CCRHS Blog

Gadchiroli: Naxals shoot down local Cong leader

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:22:43 +0000

Naxalities struck a blow to the Zilla Parishad elections in Gadchiroli by killing the Bhamragarh Panchayat Samiti Chairman and Bhamragarh Tahsil Congress unit chief Bahadurshah Alam early on Saturday right in the heart of the heavily-guarded town. The incident occurred about 150 meters away from the Bhamragarh police station.

Three young members of Quick Action Team of the Maoists allegedly came to a tea kiosk in the town square where Alam was having tea around 7 am. With at least a hundred people watching, two of them took out guns and fired at Alam from close range before running away from the place shouting, “Alam Murdabad, Lal Salaam Zindabad”. Alam was to file his papers for the election on Saturday. “He was reportedly warned by the Naxals not to stand for elections. We had also recovered pamphlets that called him a traitor,” Superintendent of Police Veeresh Prabhu said.

Prabhu said, “The exact reason for the murder isn’t known, but Alam was on our record as Naxal sympathiser till at least two years ago. We had been alerted about the threat to his life. Alam was known to visit the kiosk every morning, which the Naxals perhaps knew.”

Sources, however, said Alam had been on the Naxal hit-list after he shared the dais with K Madhukar Rao, the leader of Salva Judum movement in Chhattisgarh, who had brought his campaign to Gadchiroli in March last year. In 2002, Naxals had killed then district Congress chief Malu Kopa Bogami at Nelgonda, a village situated deep in Bhamragarh’s interiors.

(http://www.indianexpress.com/news/gadchiroli-naxals-shoot-down-local-cong-leader/905111/ 30/01/12, Indian Express)

Maoists seek PUCL ex-secy as mediator in kidnapping case

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:21:38 +0000

The CPI (Maoist) wants former secretary of the People’s Union of Civil Liberty Shashi Bhushan Pathak to negotiate with the State Government on the behalf of the organisation for the release of abducted cop Sunesh Ram who was abducted nine days back when red rebels had killed 13 police cops in a landmine blast in Garhwa.

Speaking from an unknown location CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Sudhirji said that his organisation wished Pathak to negotiate with the Government. “I wish Shashi Bhushan Pathak to negotiate with the Government on behalf of us. We treat Sunesh Ram as war prisoner…he is safe in our custody,” he said. For his release Maoists have set two demands – immediate halt over Operation Green Hunt and withdrawal of security forces, from Saryu, Oriya and Kone area under Garhwa, Latehar and adjoining areas engaged in anti-Maoist security operation.

“If the Government gives signal we will like to negotiate with the Government. Ending operation and erecting security bandobast are our specific demands,” he said. The Government is trading cautiously over the proposal but joint security operation was suspended two days back after the family members of Ram requested police to stop it in order to save his life.

“As per their demand we have stopped the operation for two days, now we will wait and watch for the next move by them,” said Director General of Police, GRS Rath. “I have been offered to mediate between the police and the Maoists,” said Pathak confirmed.

“In fact, I got to know on Sunday that they have named me as their mediator. I got a call form one Sudheerji who claimed himself as Zonal Commander called me up,” added Pathak. Pathak sought time whether he would like to mediate between Maoists and police but appeared willing to do it. Taking about his next move, Pathak said that he will first see the intention of the police. “It is essential that they must act positively for the safe release of Sunesh Ram. After any positive response from the police, I will proceed, he said.

Sceptical after taking to the IG Resi Dungdung, Pathak said there was no harm in removing the police picket as it is a matter of life of a policeman, and every body’s life is precious. “Being a human rights activist I will be happiest person in the world, if Sunesh Ram is released,” said Pathak.

The Maoists have said that Sunesh Ram will be released after police removes pickets and order forces back to barrack. Sunesh Ram was abducted on January 21 with the Garhwa Zila Parishad President Sushma Mehta and her two other aides after a bomb blast in which 13 policemen along with officer-in -charge of Bhandaria Police station were killed. Sushma Mehta and her two aides were released later after three days after but kept Ram as captive.

Sunesh Ram-1: File photo of Sunesh Ram the body guard of the officials who was kidnapped by MCC after landmine blast that killed 13 police personnel in Palamu.

