Warangal: A 55-year-old man was killed and two others were injured in an explosion of landmine allegedly planted by the proscribed Maoist group in the Kongala Gutta forest region in Wazedu mandal of Mulugu district on Monday. The deceased was identified as Ilandula Yesu and the injured as Ramesh – the son of Yesu, and Fakeer, all three belong to Jagannadhapuram village.
According to sources, five men of Jagannadhapuram ventured into the forest in the early morning to collect firewood. While two of them returned home, the other three remained in the forest when Yesu reportedly stepped on an IED landmine which triggered a huge explosion, killing him on the spot and injuring two others. The explosion sent Yesu flying into the air to four feet height and fell on the boulders.
Receiving the information, some of the locals rushed to the spot and shifted the body to their village. They also noticed the installation of electricity wires in the surroundings of the explosion.
Superintendent of police Shabarish said that losing faith among the people and grip on the agency areas, Maoists were planting landmines targeting the police who had been conducting extensive combing operations in the Maoist-hit areas in Mulugu district and along the Chhattisgarh border. But, the innocent Adivasi people living in the forest regions were losing their lives due to landmines planted by outlaws, he noted.
In 2019, one Soyam Pentaiah of Mukunuru Palem was killed in a bomb blast planted by Maoists, he said.
He warned the Maoists, their sympathizers and militia members of stringent actions if they tried to create problems for the people living in agency areas.
Meanwhile, Wazedu CI Venkateshwarlu said that many people, who depend on forest products, were falling prey to the Maoist-planted landmines by accidentally stepping on them when they venture into the forest. Two days ago, a pet dog belonging to one Punem Mahesh of Arunachalapuram was killed in a landmine explosion in Kongala Gutta forest region and a cow died in similar manner in 2018.
Apart from conducting awareness programmes, the CP said, the people living in the Maoist-hit areas were cautioned against entering deep forests.
Two cases were registered regarding the two incidents of landmine killings in a gap of two days and started an investigation, the officer added.
