A controversy has erupted over the killing of 17 persons in anti-Maoist operations by security forces in Chhattisgarh last week amid questions whether the victims were all Naxals.
Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday dismissed the demand from some quarters for a probe into the pre-dawn operation of June 28 saying, “The encounter was genuine and there is no need for any probe into it”.
Mr Singh and the CRPF defended the encounter while social activist Swami Agnivesh condemned the incident, claiming innocent tribals lost their lives in a “cold-blooded murder.
The CM said, “Some hardcore Naxals were killed in the encounter and arms and ammunition were seized. Some jawans had also received bullet injuries. In this circumstance, how can it be called a fake encounter? It is unfortunate that instead of praising the security forces for the successful operation, questions have been raised on the genuineness of the operation.”
Our operation bonafide, says CRPF D-G
Facing the charge of fake encounter killing of 20 people in Chhattisgarh’s Maoist hotbed, CRPF on Monday defended its action saying it was “bonafide” and wondered if only killing of security forces should be the norm.
CRPF Director General K. Vijay Kumar said his force, deep inside the jungles of Silger in Bijapur district, drew the first fire in the night and his men retaliated according to the laid down Standard Operating Procedures.
“You cannot lay the entire blame on the CRPF or the state police. We have always shown extreme restraint and this was a bonafide action,” the director general said.
An alleged hardcore Naxal, carrying a reward of
Rs15,000 on his head, was on Monday arrested in the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district, police said.
Laxman Netam, 28, who reportedly heads the Tripala dalam (local armed units of CPI-Maoist), was nabbed by a search party comprising jawans of district force of Chhattisgarh police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in a remote area inside Patanpal forest.
“The Naxal leader has been active in his area of operation for the last three years and has also confessed to his involvement in at least half-a-dozen operations against security personnel in the district, besides indulging in extortions and issuing threats to local government officials”, police said.