New Delhi: Residents of nearly 30 villages of Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur are protesting against the killing of three people in firing by the security forces near a new police camp in Silger area, demanding a high-level probe.
The residents, most of whom belong to tribal communities, say that the security forces opened fire unilaterally on Monday. The police claim that Naxals were part of the crowd that was protesting against the opening of the Silger camp and attacked the camp with gun shots and stones.
Three people were killed and several others were injured. The police have detained five people, including a woman, according to the Indian Express. The report adds that the bodies of the three people killed, claiming they have not been identified. Locals, however, identified the dead as protesters Kawasi Wagha, 37, from Chutwai; Korsa Bhima, 32, from Gundam; and Uika Murali, 22, from Timmapuram, IE said.
The camp, where personnel from CRPF’s 153rd battalion and state security forces are stationed, was opened on May 12 and since May 14, residents from nearby villagers had been protesting demanding its removal.
Villager Nandaram Markam told news agency PTI that the protests from local residents were not under pressure from Naxals but because people wanted schools and health facilities instead. He said that the protesting crowd had not pelted stones at the forces and the latter did not have to open fire. “There were no Naxals in the crowd, and several villagers sustained injuries and many of them are missing even now,” he claimed.
However, another resident told the Indian Express that the protesters were beaten up by the security forces on Monday, when they went to submit their demands. “They beat us earlier too. We also got angry and some of our people pelted stones at their vehicles and at the camp. First, the security personnel threw tear gas bombs, and then opened fire,” said a Class 12 student from Jagargunda. “The people in the front fell, some of them died. When we tried to go get their bodies, we were lathi-charged again. That led to a stampede and several people fell over each other.”
Alok Shukla, convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA), a group of activists, alleged police opened fire on tribals who were protesting against the camp and demanded that the incident be probed by a retired judge of the high court in a time-bound manner and an FIR be registered against those found guilty.
He also demanded compensation for the dead and good medical treatment for the injured.
Inspector general of police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P. denied the allegations and said Naxals hiding among villagers opened fire on security forces.
“Maoists are frustrated with the opening of new camps in their stronghold. After the Silger camp was set up on the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts, they were pressuring local residents to protest against it. The protest had ended on Sunday night but Maoists forced the villagers to return on Monday near the camp,” he said.
The families of the three people who were killed in the firing had rushed to Silger with some utensils and ration on hearing about the death of their kin, according to the Indian Express.
Four of Kawasi Wagha’s children and their grandfather Mangdu had walked 25 km overnight to take the body back home. One of the sons said, “Our youngest brother is only four years old; our mother has been sick for months. Father had asked me to take care of the family, saying he would be back in 2-3 days.”
Korsa Bhima’s wife Nande, 17-year-old daughter Jogi and 3-year-old son Mahesh are also waiting to collect the body, the Indian Express reported. “My husband didn’t tell us where he was going. Now he is gone forever. I have a daughter to marry off and a son to raise,” Nande sobbed.
The third deceased, Uike Murali’s elder brother Bheema said, “They killed him for protesting, for asserting his rights to his jal-jungle-jameen, exactly how it was like during the Salwa Judum years.”