He was given wrong information by State government, says Charandas Mahant
Three days after the State police and the Central Reserve Police Force killed 20 villagers in a counter-insurgency operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, an 11-member team of the Opposition Congress visited the site and dubbed the incident a “completely fake encounter” and the victims “innocent Adivasis.”
The findings are in sharp contrast to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s remarks soon after the incident, praising the forces for their courage and skill and claiming that three important Maoist leaders were killed in the raid. “The State government has passed on wrong information to the Union Home Minister [about the incident],” said Union Minister of State for Agriculture Charandas Mahant, clarifying the apparent contradiction in the party’s stance.
While 19 villagers died in the raid in the Kotteguda Panchayat on Thursday, one succumbed to injuries in hospital. Six CRPF troopers were also injured.
“I visited the site and spoke to the villagers…they were holding a meeting to discuss the upcoming sowing season,” said Kowasi Lakma, the Congress MLA who headed the team. “They said no Maoists were present. Children have died, school students have died, women have died. How can they all be Naxalites?”
“It is clear that the police system in Chhattisgarh has collapsed,” Congress State president Nand Kumar Patel said, asked about the role of the Central forces in anti-Maoist operations. “It is true that the encounter occurred during a joint operation between the State and Central forces, but the State police must guide the CRPF and provide intelligence.”
Sources in the security establishment expressed unhappiness with the quality of information passed on to the paramilitary forces. “Pure imagination is being passed off as intelligence,” said an officer familiar with anti-Maoist operations, noting that the forces were on their way to intercept a Maoist company at Silger, 16 km away in Sukma district, but stumbled into an alleged fire-fight, 3 km from their camp.
Neither villagers nor Mr. Lakma could explain how six troopers were injured if there were no Maoists present during the encounter. A villager interviewed by this correspondent said the forces might have accidently shot each other when they surrounded the village.
The police have disputed this theory. “There are no exit wounds on the troopers shot in the face and chest,” a police source said, implying that the troopers were shot by low-velocity bullets used by Maoists rather than the INSAS or Kalashnikov rifles used by the forces.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to establish the sequence of events.
Keywords: Dantewada encounter, CRPF, anti-naxal operations
Where were these so called human rights activists when 75 CRPF troopers were killed ?
It is because of these people that we are facing naxal menace and not because of inefficiency of CRPF or state police force.
Before we declare war on our own people or neighbours or countries afar - shouldn't parliament vote on it? Constitution must be amended to include a clause that without 2/3rd vote - we cannot declare war on any state or our own people. Mahatma Gandhi's Congress? No more. Why do we have Ashoka Chakra on our flag - when the very Dharma it represents is ignored. If the hills of Chattisgarh didn't have the minerals... life would have been a lot more peaceful for the tribal folk.
This cruel act of the State regime show that Transparency, democracy and Rule of Law are not existing in India. Mr. Chidamparam should be removed from office for his lies and to cover up crimes against humanity. Next election people of Sivaganga will dump him for good!
This appears to be a part of planned operations to annihilate Adivasis to help the mining barons and mafias and is going on for a long time. Hon'ble Mr. P Chidambaram appears to have taken the responsibility to help the mining barons and mafias at any cost. Doubt is naturally raised about the remuneration of respected Mr. Chidambaram and where he is keeping the loot?
It is shocking to see Home Minister P Chidambaram deliver a statement
full of lies before Cameras. He called the CRP murderers "bold" and
"courageous" for having carried the operation. He gave a verdict that
it is lawful and much-needed. If an illegal operation is carried out,
isn't it incumbent on the Home Minister of the country to investigate
into the issue before pronouncing a one-sided judgement like the
American Generals do when they slaughter innocents through the Drone
attacks? Shouldn't he resign for taking the responsibility to kill 20
innocent tribal children and women?
Blood on your hands, Mr Chidambaram. You should go.
Congress has lost its marbles nation wide. Statements come thick and fast even it means contraditing their own members. Mahant is only interested in criticising the Chattisgarh Govt. With ministers like Mahant BJP can win the election without moving a muscle.
Mr.Chidambrum is not a relible minister.a trnspsrent inquiry is must.in such cases if found fake,officers & ministers,both at State and at Centre must be arrested immediately.
Is there any Justice for these villagers? As for Chidambram, I believe
he is totally a gone case. Since being under pressure on 2G
misappropriation, he is less factual and lying more.
"...Yet, information from Bijapur-based journalists and inter-faith activist Swami Agnivesh suggests that security forces may have opened fire on a village meeting called by the Maoists...".(The Hindu News item dated 29th June 2012)If so,the village meeting called by the Maoists was held by the innocent adivasis comprising only of children,school students and women and with no presence of any Maoist in the gathering was just discussing the upcoming sowing season, when the CRPF and the State Police had chosen to murder them in a fake encounter, simulataneously inflicting injuries on six of the CRPF personnel? Where lies the truth? MHA should quickly find it out to restore confidence of the people in the fairness of the security forces toiling hard to erase the menace of extremism in India.
when police trooper die then it's their carelessness and inefficiency, when Maoist die it's fake encounter. Politics on martyr's dead body is not good for whole nation. Recall the brave policemen and let the politicians and villagers handle this.
While it could be argued that not all killed are maoists but the question still remain unanswered is how did the policemen got injured ?
State terrorism is exposed by the visit by a fact finding mission. The credibility of the UPA regime is exposed to the world and nothing else!
This seems to be a case where the local congress is trying to fish in
troubled waters. Chidambaram praised the forces and not the state
government.
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