COVID-19 Outbreak Suspected Among Maoists, Says Chhattisgarh Cop

According to local villagers, Maoists burnt the bodies of at least ten colleagues in the forest along the border of Bijapur and Sukma districts on Monday night, the police said, adding that it could be a case of Covid outbreak or food poisoning.

The police said that at least 10 Maoists have reportedly died, likely due to COVID-19 or food poisoning, in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The police said even some senior rebel leaders are suffering from the viral infection. "According to local villagers, naxals burnt the bodies of at least ten colleagues in the forest along the border of Bijapur and Sukma districts on Monday night," said Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava. "We suspect the deaths were caused by COVID-19 or food poisoning. But we are trying to get more details," he said. The police had confirmed information that around 500 Maoists had gathered near Pidia village two weeks ago and some of them consumed medicines and packaged foods whose expiry date had expired, the SP said.