Corona infected naxal couple surrenders

Konta/Bhanupratappur, May 13: An ailing Maoist couple who approached the security forces seeking medical help in Kanker district have tested positive for coronavirus, police said on Thursday.
On May 12 2021, a Maoist couple from North Bastar Division approached police personnel in Kamdeta BSF camp (PS Koylibeda) and mentioned that they have abandoned Medki Local Organisation Squad( LOS) due to illness and requested for medical assistance. On examination the couple Arjun Tatti and his wife Laxmi Padda are found to be corona positive. They were active members of Medki LOS under Pratapur Area Committee and due to illness, they have decided to abandon the naxal formation and contact police for assistance. The couple has been immediately admitted to COVID Care Hosptal in Kanker for treatment.
Officials had earlier claimed that there has been an outbreak of coronavirus infection in Naxal camps. “We have been getting reliable inputs about the death of more than ten naxals in the southern part of Sukma and Bijapur districts. Many others are reported to be seriously ill,” Sundarraj said.
“We aren’t very sure about the cause of these sudden deaths, but ground reports suggest it could be coronavirus infection,” he added. Deployment of security personnel on the interstate and inter-district borders in Bastar has cut off the naxals’ supply chains and they are unable to get medicines, the official said. He appealed sick Maoists to surrender and get treatment at government hospitals. Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava had on Tuesday claimed that naxals performed last rites of 10 cadres who reportedly died of COVID-19 or food poisoning on the border between Sukma and Bijapur on Monday night.
Senior leaders of the Central Regional Company of Maoists were also reported to be suffering from coronavirus infection, he said. S P Kanker M.R. Ahire said, Maoist couple Arjun Tati and Laxmi Padda after treatment and recovery, will be questioned and advance action will be taken in accordance with the law related to surrender.
IG Bastar Range, Sundararaj P. welcomed the decision of Maoist couple Arjun Tati and Lakshmi Padda to leave the illegal CPI Maoist organization banned for health benefits due to ill health and contact the police.
Collector Kanker Chandan Kumar gave necessary guidelines to Kovid Hospital Management for better treatment to the Corona infected Maoist couple.
The Deputy IG Kanker Range, Vineet Khanna, appealed to the other local Maoist cadres to be freed from the clutches of the external Maoist cadre and surrender to the government.