The banned CPI (Maoist) has declared to temporarily suspend its armed struggle to enable peace talks, but demanded that the government announce a one-month 'ceasefire' and suspend security operations to begin the dialogue. In response, the Chhattisgarh government said it is verifying the authenticity of the statement, which appeared on social media on Tuesday, according to a report by news agency PTI.&nbsp;In the alleged statement, the Maoists urged the government to convey their response through the government's news media, including radio. Dated August 15 and signed by Abhay, spokesperson of the Maoist central committee, the two-page note was released nearly four months after the death of Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the group’s general secretary, during an encounter with security forces in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said on Tuesday that the authenticity of the statement was being verified and that Maoists should surrender and avail rehabilitation benefits. He added that the term 'ceasefire' is highly objectionable because there is no war-like situation that requires one.&nbsp;The term 'ceasefire' is highly objectionable as there is no war-like situation that requires one. In a democracy, dialogue cannot come with preconditions, yet the Maoists have once again imposed them. The government, however, will review the authenticity of the statement before holding internal discussions.&nbsp;According to the Maoist note, they had earlier suggested a one-month ceasefire to consult their top leadership. But the Centre did not respond positively; instead, it escalated its security operations. "To take forward the process of peace talks that was started on the initiative of the party's general secretary (late Basavaraju), we are making it clear that in view of the changed global and national circumstances, as well as the continuous requests being made by the country's Prime Minister, Home Minister and senior police officers to give up arms and join the mainstream, we have decided to shun arms," it said in statement.&nbsp;"We have decided to declare a temporary halt to the armed struggle. We are making it clear that in the future, we will fight shoulder to shoulder with all political parties and organisations fighting for the public cause as far as possible," the statement added.<h3>Maoists offered direct talks with the Government.</h3>Banned CPI(M) offered to direct talks with the Union Home Minister or any government officials from the centre appointed by him, or a delegation on this issue, demanding one month to consult with their imprisoned comrades working in different states across the country.&nbsp;"We are ready to talk to the Union Home Minister or persons appointed by him or a delegation on this issue. But we will have to inform the party about our changed opinion. Therefore, our request to the Central Government is to give us one month to consult with our comrades working in different states across the country and those imprisoned," it said.&nbsp;"We are also ready to exchange views with the government on this subject, primarily through video call. Therefore, we are making it clear once again that (the government should) immediately declare a formal ceasefire for a month, stop search operations and take forward the peace process," it said.<h3>Govt to examine statements&nbsp;</h3>In response, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj P told news agency PTI that police have taken note of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee's statement regarding the laying down of arms for peace talks. However, the authenticity of the statements is being verified and carefully examined.&nbsp;The IPS officer added that any decision on engagement or dialogue with the CPI (Maoist) lies completely with the government, taking an appropriate call after due consideration and assessment of the situation and circumstances.&nbsp;

After banned CPI (Maoist) announced for peace talk with the government on social meida, the Chhattisgarh government said it is verifying the authenticity of the statement, which appeared on Tuesday.

The banned CPI (Maoist) has declared to temporarily suspend its armed struggle to enable peace talks, but demanded that the government announce a one-month 'ceasefire' and suspend security operations to begin the dialogue. In response, the Chhattisgarh government said it is verifying the authenticity of the statement, which appeared on social media on Tuesday, according to a report by news agency PTI. In the alleged statement, the Maoists urged the government to convey their response through the government's news media, including radio. Dated August 15 and signed by Abhay, spokesperson of the Maoist central committee, the two-page note was released nearly four months after the death of Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the group’s general secretary, during an encounter with security forces in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said on Tuesday that the authenticity of the statement was being verified and that Maoists should surrender and avail rehabilitation benefits. He added that the term 'ceasefire' is highly objectionable because there is no war-like situation that requires one. The term 'ceasefire' is highly objectionable as there is no war-like situation that requires one. In a democracy, dialogue cannot come with preconditions, yet the Maoists have once again imposed them. The government, however, will review the authenticity of the statement before holding internal discussions. According to the Maoist note, they had earlier suggested a one-month ceasefire to consult their top leadership. But the Centre did not respond positively; instead, it escalated its security operations. "To take forward the process of peace talks that was started on the initiative of the party's general secretary (late Basavaraju), we are making it clear that in view of the changed global and national circumstances, as well as the continuous requests being made by the country's Prime Minister, Home Minister and senior police officers to give up arms and join the mainstream, we have decided to shun arms," it said in statement. "We have decided to declare a temporary halt to the armed struggle. We are making it clear that in the future, we will fight shoulder to shoulder with all political parties and organisations fighting for the public cause as far as possible," the statement added. Maoists offered direct talks with the Government. Banned CPI(M) offered to direct talks with the Union Home Minister or any government officials from the centre appointed by him, or a delegation on this issue, demanding one month to consult with their imprisoned comrades working in different states across the country. "We are ready to talk to the Union Home Minister or persons appointed by him or a delegation on this issue. But we will have to inform the party about our changed opinion. Therefore, our request to the Central Government is to give us one month to consult with our comrades working in different states across the country and those imprisoned," it said. "We are also ready to exchange views with the government on this subject, primarily through video call. Therefore, we are making it clear once again that (the government should) immediately declare a formal ceasefire for a month, stop search operations and take forward the peace process," it said. Govt to examine statements In response, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj P told news agency PTI that police have taken note of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee's statement regarding the laying down of arms for peace talks. However, the authenticity of the statements is being verified and carefully examined. The IPS officer added that any decision on engagement or dialogue with the CPI (Maoist) lies completely with the government, taking an appropriate call after due consideration and assessment of the situation and circumstances.