Sunesh Ram-2: Wife Pushpa Devi with her child (C), mother Mutur Kuar (R) and sister Dulari Devi (L) wait for their kidnapped Sunesh Ram who is to be kidnapped by suspected Maoist after landmine blast that killed 13 police personals in the Jungle of Bariganwa at Garwah, in Palamu district at her home on Sunday.

(http://dailypioneer.com/nation/38830-maoists-seek-pucl-ex-secy-as-mediator-in-kidnapping-case.html 30/01/12, The Pioneer)

Activists shocked at gallantry award for Chhattisgarh cop

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:20:40 +0000

Gender and rights activists have protested against the Union government presenting a gallantry award to a Chhattisgarh cadre police officer who allegedly supervised the torture of Soni Sori, a school teacher accused of assisting the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

On Republic Day, the officer, Ankit Garg, was awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry for his role in an October 9, 2010 counterinsurgency operation, in which about 250 members of the State’s Special Task Force and district police ambushed Maoist guerrillas in Mahasamund district. Six Maoists were killed and two civilians, including a deaf and mute manual labourer, died in controversial circumstances. The police maintained that the civilians were caught in the crossfire in the course of a fluid operation.

Mr. Garg was subsequently appointed Superintendent of Police of Dantewada when Ms. Sori was arrested in October 2011 and accused of acting as a Maoist courier.

In a series of letters submitted to the Supreme Court, Ms. Sori says Mr. Garg verbally abused her and directed police personnel to torture her. She alleged that Mr. Garg watched as junior police personnel stripped her naked, administered electric shocks and assaulted her. According to her lawyers, a medical examination found two stones in Ms. Soni’s genital tract and another in her rectum.

“Is this, then, the gallant behaviour of our Dantewada police under the able guidance of SP Ankit Garg, which the government is now felicitating? Is this an award for ruthlessly torturing people? Does the government approve of these methods? Is this an accepted way of carrying out war against their own people in the name of anti-Naxal operations?” asks a press note circulated by Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression, a national network of women’s and rights organisations.

Mr. Garg has, however, categorically denied the allegations. “I can only say that the accusation has been made in the Supreme Court and the court has taken a decision on the 25th [of January]. More than two months have passed [since these allegations were first made.],” said Mr. Garg, who has subsequently been recalled to the police headquarters in Raipur.

“The final hearing is yet to begin,” said Colin Gonsalves, Ms. Sori’s lawyer, disputing Mr. Garg’s assertion that the court had come to a decision.

Vishwa Ranjan, Director-General of Police (Home Guards), said: “The Police Medal for Gallantry is for a specific instance … it is not like the award for Meritorious Service … Ankit Garg led one of the teams in the Mahasamund [encounter].” He added the Soni Sori case was a separate issue that was now sub judice.

(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2834675.ece 26/01/12, The Hindu)

7 killed as 82% vote in Manipur

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:19:34 +0000

In estimated 82% of the electorate on Saturday exercised their franchise in Manipur assembly elections which was marred by militant violence that claimed seven lives, including that of a CRPF jawan and an ultra.

According to reports, armed Naga rebels opened indiscriminate fire at a polling station in the hill district of Chandel after their attempt of capturing a booth was thwarted by the police and CRPF personnel. “A CRPF jawan, one underground militant, one woman (believed to be a voter) and four polling officials were killed,” official sources said adding six persons were killed on the spot. The seventh (polling official) succumbed to injuries on being airlifted to state capital Imphal.

Besides this, polling was by and large peaceful. Seven major militant groups had jointly called for boycott of Congress in the polls. Bombs suspected to have been planted by militants were seized and defused before the start of polling in Khurai Chingangbam area, Sawombung High School, Khomidok in Imphal East district and Naoremthong High School area in Imphal West district, official sources said.

Voting took place at 2,357 polling stations — 875 of them were termed hyper-sensitive. Around 350 companies of security personnel besides state police were deployed. There were also reports from six other places in the state where mobs damaged EVMs and in another incident miscreants snatched an EVM.

State’s chief electoral officer PC Lawmkunga said the voting percentage could go up as details from some districts were awaited. Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who cast his vote early, was optimistic about a good show by Congress. “It’s in the hands of voters. We hope we’ll win,” he said. Altogether 279 candidates, including 14 females, were in the fray. Prominent among them were NCP state chief and former CM Radhabinod Koijam, firebrand Congress minister Y Erabot Singh, Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) president Nimaichand Luwang, MPP leader O Joy and the lone minister from CPI Pheiroijam Parijat.

