Maoist commander Vinod Hunga is said to be behind the attack on Tuesday (9 April) in Chattisgarh’s Dantewada, in which Bharatiya Janata Party Legislator Bhima Mandavi, his driver and three policemen were killed, according to the police, Hindustan Times has reported.

The report cited officers familiar with the matter as saying that Vinod, who has a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, planned the attack with the help of about 60 Maoists from different units in the region.

“For the last two days, Maoists had been gathering in Shyamgiri from different places under the Malangir area committee, which Vinod has been heading since March 2018. Vinod was assisted by close aide, Deva,” a police officer was quoted in the report as saying.

According to the report, Deva belongs to the neighbouring Katekalyan area committee.

Vinod, who was elevated to secretary of Malangir area committee two years ago, was the mastermind of the October 2018 attack in Dantewada in which Doordarshan journalist Achyutanand Sahu and two policemen were killed, as per the police records.

Police reportedly learnt that Vinod is a key planner for Maoist activities in Bastar after grilling Sodhi Pojje, who surrendered in 2018.

As per the Dantewada police chief Abhishek Pallav, Vinod’s team has 15 Maoists. “We suspect Vinod could have been about a couple of kilometres away from the spot where the attack happened,” said a deputy superintendent level police officer, as reported by HT.