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    Chhattisgarh to review LWE cases against tribals

    Synopsis

    This is in contrast to the previous Raman Singh-led government’s policy of not including the views of journalists and social rights activists working in the area.

    Kashmir militancy AgenciesAgencies
    In 2003, Chhattisgarh had three districts affected by Naxals.
    The Congress government in Chhattisgarh will set up a committee under a retired Supreme Court judge to review cases against tribals jailed for alleged involvement in Left-wing extremism. This marks a shift from the stance adopted by the previous BJP government which was often accused of targeting social rights activists working in Naxal-affected districts.

    Bhupesh Baghel, the state’s chief minister, told ET that the proposed committee will review all cases and release from custody any such person against whom it finds no evidence.

    “There are several cases which have been lodged against tribals under suspicion which haven’t been corroborated with evidence and the tribals are languishing in jails. This needs to be corrected,” Baghel said.

    The proposed committee will also sift through case files where the accused have been named along with “others”. “There are several cases which are filed like ’15 others’. Most of the time the poor tribals in the area are picked up on mere doubts or to pressurise them into giving some information on Naxals," a senior official said.

    The final contours and terms of reference of the committee are likely to be announced this week. In yet another deviation from the previous government’s stance, the Congress government will also open formal channels of communication to get the views of all stakeholders, including tribals living in Naxal-affected districts, and the reporters, NGOs and police personnel working there, on how to solve the problem.

    This is in contrast to the previous Raman Singh-led government’s policy of not including the views of journalists and social rights activists working in the area.

    Baghel said, “Naxalism has always been looked at as a law and order problem. It is not just a law and order problem but a socio-economic and political problem. But we need to ask the people for suggestions on the root cause of Naxalism and how it can be addressed.”

    In 2003, Chhattisgarh had three districts affected by Naxals. By 2018, the number had increased to 14. Human rights activists like Bela Bhatia and some reporters like Santosh Yadav, who have been working in Naxal-affected areas, have been at the receiving end of attacks and even been lodged in jail for alleged involvement in Naxal activities during the BJP regime. However, the chief minister said, “What we are talking about does not mean that if we are fired upon, we would not retaliate. This stated position of Congress government does not mean that our troops have put flowers in their guns.”


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