The Congress has fielded candidates in all 60 seats followed by Trinamool Congress – 47, Manipur State Congress Party – 34, CPI – 24, NCP – 22, BJP – 19, Manipur Peoples Party – 14, Naga People’s Front – 12, JD (U) – 5, CPI (M) – 2 and Independent – 18. Two new features of this poll in Manipur were allowing voting through postal ballots to 197 members of insurgent groups lodged in camps under the Suspension of Operations (SOO) agreements and taking photographs of all voters exercising their franchise.

(http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_7-killed-as-82pct-vote-in-manipur_1643247 29/01/12, DNA India)

Substantial improvement in army-civilian relations: Lt Gen

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:17:34 +0000

Substantial improvement in the army-civilian relations has been achieved in Assam since the anti-insurgency Operation Rhino in 1991 due to the sustained efforts by the army, army 4 Corps General-officer-Commanding (GoC) Lt Gen Shakti Gurung said here on Sunday.

The anti-insurgency Operation Rhino had now become ‘Operation Sadhvavana’ (Goodwill) resulting in transformation of conflict into peacetime, Lt Gen Gurung said addressing a gathering at the ‘Fauji Mela’. With the improving internal situation, he said, it was for the first time that the Mela was held “on the street” for the public to participate in the event aimed to give a blend of awareness about army and address the long felt need to come closer to the locals of Tezpur, where the Headquarters of 4 Corps engaged in counter-insurgency operations is located.

To rebuild the lives of people devastated by terrorism, Operation Sadhvavana has spent Rs six crore for various development activities in the state focusing on the people’s basic needs, he said. Due to the army’s efforts, the General said, 2000 militants from different insurgent outfits had surrendered before the security forces so far. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi gracing the occasion said, such type of coordination between the army and the public reaches the masses of the state causing peace to return and the people to lead a normal life.

Such Melas also encouraged the youth to join the army in the service of the nation and pursue Army as a career, Gogoi said. The ‘Fauji Mela’ was organised here under the aegis of Four Corps to showcase the strength, organization and capabilities of the Indian army for the people of Assam. The theme of the Fauji Mela was ‘we care for our People’ and highlighted the role of army in national integration and nation building, a Defence release said.

Some of the major highlights were the display of combat power comprising combat free fall by commandos, mock attack and battle drills.

A special counter was also set up to spread awareness on various recruitment and enrolment options available to the youth of the state to choose Army as a career option. Another counter set up at the exposition was the ‘Sadbhavana’ stall showcasing civilian and humanitarian projects undertaken by Army to bring prosperity and development in the North East region.

(http://www.deccanherald.com/content/222927/substantial-improvement-army-civilian-relations.html 29/01/12, Deccan Herald)

After 1947 JK turned into virtual jail: Mufti

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:16:04 +0000

Patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, on Sunday said Jammu and Kashmir turned into a virtual jail after 1947. “India and Pakistan got independence in 1947 but Jammu and Kashmir was turned into a virtual jail. It was the greatest tragedy in the history of JK,” Mufti said while addressing a public meeting at Kalu Chak here.
He claimed that only PDP could provide a government that can empower people in true sense. “My dream is to make JK a state of opportunities, prosperity where people could live a dignified life,” he added.

Criticizing National Conference (NC), Mufti said all the projects which were started during PDP-Congress coalition government’s regime were put on halt by the NC led government. Highlighting achievements of PDP government Mufti said that it was during the three year tenure of his party when many prestigious projects were started. These included four laning of Highway, railway double laning and train to valley, opening up of 60 Degree Colleges in various parts of state, empowerment of LAHDC, monthly pension to old aged widows and handicapped was provided at their door step. Besides this, 60,000 RET and 16000 Anganwari workers were appointed in a transparent manner. Now NC is taking credit for all these projects instead of consolidating these.

Mufti added that PDP was formed in 1999 with a view to provide an alternative to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The PDP provided dignity of life when it came into power in 2002. It was due to the policies of NC which led to the outbreak of armed rebellion in the state. PDP opened Muzaffarabad and Rawalakote routes. He averred that opening up of Sialkot route was also in his agenda. He castigated the NC government “for not empowering” Panchayats. “State Accountability Commission was made defunct and cases of corruption against influential people got stayed in the High Court.”

