A human rights group has asked for a fair investigation into the deaths of eight people in Chhattisgarh on February 1. They believe that the security forces killed innocent villagers and made it look like they were Maoist rebels.
The police in Chhattisgarh quickly disagreed and said that their operations have been very successful against the Maoists, who have lost control in their strong areas. The police claimed that on the day of the incident, eight Maoists were shot in a fight, and one police officer was hurt too. They also said these Maoists were important leaders with rewards of ₹16 lakh.
However, the Campaign for Peace and Justice in Chhattisgarh said that the villagers were taken from their homes, and only afterward was the supposed gunfight staged. They stated that many villagers tried to flee when the police burst into their houses, and gunfire was heard for several hours.
The group also said that most of those killed were simply local villagers, not Maoists. They provided evidence to support their claim, including a voter ID for a man named Lachhu Pottam, which proved he was not a rebel. Lachhu’s brother, Arjun, said that Lachhu was a farmer and innocent. Arjun claimed the police took Lachhu away early that morning before shooting him.
Another villager, Munna Pottam, reported that his two brothers were taken by the police and haven’t been seen since. He insisted that they were farmers and asked for their safe return.
The police, however, firmly stated that the people killed were not innocent and were part of the Maoist group, which is known for causing problems in the area. The police believe their actions are helping to reduce violence and harm in these communities. The Inspector General even encouraged any remaining Maoists to give up their violent ways.
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