JOIN USA Delhi-based civil rights group has demanded a judicial inquiry into the CRPF-Maoists encounter in Chhattisgarh on the night of June 28-29.
It is widely alleged that of the 20 people killed, many were innocent villagers, not Naxalites. Demanding a judicial probe on the lines of Rajinder Sachar and Swami Agnivesh into the killings of 20 villagers in the jungles of Dantewada, Janhastakshep said justice should be ensured to the poor tribals.
“Media reports suggest that among the victims there was a nine-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. According to a statement by 14-year-old Irpa Chottu from Sarkeguda at Maharani Hospital in Jagdalpur, he was grazing his cows when a group of Maoists came and forcibly took him to a meeting,” a release by the civil rights group stated.
“Suddenly, police appeared and opened fire towards the meeting. The Maoists escaped, while several villagers were caught in the crossfire. Chottu said he was captured, questioned, shot in the leg and finally sent to hospital,” it stated.
Many killed
It added that although security forces claimed that the joint operation by the Central Reserve Police Force and Combat Battalion for Resolute Action was carried out against Maoists, women and children have been killed in cold blood. The group asked for an impartial judicial probe under a Supreme Court judge.
The organisation also demanded immediate disciplinary action against the personnel responsible for violation of human rights, and sought adequate compensation for villagers.
“We want immediate suspension of all operations against tribals and withdrawal of security forces,” said Dr N K Bhattacharya of Janhastakshep.