After the banned CPI (Maoist) announced peace talks with the government on social media, the Chhattisgarh government said it is verifying the authenticity of the statement, which appeared on Tuesday.

Maoists offer to suspend armed struggle, demand govt to declare 'ceasefire' for talks

A 26-year-old journalist from the central-eastern Indian state of Chhattisgarh was found dead on a contractor&rsquo;s property Friday (Jan 3) after he highlighted irregularities in a road project. Mukesh Chandrakar was earlier reported missing since January 1 and his dead body was found inside a freshly-sealed septic tank in Bijapur. Police have filed a murder case and an investigation has been launched.
<h2>What happened?</h2>
Mukesh&rsquo;s elder brother Yukesh on January 2 filed a missing person report with the police. Following mobile tracking, police were able to locate the TV journalist&rsquo;s dead body on the contractor&rsquo;s property.
In his complaint, Yukesh highlighted that the journalist had recently reported on alleged irregularities in the construction of a road from Gangaloor to Nelasanar village. The media reports had prompted a government investigation into the construction project. The police complaint further mentioned threats to Mukesh&rsquo;s life from three individuals, including contractor Suresh Chandrakar. Police have taken several suspects into custody now.
<h2>Who was Mukesh Chandrakar?</h2>
Mukesh had a decade of experience working as a journalist. He worked as a stringer for a TV news channel and ran a popular YouTube channel named &lsquo;Bastar Junction&rsquo;. In 2021, he is believed to have played a key role in helping secure the release of a security personnel abducted by Maoists. Mukesh was known for his brave reportage on Naxal attacks, encounters, and other issues affecting Bastar.
A police statement said the details of Mukesh&rsquo;s post-mortem report are awaited.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/arvind-kejriwal-didnt-do-anything-for-women-in-the-last-10-years-bjp-lop-vijender-gupta-786104">BJP launches scathing attack on Kejriwal: 'He didn&rsquo;t do anything for women in the last 10 years'</a>
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai condemned the murder of the journalist, calling it &ldquo;an irreparable loss for journalism and society.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The news of the murder of Bijapur's young and dedicated journalist Mukesh Chandrakar ji is very sad and heartbreaking,&rdquo; he said.
The CM added that the culprits would be brought to justice and would be given harsh punishments.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pm-modi-lays-foundation-stone-of-ken-betwa-river-link-project-in-madhya-pradesh-786726">India: PM Modi lays foundation stone of Ken-Betwa River Link Project in Madhya Pradesh</a>
&ldquo;The culprit will not be spared under any circumstances. I have given instructions to arrest the criminals as soon as possible and ensure the harshest punishment for them,&rdquo; the CM vowed.
(With inputs from agencies)

India News | Mukesh had a decade of experience working as a journalist. He worked as a stringer for a TV news channel and ran a popular YouTube channel named ‘Bastar Junction’

