Slain 12 Naxalites were actually civilians killed in a fake encounter in Chhattisgarh, locals reveal
Bijapur: Activists and locals have stated that the twelve individuals killed by Indian forces in violence-hit Chhattisgarh state were, in fact, civilians who fell victim to a fake encounter.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, villagers and activists in the Pedia area of Bijapur district affirmed that the 12 individuals killed by Indian forces on Friday (May 10) were not Naxalites but local residents.
As per a report by Hindustan Times, villagers who gathered outside the Bijapur District Collectorate to demand the bodies asserted that their family members were victims of a ‘fake encounter’ orchestrated by Indian forces.
Indian police claimed that Maoists were killed in the encounter and alleged that they had disguised themselves as local people upon encountering the police in the forest. Residents speaking to the media stated that Indian troops and paramilitary forces had targeted locals, emphasizing that the encounter was staged.
According to Hindustan Times, Gurunanda, a resident of Pedia village who witnessed the encounter, recounted that some villagers had gone to collect tendu leaves from the forest when Indian paramilitary forces approached them. Upon witnessing this, the villagers fled, only to be shot down by Indian troops and paramilitary forces in a state of fear and surprise.
Raju, another villager from Korchuli village, mentioned that they had arrived to collect the bodies of their relatives. Raju clarified, “Lalu Kunjam, who was killed, was not a Maoist but a farmer. He was at home and attempted to flee upon seeing the police, only to be shot down.”
Rakesh Alvam of Pedia village disclosed that his younger brother, Moto Alvam, was shot while collecting tendu leaves in the forest. He stated, “The Indian paramilitary and police personnel cordoned off Pedia village and another village, Itaavar. My brother was in the jungle gathering leaves when he was struck by a police bullet. All those killed in the encounter were villagers, not Maoists. They were rounded up from these two villages and executed.”
Rakesh Alvam further affirmed that he had identified all the deceased mentioned in a press note issued by the Bijapur Police, confirming that they were residents of Itawar and Pedia villages.
Meanwhile, rights activists announced their intent to take legal action. Soni Sori, a tribal rights activist working in the Bastar region of the state, stated, “Among those killed are villagers who were collecting tendu leaves in the jungle. Upon sighting the Indian paramilitary forces and police personnel, they attempted to flee and were shot. I have spoken with some family members of the deceased, who informed me that some villagers were apprehended from their homes and killed in the jungle.”
“We will file a petition in the high court as the police force has unjustly killed innocent villagers,” she added, according to Hindustan Times. In a separate development, Indian police, during a cordon and search operation against Naxalites, detained 14 civilians (including six women and eight men) in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
