Activists condemn murder charge on Sundar, others, seek prez interventioActivists condemn murder charge on Sundar, others, seek prez interventionn

Activists condemn murder charge on Sundar, others, seek prez intervention

Rashmi Drolia | TNN | 8 hours ago

RAIPUR: Over 25 civil rights groups, including Bastar Bachao Samyukt Sangharsh Samiti, are planning to launch a massive protest against Chhattisgarh police's alleged attempt to intimidate and implicate activists, lawyers and journalists in false cases for voicing protests human rights violation. Demanding suspension and slapping of criminal charges against Bastar IG, SRP Kalluri, the activists have appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene and stop witch-hunting by the police in Bastar.

Bastar Bastar Bachao Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti member Sanket Thakur told TOI that, "Nandini Sundar and others are facing criminal charges because they dared to raise voice against Bastar police and IG Kalluri by taking up the case in Supreme Court. The law and order in Bastar has become a slave to Kalluri. Activists, journalists and others are being targeted with the tacit support of chief minister."


Raising the issue of alleged fake encounters and other atrocities by security forces, Thakur said that police has failed to arrest or eliminate any top Maoist leader till date but only poor tribals are falling prey to these encounters. "We are planning to organise a massive protest against such intimidation," he added. CPI (Marxist) state secretary Sanjay Parathe, who is one among those charged with murder of Samnath Baghel, accused Bastar police of fabricating the case. "I have been targeted as part of political conspiracy because anyone who stands for tribals in Bastar has to face ire from the police and are forced to remain silent. They call us anti-nationals, police launch campaigns against us with help of local organizations."

He alleged that Bastar is rich in natural resources and police is successfully bringing up new police camps at all mineral rich sites. Villagers of Naamgaon where Baghel was killed, had many times in the past requested for police camps in the region but to no avail. Despite Naamgaon being one of the worst Maoist-affected regions, police focuses to give security only at mineral rich patches.

Baghel was killed by armed rebels because he reportedly protested against Maoists, instead of getting hold of them, police have dragged us into the case for no reason, Parate said, "We were labelled us criminals because we raised questions as to why villagers weren't given security. Soon a written complaint was submitted against us at Tongpal police station. And now an FIR has been filed holding us responsible for murder of a tribal. We will fight against the allegations both politically and legally."

Condemning the charges, Lakhan Singh of PUCL said that it's not the first time that the petitioners who are fighting cases against the state government and Bastar police in Supreme Court have been targeted. Earlier, Manish Kunjam has been rounded up several times and Nandini Sundar too has been facing false accusations. "It's an old pattern of Bastar police to misguide locals and discourage activists. Sundar has been fighting important cases related to Salwa Judum and Tadmetla encounter and she's a responsible activist. Sundar is being victimized as part of a conspiracy," Lakhan said.
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