On death of NC worker Syed Yousf Shah, he said that independent agency with sufficient powers should probe the entire episode. Referring to India- Pakistan relations, Mufti said, “Both the countries are forging friendly ties and Jammu Kashmir has to play an important role,” he said. “It is only the people who can bring change. PDP will continue its efforts to mitigate the suffering of people of all the three regions of the state,” he added.

Many senior PDP leaders including Ex MP Trilok Singh Bajwa, MLA Abdul Gaffar Sofi, MLA Julfikar Ali, MLA Dilawar Mir, MLC Choudhary Nijamiddin, Ex MLA Shanti Devi, Depinder Kour, Ex MLC Ved Mahajan, Choudhary Hussain Ali Baffa, Falail Singh, Daman Bhasin, Suresh Sharma, Anil Gour, Avtar Singh Khalsa, Rangeel Singh were present on the occasion.

(http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Jan/30/after-1947-jk-turned-into-virtual-jail-mufti-9.asp 29/01/12, Greater Kashmir)

Banishing no solution: Geelani

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:14:45 +0000

Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani has criticised the decision of a local Sharia court ordering expulsion of five Christian missionaries from Jammu and Kashmir, saying banishing someone is no solution. “We are not with the decision taken by the Sharia court to banish a few persons from the state for their alleged role in conversions. Banishing someone is no solution,” he said.

A Sharia court last week issued a decree seeking the expulsion of five Christian missionaries from the state and asked the state government to monitor activities of Christian missionary schools in the Valley.

The chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, however, assured the Christians that they are safe in the Valley and praised their educational work in the Valley. “They are a part and parcel of our society and it is our duty to protect them,” he said. Geelani accused the Muslim Wakf Board of failing to live up to expectations of the people by not being able to establish schools and educational institutions.

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Banishing-no-solution-Geelani/articleshow/11676092.cms 29/01/12, The Times of India)

Kashmir legislator seeks amnesty for Afzal Guru

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:10:23 +0000

Legislator Abdul Rasheed has again pitched for an amnesty for 2002 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and said he plans to seek a fresh resolution on the issue in the upcoming budget session of the J&K assembly. The last time Rasheed brought a resolution on the matter — during the autumn session of the House in October 2011 — it was not voted on.

On Sunday, at a public gathering in his constituency Langate, Rasheed said, “The Guru issue should be seen through the prism of humanity and not politics. I expect all lovers of humanity to support amnesty for Guru.” The MLA is planning to bring the resolution as a private member in the assembly session scheduled to begin in the third week of February. But he called for a joint resolution from the ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Claiming that he was in touch with leaders of both parties, Rasheed said, “This is the time when both parties, which claim to represent Kashmiri sentiment, can prove their sincerity and seriousness.” The sentence for Guru is a sensitive issue in Kashmir. Many feel he had not received a fair trial and the state government expects repercussions if he is executed. Rasheed had moved the resolution after the Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution seeking clemency for the three killers of Rajiv Gandhi.

(http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Srinagar/Kashmir-legislator-seeks-amnesty-for-Afzal-Guru/Article1-803822.aspx 29/01/12, Hindustan Times)

Agencies worried ‘Hindu terror’ tough to prove

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:08:49 +0000

In what could lead to a major embarrassment for the Centre, investigations into the much-hyped Hindu terror cases are likely to hit a dead end. The cases, including blasts at Modasa, Malegaon I and II, Ajmer, Samjhauta Express and Mecca Masjid, in which Swami Aseemanand has been made the main conspirator, lack corroborative evidence. The investigators feel the cases may fall flat during trial.

More than five years since investigations started, the probe agencies CBI, NIA and State police are still clueless about those named by Aseemanand. All these co-accused are still absconding. The chargesheets in these cases have been filed on the basis of Aseemanand’s confessional statement, which he has subsequently denied.

The NIA needs to gather concrete material evidence to substantiate the alleged conspiracy and corroborate his statements. Sources said the chargesheets were filed mainly to prevent Aseemanand getting bail.

Sources said the NIA, which has been struggling to collect evidence in the 2006 Malegaon blast case, is likely to quiz some of the Maharashtra ATS officials who had probed the case. In the light of a confession by Swami Aseemanand before a magistrate, the nine youths arrested by the Anti-Terror Squad in 2006 were released on bail recently by the court as the NIA did not oppose the same due to lack of evidence against them.

