Rights groups allege custodial killings after seven Maoist leaders killed in C'garh 'encounter'
Bijapur: Seven senior Maoist leaders were killed over three days in what the police claim were encounters with security forces in the Indravati National Park between June 5 and 7. However, civil rights groups have alleged that the deaths were the result of custodial torture and fake encounters following the illegal detention of 10 Maoists from Parshagarh village.
According to the Civil Liberties Committee (CLC) of Telangana, the police picked up 10 Maoists from the national park and killed seven of them after subjecting them to brutal torture. The CLC alleged that one Maoist was killed on June 5, four on June 6, and two on June 7. The remaining three are reportedly still in police custody.
Police have so far confirmed the deaths of only two individuals: Tentu Laxmi Narasimha Chalam alias Sudhakar, a CPI (Maoist) central committee member, and Mylarapu Adelu alias Bhaskar, a Telangana state committee member. Rights groups have named the others allegedly killed, including Telangana committee member Bandi Prakash and Dandakaranya zonal committee member Papa Rao.
The police version differs significantly. Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar claimed the operation was based on specific intelligence about Maoist leaders gathered in the forest. He stated that Sudhakar was killed in an exchange of fire on June 5 and that an AK-47 rifle was recovered from the scene. Additional fatalities reportedly occurred on June 6 and 7. The SP denied the allegations made by rights organisations, calling them "false propaganda."
Civil rights activists raised questions about the absence of other bodies near Sudhakar’s, despite him being a top leader usually accompanied by armed guards. They also pointed out he was found in civilian clothes, not the usual military fatigues. They urged the National Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged extrajudicial killings.
The Coordination Committee for Peace, which includes noted mediator G. Haragopal, described the incident as a “constitutional crisis” and called for urgent court intervention to prevent further erosion of democratic values. Haragopal had previously mediated with Maoists in high-profile hostage situations.
Bhaskar, who was also killed, was a registered medical practitioner before joining the Maoist movement in 1995. Both he and Sudhakar had long underground histories in the party.
The Committee for Release of Political Prisoners and the Indian Association of People’s Lawyers have demanded a second post-mortem of the bodies, alleging that the two were killed in cold blood.
The Civil Liberties Committee claims that over 550 Maoists have been killed since January 2024 as part of the Union government’s ‘Operation Kagar’, which they argue is being used to suppress tribal resistance and hand over mineral-rich lands to corporations.
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3 convicted for murder of Bengal councillor
Barasat (PTI): A court in West Bengal’s Barrackpore on Monday convicted three people for killing a councillor of Panihati Municipality in North 24 Parganas district.
Sanjib Pandit, Amit Pandit and Ziarul Mandal were convicted by the SDJM Court, Barrackpore, for the murder of Anupam Dutta, councillor of ward number 8 of the civic body in the city’s northern fringes, on March 13, 2022.
The court would declare the quantum of punishment on December 17.
Dutta was shot dead in the crowded Agarpara North Station Road, and his killing led to massive protests in the area in subsequent days.
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Local MLA Nirmal Ghosh had led a series of protests on B T Road and Tentultala More during March 2022, demanding the arrest of the assailants.
Police arrested one person based on CCTV footage, and nabbed two others after interrogating him.
Dutta's wife became the councilor following his death.
A large crowd from his ward, including many waving TMC flags, had on Monday assembled in front of the court premises, demanding strict punishment for the culprits.