A 26-year-old journalist from the central-eastern Indian state of Chhattisgarh was found dead on a contractor’s property Friday (Jan 3) after he highlighted irregularities in a road project. Mukesh Chandrakar was earlier reported missing since January 1 and his dead body was found inside a freshly-sealed septic tank in Bijapur. Police have filed a murder case and an investigation has been launched. What happened? Mukesh’s elder brother Yukesh on January 2 filed a missing person report with the police. Following mobile tracking, police were able to locate the TV journalist’s dead body on the contractor’s property. In his complaint, Yukesh highlighted that the journalist had recently reported on alleged irregularities in the construction of a road from Gangaloor to Nelasanar village. The media reports had prompted a government investigation into the construction project. The police complaint further mentioned threats to Mukesh’s life from three individuals, including contractor Suresh Chandrakar. Police have taken several suspects into custody now. Who was Mukesh Chandrakar? Mukesh had a decade of experience working as a journalist. He worked as a stringer for a TV news channel and ran a popular YouTube channel named ‘Bastar Junction’. In 2021, he is believed to have played a key role in helping secure the release of a security personnel abducted by Maoists. Mukesh was known for his brave reportage on Naxal attacks, encounters, and other issues affecting Bastar. A police statement said the details of Mukesh’s post-mortem report are awaited. Also read: BJP launches scathing attack on Kejriwal: 'He didn’t do anything for women in the last 10 years' Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai condemned the murder of the journalist, calling it “an irreparable loss for journalism and society.” “The news of the murder of Bijapur's young and dedicated journalist Mukesh Chandrakar ji is very sad and heartbreaking,” he said. The CM added that the culprits would be brought to justice and would be given harsh punishments. Also read: India: PM Modi lays foundation stone of Ken-Betwa River Link Project in Madhya Pradesh “The culprit will not be spared under any circumstances. I have given instructions to arrest the criminals as soon as possible and ensure the harshest punishment for them,” the CM vowed. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Journalist’s body found in septic tank after he flagged corruption in road project

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday announced that a campaign to eradicate malnutrition and anaemia will be launched in all districts to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

'The state government has set the goal to make Chhattisgarh malnutrition and anaemia free within the next three years. Under this campaign, people suffering from malnutrition and anaemia will be provided free of cost nutritious food every day,' the Chief Minister said while addressing the state-level programme held in Vikas Nagar Stadium of District Headquarters Kondagaon today.

'According to the latest data released by the NITI Aayog, 37.60 per cent children of age below 5 years<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-seven-naxals-killed-in-encounter-in-rajnandgaon-240364"> in Chhattisgarh</a> are suffering from malnutrition and 41.50 per cent daughters and mothers in the state are suffering from anaemia,' he said.

The Chief Minister said that the campaign to make Chhattisgarh free of malnutrition and anaemia was started as a pilot project in Korba, Sarguja, Koriya and selected panchayats of other districts in Bastar region, under which free nutritious food was provided to all the people suffering from anaemia and malnutrition.

'This campaign was initiated as a pilot project in the Bastar region from July 2019 and it will be soon conducted in other aspirational districts of the state as well... The campaign will be launched on Gandhi Jayanti, free nutritious meals will be provided every day to the patients of malnutrition and anaemia, as per the list issued by each of the gram panchayat, customized as per their physical requirement and preferences,' he said.

Baghel said he will ensure maximum participation of renowned charitable organisations, public representatives, NGOs, media groups and other competent people.

The Chief Minister also announced a hike in scholarship for students of pre-metric hostels from Rs 700 to Rs 1000 and a significant increase in the number of seats in the colleges.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday announced that a campaign to eradicate malnutrition and anaemia will be launched in all districts to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday announced that a campaign to eradicate malnutrition and anaemia will be launched in all districts to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 'The state government has set the goal to make Chhattisgarh malnutrition and anaemia free within the next three years. Under this campaign, people suffering from malnutrition and anaemia will be provided free of cost nutritious food every day,' the Chief Minister said while addressing the state-level programme held in Vikas Nagar Stadium of District Headquarters Kondagaon today. 'According to the latest data released by the NITI Aayog, 37.60 per cent children of age below 5 years in Chhattisgarh are suffering from malnutrition and 41.50 per cent daughters and mothers in the state are suffering from anaemia,' he said. The Chief Minister said that the campaign to make Chhattisgarh free of malnutrition and anaemia was started as a pilot project in Korba, Sarguja, Koriya and selected panchayats of other districts in Bastar region, under which free nutritious food was provided to all the people suffering from anaemia and malnutrition. 'This campaign was initiated as a pilot project in the Bastar region from July 2019 and it will be soon conducted in other aspirational districts of the state as well... The campaign will be launched on Gandhi Jayanti, free nutritious meals will be provided every day to the patients of malnutrition and anaemia, as per the list issued by each of the gram panchayat, customized as per their physical requirement and preferences,' he said. Baghel said he will ensure maximum participation of renowned charitable organisations, public representatives, NGOs, media groups and other competent people. The Chief Minister also announced a hike in scholarship for students of pre-metric hostels from Rs 700 to Rs 1000 and a significant increase in the number of seats in the colleges.