The NIA now plans to examine the role of officials of Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad, which had chargesheeted the nine youths in the case, and re-visit their investigations into the case, official sources said. The key conspirator and the alleged conspiracy may be there but the co-conspirators of these cases are still at large and the confessional statement under Section 164 of the CrPC does not hold any value unless corroborated with material evidence, an investigator said.

The official says that Aseemanand’s confessional statements do not hold evidentiary value as he has subsequently denied them and claimed that the same were extracted under duress. Notwithstanding the chargesheets filed in the cases, the investigation continues to be open till evidences to corroborate the allegations are gathered.

So far, the NIA has gathered materials to prove that similar explosives were used in these blasts and were packed into pipes procured from a shop in Indore. The probe agencies are also basing their cases on procurement of 21 SIM cards from Faridabad by the accused. The SIM cards have a common series of mobile numbers. Concern has already been expressed at the highest levels in the security and intelligence establishment over the failure of the agencies in cracking the blasts cases. NIA officials admitted that tracing that is a challenge as they hold key to corroboration of the allegations made and materials gathered.

Agency officials blamed the failure in gathering evidence inter-State rivalries in cases where the links stretched to more than one State and loss of crucial time before the federal agency took up the cases for investigation.

The NIA is still investigating the Modasa mosque blast even as the case was registered by the June 29, 2010. The allegations include bomb explosions by terrorists at a mosque in the Gujarat town in Sabarkantha district at 9.25 PM on September 29, 2008. The Gujarat Police had registered the case on September 30, 2008. The case was registered under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (grievous injury) of the Indian Penal Code and under relevant sections of Explosives Substances Act and Bombay Police Act. The agency is yet to file a charge sheet.

The Samjhauta Express train blasts case that occurred on February 19, 2007 is being investigated by NIA vide its case number 09/10 and a chargesheet has been filed against accused. But little headway has been made as key accused Amit, alias Ashok, alias Prince, alias Sunny, alias Ashwini, alias Ashwini Chauhan, is yet to be arrested. The charges include seditious activity by causing explosions in Samjhauta Express train at Panipat in Haryana. The case was initially registered by GRP, Karnal on February 19, 2007 and the NIA later took it up on July 29, 2010.

The chargesheet has been filed against five accused persons under Sections 120-B, 302, 307, 324, 326 of the IPC and under relevant Sections of the Explosive Substances Act and Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act and under certain provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

But the NIA is further probing the matter as per the provisions of the Section 173 (8) of the CrPC with a view to file a supplementary chargesheet detailing corroborative evidence. However, the accused persons are still at large and the only material is Aseemanand’s statement recorded before a magistrate and commonality of modus operandi, use of explosives and SIM cards of a certain series of mobile phone numbers in the so-called Hindu terror cases.

In the Mecca Masjid blasts case, a chargesheet was filed by the CBI, and the NIA later on filed a supplementary charge sheet but without much evidence on record. Likewise, the NIA is yet to trace the accused or gather any substantive material in the Malegaon I and II blasts case besides the Ajmer blasts case. Chargesheets have been filed but the cases are yet to move further for want of corroborative evidence.

Key absconders include Ram Chandra Kalsangra, Sandeep Dange, Suresh Nair, Bhavesh Patel, Amit, Mehul and Jauyanti Bhai Gohil. NIA has named Naba Kumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand, Sunil Joshi (now dead), Sandeep Dange, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Suresh Nair, Bhavesh, Mehul as the key accused in Samjhauta, Ajmer, Malegaon and Mecca Masjid blasts cases in which it has filed chargesheets.

(http://www.dailypioneer.com/pioneer-news/todays-newspaper/38842-agencies-worried-hindu-terror-tough-to-prove.html 30/01/12, The Pioneer)

The Path to a Conflict-Free State

ccrhs — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:06:57 +0000

Nandini Sundar

Peace talks and punishing erring Special Police Officers are the key to solving the Naxal problem, says Nandini Sundar, Head of Department, Sociology, Delhi School of Economics.

