.”

What enraged the contractors was the police’s refusal to conduct a spot panchnama and transport Bhivapure’s body to town for post-mortem. However, police officials claim they have to take precautions when they enter Maoist-dominated territory.  “We have to send troops in big numbers after such an incident,” said Gadchiroli SP S Jayakumar.

Jayakumar said that neither of the men had any ties with the police.