Revolutionary writer Varavara Rao on Sunday alleged that a group of activists from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were detained by Chhattisgarh police in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.
However, the Chhattisgarh police denied reports of the activists’ detention and claimed that they were provided shelter by the police in Sukma.
Mr. Rao claimed that 22 activists, who were part of a fact-finding team of the Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations, were stopped by Chhattisgarh police in Sukma on Sunday morning.
“A fact-finding team of the Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh went to Chhattisgarh on August 11. The police stopped 22 members of this fact-finding team near Sukma district jail on Sunday morning when they were travelling in three vehicles to Burkpal village of Sukma.
They were detained by the police and all attempts to contact the Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) and District Collector have failed. I appeal to the democratic forces to condemn this illegal detention and demand an immediate release of all 22 members,” Mr. Rao said in a press statement in Hyderabad.
Police denies allegation
However, Sukma SP Abhieshekh Meena denied Mr. Rao’s allegations and claimed that the activists were never detained in Sukma.
“Some members of the fact-finding team came to Sukma from Dantewada today morning. They were stopped for routine security checking. They needed a place to stay so we arranged a community hall for them in Sukma. They stayed there and after an hour they said that they feel safe in the area and want to go to Gompad village. We told them the road to Gompad wasn’t safe as a violent incident took place on that road on Saturday. We asked them to come after August 15 and assured them that they were free to go anywhere in the district. They also agreed with us.
They were also given food by the policemen. Later in the day, some of them went to Dantewada and some proceeded towards Hyderabad,” the SP said. When asked about the reports of detention, Mr. Meena said even he heard “rumors” of these activists’ “house arrest”.
“There was no detention. We only told them to avoid visiting interior areas before August 15. There is a risk of IEDs on that road and even our forces are not moving in that patch nowadays,” the SP added.
