New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission has summoned Chhattisgarh government’s chief secretary and Inspector General of Police of Bastar Range amid allegations that they have abused power to target social activists.
The commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the “nationwide outcry and protest” against IGP of Bastar Range S R P Kalluri for registering a First Information Report on November 5 against Nandini Sundar and other activists in connection with murder a tribal in Maoist-affected area of the eastern Indian state.
Chhattisgarh Police have allegedly named Sundar, a JNU professor and 10 others as accused in the murder of Samnath Baghel in Sukma district on November 4, the NHRC said in a statement on November 17.
“It is reported that he was killed by Maoists as he had been leading a campaign against Maoists activities since April 2016. It has been alleged that these professors had visited Bastar in May 2016, while this murder took place in November. There is no apparent connection between murder and visit of these human rights activists and, therefore, it has been alleged that they have been framed in mala fide manner by police to settle scores,” the statement said.
The commission said the case against Sundar and others is “in line with earlier acts of hostility displayed by police.” It also said naming the activists in the case supports the People’s Union for Civil Liberties allegation that the state police have unleashed vendetta against the lawyers, journalists and human rights activists criticize fake encounters, mass rapes, arson and acts by security forces.
“The naming of these persons in FIR appears to be the ploy to stop their entry and visit to the tribal areas for exposing their misdeeds,” the NHRC said and added it was “deeply disturbed” by the state of affairs in Chhattisgarh over last one year or more.
The commission wants the chief secretary and IGP to appear in person at 11:00 AM on November 30 with all reports to explain the allegations made against the police and administration in the media and by human rights defenders.
The commission says such an explanation is necessary to clear the allegations that the police actions are mala fide and colored by hostility and abuse of power.
“Though, the Commission is aware of the direction of the Supreme Court given on November 15 directing issue of notice of four weeks before their arrest, yet the acts on the part of police stand on independent footing for the Commission to intervene,” it added.