Raipur: A number of top Maoist leaders have been eliminated in recent weeks by security forces in Chhattisgarh.
However, civil rights activists have claimed that Chhattisgarh police are actually killing Maoist leaders one by one in staged encounters, after having taken into custody in Bijapur.
The Telangana civil rights association said in a statement on Saturday that senior Maoist leaders, including CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Sudhakar and Telangana State Committee member Mailarapu Adelu alias Bhaskar, were in police custody before being killed in staged encounters on Thursday and Friday, respectively, in the Indravati National Park area.
Two weeks ago, CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju was gunned down in Narayanpur.
However, police dismissed the “baseless” allegations, saying that all actions were lawful and carried out in strict accordance with operational protocols.
“In strict adherence to the constitutional mandate and legal framework of the Republic of India, the security forces remain committed to safeguarding the lives, rights and properties of the native population in the region. All operational activities are conducted in accordance with the provisions of law, ensuring due process, restraint, and accountability at every stage,” Inspector General (IG) of Police, Bastar Range, Sunderraj P said.
The civil rights body also claimed that other senior Maoist leaders — Bandi Prakash, Indravati National Park area secretary Dilip, Maddeedu area secretary Seetu, Ramanna, Munna, Sunitha, Mahesh, and 10 others — remain in police custody and are at risk of being killed similarly.
The association has demanded those Naxalites should be immediately produced before a magistrate, calling for a ceasefire and peace talks with Maoists.
Responding to allegations, the IG reiterated all actions undertaken by security forces during the course of operations are fully compliant with legal norms, and warned against the spread of “unsubstantiated allegations, misinformation, or speculative narratives.”
