JOIN USAn independent fact-finding civil rights team probing “encounters” in Gadchiroli has found that in five such incidents reported this year, police and paramilitary forces violated all established procedures and killed tribal and villagers, suspecting them to be Maoist sympathisers in cold-blood.
The team demanded that cases of culpable homicide be registered against police personnel and officials involved in these “encounters”.
It also demanded judicial enquiry into these killings and compensations to the relatives of the slain.
In the last seven-eight months, police press releases indicate that at least 26 tribal or villagers lost their lives in six “encounters” in Gadchiroli district.
A 23-member team under Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations (CDRO) along with Indian Association of People’s Lawyers meticulously examined all evidence and statements of people connected with the incidents.
The team, last month, extensively toured five villages where five encounters had taken place and intensively questioned not just villagers or people’s representatives but also local media, political representatives and police officials.