Contrary to the dominant narrative that areas where Naxalites are strong are where the state has been absent, for the last 100-150 years, there has been a gradual expansion of the state in tribal areas regardless of whether the people want it or not. However, the state has been expanding in the wrong areas. You have an extension of the forest department, the bureaucracy, the patwari and the forest guard. But at the same time there is no state presence in the form of school teachers, healthcare workers and other services.

The problem here is that the state only wants to take a military approach towards ending Naxalism. This will not work as it has been proven in the case of Kashmir and the North East. It may have ‘worked’ in Punjab, but that was because the people were already alienated from the militants. The criterion of success is also debatable because of the grave violations of human rights. In terms of a constitutional approach to conflict resolution, I wouldn’t say that was an approach that worked.

This attitude [of the government] is reflected in the CRPF [Central Reserve Police Force] programme of winning the hearts and minds of the people, as part of which the paramilitary gifts people lungis and saris. Ironically, the CRPF personnel beat up people if they don’t accept the gifts and people laugh as they recount this.

In Chhattisgarh, in the areas where Maoists are strong, there is no voting in the villages, and many of the sarpanches have joined the Salwa Judum. So, when development work is routed through the sarpanches, it has no relationship to anything on the ground. The sarpanches don’t even live in the villages, and invent paper schemes in collusion with the block officer. It’s a fantasy of development where the paperwork looks good, but no one’s heart or mind is being won. Much of this is also being shown for roadside villages which were never Judum-affected or Maoist-influenced in the first place, so that the figures look good. But the real areas that are affected remain unaddressed.

The only way to proceed towards establishing peace in Chhattisgarh is to start on the plank of justice. Three villages had been torched last year and in 2007. The interesting part here is that in 2007, the average losses [claimed by the tribals] per household was around Rs. 1 lakh, but due to the recent incidents [attacks on the tribals by the paramilitary], in many households, the figure is as low as Rs. 20,000 per household. It is evident that the Adivasis are not only under relentless attack, but are also becoming paupers.

In this context, it is not clear what role the integrated action plan announced by Jairam Ramesh will play. Where people have been killed and raped and houses burnt and they get no justice, will their hearts and minds be won through roads and panchayat bhawans? For their part, the villagers will accept state intervention if it is seen as a part of a justice package and not as part of counter-insurgency. We [activists fighting on behalf of the tribals in Chhattisgarh] had submitted a rehabilitation plan that precisely ensured this-through an enumeration of what had happened in each village and a transparent compensation and criminal registration process with an appropriate monitoring committee. But the governmen-both Centre and state-have kept stalling.

If the Centre is serious about bettering the situation in Chhattisgarh, first it needs to withdraw troops to the barracks and hold peace talks with the Naxalites. But that seems unlikely as they have killed Kishenji [Maoist leader]. The Maoists, for their part, must stop initiating attacks and renew expressions of interest in peace talks. As unlikely as the prospect seems, there is no other way, but talks. As for other steps, the onus lies on the government alone. The second thing that the Chhattisgarh government needs to do is to implement the Supreme Court order disbanding Special Police Officers [SPOs] in its spirit. The state government has today recruited the SPOs into the Chhattisgarh Armed Auxiliary Force and they continue to threaten people.

The SPOs are allowed a free run by the police. Today, the SPOs who have been recruited into the auxiliary force earn four times the salary they used to draw earlier. While they were paid Rs. 1,500 earlier as SPOs, these people today earn around Rs. 7,000. They are the ones to benefit the most out of our petition. This would be fine in terms of giving them security, but for this to be constitutional, the guilty ones among them have to be taken to task. Otherwise, what you have is the regularisation of criminals.

The government needs to ensure that justice is delivered to the people of Chhattisgarh. It also needs to implement our rehabilitation plan and file criminal cases. Today, you can be a mass murderer and get away with it whether in Gujarat 2002 or 2005 onwards in Chhattisgarh. Unless there is an end to impunity, and a movement for this, just like the movement against corruption, we will never see a conflict-free country.

What needs to be done

     * End the military approach towards Naxalism.
     * To establish peace, one needs to start on the plank of justice and start peace talks.
     * Disband Special Police Officers who threaten locals with impunity.

(As told to K.P. Narayana Kumar)

Nandini Sundar is head of department, Sociology, Delhi School of Economics

(http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/features/nandini-sundar-the-path-toconflict-free-state_657403.html 27/01/12, Money Control)