Anniversary of Batla house Fake encounter: protest held, judicial probe demanded

New Delhi: Dilli Police Murdabad, Sheila Dikshit Murdabad, NHRC Murdabad were the slogans in the air in Jamia Nagar area on Friday on the eve of the first anniversary of the Batla House encounter. The marchers carrying torches and placards under the banner of Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association were demanding a judicial probe into the encounter.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police conducted the encounter on September 19, 2008 at the House No. L-18 in the Batla House locality of Jamia Nagar, killing two Azamgarh youth whom the police described as terror suspects. Civil rights groups said it was a fake encounter. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is believed to have prevented a judicial probe for fear of losing Hindu votes in the Assembly poll held last December. After much protest National Human Rights Commission conducted a probe only to give a clean chit to the police. The NHRC report was blasted by human and civil rights activists and lawyers.

UP borders on high alert for Naxals

Lucknow In the wake of the operation launched against Naxalites in Chattisgarh, the forests of Sonbhadra district in Uttar Pradesh, abutting Chhatisgarh, saw massive combing operations on Saturday to check any possible Naxal infiltration into the state.

“The forces deployed in the bordering areas of Sonbhadra are on high alert to check the infiltration by Naxalites, following the fierce operation in Chhatisgarh,” Uttar Pradesh Inspector General (Law & Order) A P Maheshwari told The Indian Express.

Sonbhadra Superintendent of Police Preetinder Singh said, “The Dantewada district where the operation in Chhatisgarh is centred is far from the Sonbhadra border. The Naxals may, however, infiltrate into UP on way to Jharkhand.”

Maoists planning human shields to thwart troopers in Chhattisgarh

Sujeet Kumar
September 19th, 2009

DANTEWADA – Worried after the massive assault launched by security forces and warned of more in the coming days, top Maoist leaders have started fleeing their landmine-protected hideouts in the Chhattisgarh jungles and are planning to put up human shields to thwart the troopers, top officials said Saturday. At least two dozen ultras were killed in the attacks Friday.

Reports that the government is preparing for the biggest assault on the Maoists has unsettled the rebels, the officials say. The Maoists hold sway over much of the iron-ore rich Bastar region – spread over 40,000 sq km in the five districts of Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kanker, and Bastar.

Cobras suffer big loss in Maoist battle

SHEENA K.

A Cobra jawan during the Lalgarh offensive. (File picture)

Raipur, Sept. 19: The Cobra, a force specifically trained to take on Maoists, has suffered its biggest loss yet, it emerged today with the discovery of the bodies of five personnel reported missing in Chhattisgarh yesterday.

The force, known as the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra), is locked in a battle with the Maoists in Dantewada district.

Security personnel found the five bodies in the dense forests of Palachalam after a wide search.

The Cobra force had sneaked into a Maoist den in Dantewada district on Thursday and destroyed an arms factory, besides killing 24 rebels.

Operation Green Hunt, launched on Thursday, has so far claimed six Cobra men, including assistant commandant Manoranjan Singh, whose body was found yesterday.

“After a massive search, security personnel spotted the bodies of five missing Cobra men in the dense forests of Palachalam,” IG (headquarters) R.K. Vij told The Telegraph.