Chhattisgarh government sets a goal to make the state free from malnutrition, anemia in next 3 years

Around 14 per cent electorate cast their votes in the first couple of hours of polling in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-lok-sabha-polls-2019-voting-underway-in-91-seats-in-first-phase-209404">Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency </a>of Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

At some places, there were reports of EVM snags which were being rectified, an election official in the state capital Raipur said.

"Polling in Bastar seat started at 7 am and is going on smoothly. Till 9.30 am, around 14 per cent polling has been registered," he said.

Long queues of voters were seen at several polling booths in the region.

Early in the morning, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-amid-polling-naxals-trigger-ied-blast-in-bastar-district-none-hurt-209449">Naxals detonated an IED</a> (improvised explosive device) in Narayanpur district, which comes under Bastar constituency, police said.

No casualty was reported in the blast.

A thick security blanket, comprising around 80,000 state and paramilitary personnel, was thrown across the constituency to ensure peaceful polling.

Polling in Bastar Lok Sabha constituency's four Assembly segments - Dantewada, Konta, Bijapur and Narayanpur - is being held from 7 am and 3 pm, the official said.

The voting time in the other four Assembly segments - Bastar, Chitrakoot, Kondagaon and Jagdalpur&nbsp; 
- of the constituency is from 7 am and 5 pm, he said.

Seven candidates are in the fray in the seat and as per electoral rolls, there are 13,72,127 voters, including 6,59,824 men, 7,12,261 women and 42 of the third gender.

Of the 1,879 polling booths in the constituency, 741 have been marked as hyper-sensitive and 606 as sensitive in view of the threat of Naxalism.

There is a direct contest between Congress' Dipak Baij and senior BJP leader Baiduram Kashyap.

BJP has never lost the Bastar seat since 1998.

Around 14 per cent electorate cast their votes in the first couple of hours of polling in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

Around 14 per cent electorate cast their votes in the first couple of hours of polling in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh on Thursday. At some places, there were reports of EVM snags which were being rectified, an election official in the state capital Raipur said. "Polling in Bastar seat started at 7 am and is going on smoothly. Till 9.30 am, around 14 per cent polling has been registered," he said. Long queues of voters were seen at several polling booths in the region. Early in the morning, Naxals detonated an IED (improvised explosive device) in Narayanpur district, which comes under Bastar constituency, police said. No casualty was reported in the blast. A thick security blanket, comprising around 80,000 state and paramilitary personnel, was thrown across the constituency to ensure peaceful polling. Polling in Bastar Lok Sabha constituency's four Assembly segments - Dantewada, Konta, Bijapur and Narayanpur - is being held from 7 am and 3 pm, the official said. The voting time in the other four Assembly segments - Bastar, Chitrakoot, Kondagaon and Jagdalpur - of the constituency is from 7 am and 5 pm, he said. Seven candidates are in the fray in the seat and as per electoral rolls, there are 13,72,127 voters, including 6,59,824 men, 7,12,261 women and 42 of the third gender. Of the 1,879 polling booths in the constituency, 741 have been marked as hyper-sensitive and 606 as sensitive in view of the threat of Naxalism. There is a direct contest between Congress' Dipak Baij and senior BJP leader Baiduram Kashyap. BJP has never lost the Bastar seat since 1998.

14% polling recorded in Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency

Four BSF jawans have been killed and two injured in an encounter battle with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-deal-with-naxals-by-taking-locals-in-confidence-bhupesh-baghel-189477">Naxals</a> in southern Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

Police said the encounter took place in the district of Kanker.&nbsp;

The gun battle took place around noon in a dense forest near Mahla village in Kanker district when a joint team of BSF's 114th battalion and the District Force was out on a search operation, police said.

"Four BSF troopers were killed and two injured in the incident," Deputy Inspector General (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P told the news agency PTI.

The patrolling team had launched the operation from the BSF's Mahla camp, located around 250 from Raipur, he said.

When the security men were advancing through a forest patch, a group of naxals fired at them, leading to a gun battle, he said.

The deceased were identified as BSF's assistant sub- inspector Boro, and constables Ramkrishnan, Someshwar and Ishrar Khan, he said.

