Thousands of villagers in Dantewada district of south Chhattisgarh have launched an intensive and peaceful protest over the killing of Bhima Nupo, a tribal of Rewali village, allegedly by the police on January 6.
More than 7000 villagers from over 20 Gram Panchayats took out a march on Friday to Kuwakonda police station. “Bhima Nupo was killed by the police. His five children and wife are helpless now. We are demanding strict punishment for his killers and the district administration should also make arrangements for his family and provide compensation,” said Rewali Sarpanch Rakesh Tati who was at the protest.
The protest was led by the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader and tribal activist Soni Sori.
The protest was withdrawn later after Ms. Sori, managed to get an assurance of “compensation and proper probe” from the district administration. “We have agreed to their demand of compensation to the deceased’s family within ten days. We will enquire into the case and will check the post mortem report and the FIR. If needed, there would be a magisterial enquiry. Prima facie there is no evidence to conclude as to who killed him,” Dantewada collector K.C.Devsenapati told The Hindu . The protest was withdrawn after the district administration's assurance. However, Ms. Sori has threatened an “intensified protest” if the district administration failed to act on its assurances within ten days.
