A tribal woman shot by security forces “cross fire” last September during an alleged anti-Naxal operation was prevented by the Chhattisgarh police from travelling to the Capital on Sunday for follow-up treatment to her wounded leg.
According to Himanshu Kumar of the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA), a local Gandhian group, Sambho Sodi was not allowed to travel by bus from Dantewada by the local police, which accused her of being a ‘naxalite.’ Mr. Kumar then accompanied Ms. Sodi in a private vehicle but the two were stopped in Kanker and detained by the police.
Policemen at the Kanker police station confirmed to The Hindu that Ms. Sodi was being held for questioning on the orders of the district Superintendent of Police.
Brought to Delhi in a stretcher last October, Ms. Sodi was subsequently treated at Delhi’s St. Stephen’s Hospital and is now able to walk with the help of a walker.
In a statement on Sunday, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Chhattisgarh, criticised what it said was the harassment of Ms. Sodi and Mr. Kumar. With the VCA set to hold a public hearing this week on the violation of human rights in the area by the security forces, the PUCL accused the government of gearing up to sabotage the event.