Assistant commandant Gopu Ram and inspector Gopal Ram were injured in the exchange of fire, he said.

Soon after being alerted, reinforcement was rushed to the spot, he said, adding that a search operation was underway in the area.

The bodies and the injured personnel were brought to the BSF's Mahla camp later, he said.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> : 4 BSF jawans have lost their lives in an encounter with Maoists in Kanker, Chhattisgarh <a href="https://t.co/zs8K25iF87">https://t.co/zs8K25iF87</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1113730194584555521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that he was "Deeply anguished over the loss of @BSF_India personnel during an operation against the Naxals in Kanker."&nbsp;&nbsp;

He said that "They fought valiantly before laying down their lives for the nation."&nbsp;

Singh added that "I have spoken to DG @BSF_India regarding the encounter in Kanker. He has apprised me of the operation. He will be leaving for Chhattisgarh to help the families of martyred BSF soldiers and also assess the ground situation."

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Deeply anguished over the loss of <a href="https://twitter.com/BSF_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BSF_India</a> personnel during an operation against the Naxals in Kanker. They fought valiantly before laying down their lives for the nation. My deepest condolences to the families of these martyrs and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured
— Chowkidar Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1113742071653859328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Chhattisgarh has had a long history of Naxal-related violence, going all the way back to the late 1960's.

The worst attack on the security forces though took place in April 2010 when 76 CRPF personnel were killed in the Dantewada district.&nbsp;

Both Kanker and Dantewada fall in the Bastar division, which makes up southern Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel had said in January this year, after his Congress party won the state elections, that his government would address the Naxal problem by holding talks with "affected people" including villagers, intellectuals and journalists.&nbsp;

"We will not take any step on... anti-Naxal action... without taking people into confidence," he had said then.&nbsp;

Thursday's encounter comes exactly a week before the general elections.&nbsp;

Polling in the state will be held on April 11 and 23; Kanker itself will go to the polls on April 18.&nbsp;

(With inputs from&nbsp;PTI)

&nbsp;

Four BSF jawans have been killed and two injured in an encounter battle with Naxals in southern Chhattisgarh. Police said the encounter took place in the district of Kanker.

Four BSF jawans have been killed and two injured in an encounter battle with Naxals in southern Chhattisgarh. Police said the encounter took place in the district of Kanker. The gun battle took place around noon in a dense forest near Mahla village in Kanker district when a joint team of BSF's 114th battalion and the District Force was out on a search operation, police said. "Four BSF troopers were killed and two injured in the incident," Deputy Inspector General (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P told the news agency PTI. The patrolling team had launched the operation from the BSF's Mahla camp, located around 250 from Raipur, he said. When the security men were advancing through a forest patch, a group of naxals fired at them, leading to a gun battle, he said. The deceased were identified as BSF's assistant sub- inspector Boro, and constables Ramkrishnan, Someshwar and Ishrar Khan, he said. Assistant commandant Gopu Ram and inspector Gopal Ram were injured in the exchange of fire, he said. Soon after being alerted, reinforcement was rushed to the spot, he said, adding that a search operation was underway in the area. The bodies and the injured personnel were brought to the BSF's Mahla camp later, he said. #UPDATE : 4 BSF jawans have lost their lives in an encounter with Maoists in Kanker, Chhattisgarh https://t.co/zs8K25iF87 — ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019 × Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that he was "Deeply anguished over the loss of @BSF_India personnel during an operation against the Naxals in Kanker." He said that "They fought valiantly before laying down their lives for the nation." Singh added that "I have spoken to DG @BSF_India regarding the encounter in Kanker. He has apprised me of the operation. He will be leaving for Chhattisgarh to help the families of martyred BSF soldiers and also assess the ground situation." Deeply anguished over the loss of @BSF_India personnel during an operation against the Naxals in Kanker. They fought valiantly before laying down their lives for the nation. My deepest condolences to the families of these martyrs and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured — Chowkidar Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 4, 2019 × Chhattisgarh has had a long history of Naxal-related violence, going all the way back to the late 1960's. The worst attack on the security forces though took place in April 2010 when 76 CRPF personnel were killed in the Dantewada district. Both Kanker and Dantewada fall in the Bastar division, which makes up southern Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel had said in January this year, after his Congress party won the state elections, that his government would address the Naxal problem by holding talks with "affected people" including villagers, intellectuals and journalists. "We will not take any step on... anti-Naxal action... without taking people into confidence," he had said then. Thursday's encounter comes exactly a week before the general elections. Polling in the state will be held on April 11 and 23; Kanker itself will go to the polls on April 18. (With inputs from PTI)

