State Media Claim 6 Naxalites killed, VCA Gives the Real Story of State Brutality

Unofficial Translation

12 Aug 2009Navbharat

Amidst criticism of the lack of coordination among them, CRPF, district Police and STF, in a comprehensive campaign against naxalites, were able to successfully destroy a Naxalite camp in the border areas of Dantewada and Bijapur districts in South Bastar, and as a result killed six naxalites. Corpses of four of the naxalites have been recovered. However, owing to pouring rain, the other two corpses floated away in the water of a nearby canal and were lost. Included in these is the corpse of a female commander. During the operation, around half a dozen suspects were also apprehended. For the first time, a helicopter was used to detect the presence of Naxalites in this two day anti-Naxal operation. The forces covered a distance of 40 km on foot, and it is then they were able to achieve this spectacular success. This operation has been christened ‘Green Hunt‘. IG T.J. Langkumer has congratulated the soldiers who participated in this successful campaign. According to sources, this operation was launched in the 700 square kilometer forest reserve area of Bhairamgarh, which encompasses Bhasi, Bachaili, Kirandul, Bhairamgarh, Mirtur and in the hilly areas of the Gangalur station. This combined campaign included 12 companies of the CRPF.

Himanshu Kumar of Vanvasi Chetna Ashram comments on the above news item

Police claimed on 12th August that they had killed six dreaded naxalites in an encounter near Bhairamgarh reserve forest & they named it operation ‘Green Hunt’. According to the police sources, this operation included CRPF, dist police & STF of both Dantewada & Bijapur districts. Police sources further claimed that they had smashed a naxal camp. As per preliminary reports received from tribes of these villages, in fact these forces reached Vechapal village first to teach them a lesson for daring to speak a month back about burning& looting of their houses & rape, killing of their fellow villagers. This time these forces captured all the houses of Vechapal village & made holes in the walls to use them as bunkers. Forces stayed in the village for three days. All the tribals of the village fled the forest during the period. Police forces fired mortar grenades on fleeing tribals killing one boy Modu s/o Bhima. They caught two boys of Ettepad village while they were going to participate in a cock fight at Hurrepal village. They caught two more tribals of Kawadgaon. These forces also caught one women named Somali of village Tinenar and on 11th of August when these forces went back they killed all five people whom they had caught alive and killed them on the way back to the police station. They threw Somali’s dead body in a stream on the way near Cherli village. Villagers recovered her naked corpse, suspecting rape before she was killed.

We request a national level fact finding team to investigate into this matter & bring out the truth.

Himanshu Kumar
Dantewada- Chhattisgarh
9425260031