Chhattisgarh: Why is there an uproar over the death of two tribals in an encounter in Sukma?
Police said kill the Naxalites, Adivasi Mahasabha claims – the deceased were innocent, the police murdered and burnt the bodies with petrol.
Published on: 12 Sep 2023, 3:26 pm
Chhattisgarh. Two people were killed by the police in an encounter that took place on September 5 in Sukma district. The villagers allege that after encountering the two, the police poured petrol on their bodies and burnt them. At the same time, Manish Kunjam, former MLA of Konta Assembly and National President of Tribal Mahasabha, has described the alleged Naxalites Sodhi Kosa and Rava Deva, who were killed in an encounter in the Tadmetla-Duled forest, as local villagers. The police claim that both Rava Deva and Sodi Kosa were rewarded Naxalites. Condemning this incident, the former MLA has also demanded a judicial inquiry and strict action against the culprits.
Learn about the case in detail?
On September 5, security forces launched an operation in the forests of Morpalli, Kummadtog, Tammetla villages of Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. In this operation the police killed two tribals. It is alleged that during their operation, the security forces first tortured two bike-riding villagers returning from Sanga to Talmetla in Timmapur village near the forest of Gargadguda Para in Morpalli village and then shot them. Now different reactions are coming in Bastar division regarding this encounter. CPI leader and former MLA Manish Kunjam was the first to raise questions on this encounter.
According to a report, Manish Kunjam said, “On September 5, I was going to a program in Elmagunda village. Then Sukma SP (Kiran Chavan) calls and says that an encounter is going on in Talmetla. It is not advisable to go there. Therefore the program has been postponed.”
Manish Kunjam told that “He had reached Chintagufa and during the conversation with the local villagers here, he came to know that the police had informed the villagers about the encounter going on with the Naxalites since last night, but the villagers did not hear the sound of bullets. Di. He told – ‘At night I came to know about the whole incident that two youths named Rava Deva and Sodi Kosa were coming on their brother-in-law’s bike. The brother-in-law had asked them to bring small fish (fish beach). Gave him money so that he could start fish farming.”
According to the report, during their return, the youth were stopped by the police force and shot with bullets. The police declared both the youths to be Naxalites with a reward of Rs 1 lakh each. After the shooting, his motorcycle was also hidden.
Soldiers accused of burning dead body
In the same report, it has been said that the relatives of the deceased and the villagers say that the police opened fire directly on both the youths, if there was any suspicion on the youths, they would have caught them, interrogated them or arrested them, but to show their achievement, two innocent youths were shot dead. Was murdered by the police. Villagers said that the police themselves burnt the bodies of the youth.
Bastar IG refuted the allegations
In this entire matter, Bastar IG Sundarraj P has denied the allegations of fake encounter. The IG has said in his statement that both the killed villagers were Janmaalshiya cadre of the Naxalite organization and were involved in the murder of Kawasi Sukka, education ambassador of Tadmetla village, and village deputy sarpanch Madvi Ganga and villager Korsa Kosa, apart from this, every movement of the force was also being carried out. Used to convey information to Naxalites.
