Naxal threat: 71 Gadchiroli elected representatives quit

As many as 71 elected representatives in Gadhiroli, an East Maharashtra district have resigned from their posts till now, apparently due to Naxal threat. Talking to the media, Chief Executive Officer of the Gadchiroli Zilla Parishad

Sumant Bhange said 71 elected representatives have resigned in the last one month. Of these representatives, one is a Zilla Parishad member, four Panchayat Samiti members and 66 village Panchayat members, he said.

While he did not elaborate on the reason behind the mass resignations, sources said the public representatives have done so under pressure from Naxals, who have pockets of influence in Gadchiroli, the worst Maoist-affected district in Maharashtra, which saw a major Naxal attack in March. A dozen Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in the Naxal attack on their bus.

Maoists had warned the elected representatives to give up their posts or face dire consequences. Naxals had kidnapped a former ZP member from Etapalli taluka last month.

Earlier they had killed a senior Nationalist Congress Party leader from Etapalli in broad daylight. In the past, Maoists have kidnapped several village sarpanches. Some were killed and others were released after warning by the extremists.