Chhattisgarh: 4 Border Security Force jawans killed in encounter with Naxals

A Doordarshan cameraman has been killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Bastar.&nbsp;The attack took place in Aranpur in Dantewada district.&nbsp;

The cameraman&nbsp;was identified as Achutyanand Sahu.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> A Doordarshan cameraman has been killed in an attack by Naxals in Dantewada's Aranpur <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a> <a href="https://t.co/N2y4ed00xI">https://t.co/N2y4ed00xI</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1057167668342648832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Two security personnel were also killed in the attack, and two injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Today our patrolling party was ambushed by Naxals in Aranpur. Two of our personnel were martyred, and a DD cameraman was also injured and later succumbed. Two more personnel injured," DIG P Sundarraj said.&nbsp;

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Today our patrolling party was ambushed by Naxals in Aranpur. Two of our personnel were martyred, and a DD cameraman was also injured and later succumbed. Two more personnel injured: DIG P Sundarraj <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZgZMF6xdRJ">pic.twitter.com/ZgZMF6xdRJ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1057174913289719808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Dantewada Naxal attack: Two security personnel who were injured brought to hospital. Two security personnel and a DD cameraman lost their lives in the attack. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZiqbwiNbNs">pic.twitter.com/ZiqbwiNbNs</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1057178317009362945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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While a number of security personnel have fallen to Naxal attacks over the years, the insurgents are generally not known to attack journalists.&nbsp;

Chhattisgarh however will be going to the polls in November of this year.&nbsp;The Doordarshan crew were in the state to report on the upcoming elections. It is likely that they were accompanying the police patrol party.&nbsp;

The government meanwhile said they would "look after"&nbsp;Sahu's family, and that they salute "those mediapersons who go for coverage in such dangerous situations".&nbsp;

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Dantewada Naxal attack: Two security personnel who were injured brought to hospital. Two security personnel and a DD cameraman lost their lives in the attack. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZiqbwiNbNs">pic.twitter.com/ZiqbwiNbNs</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1057178317009362945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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(This is a developing story. Further details are awaited.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A Doordarshan cameraman has been killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Bastar. The attack took place in Aranpur in Dantewada district. The cameraman was identified as Achutyanand Sahu.

A Doordarshan cameraman has been killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Bastar. The attack took place in Aranpur in Dantewada district. The cameraman was identified as Achutyanand Sahu. #UPDATE A Doordarshan cameraman has been killed in an attack by Naxals in Dantewada's Aranpur #Chhattisgarh https://t.co/N2y4ed00xI — ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2018 × Two security personnel were also killed in the attack, and two injured. "Today our patrolling party was ambushed by Naxals in Aranpur. Two of our personnel were martyred, and a DD cameraman was also injured and later succumbed. Two more personnel injured," DIG P Sundarraj said. Today our patrolling party was ambushed by Naxals in Aranpur. Two of our personnel were martyred, and a DD cameraman was also injured and later succumbed. Two more personnel injured: DIG P Sundarraj #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/ZgZMF6xdRJ — ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2018 × Dantewada Naxal attack: Two security personnel who were injured brought to hospital. Two security personnel and a DD cameraman lost their lives in the attack. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/ZiqbwiNbNs — ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2018 × While a number of security personnel have fallen to Naxal attacks over the years, the insurgents are generally not known to attack journalists. Chhattisgarh however will be going to the polls in November of this year. The Doordarshan crew were in the state to report on the upcoming elections. It is likely that they were accompanying the police patrol party. The government meanwhile said they would "look after" Sahu's family, and that they salute "those mediapersons who go for coverage in such dangerous situations". Dantewada Naxal attack: Two security personnel who were injured brought to hospital. Two security personnel and a DD cameraman lost their lives in the attack. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/ZiqbwiNbNs — ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2018 × (This is a developing story. Further details are awaited.)

Doordarshan cameraman killed in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Bastar

Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, the worst Naxal-hit place in the country, is likely to hold the key to the Assembly poll outcome, with the BJP pulling out all stops to reverse its fortunes here, as the Congress had got the better of it in 2013.

BJP president Amit Shah, during his frequent visits to the state, including to Bastar division headquarters Jagdalpur on Saturday, has asked party workers to ensure that the Congress is routed in the region on the back of the state government's "development works" and fall in Naxal violence.

Of the 12 Assembly seats in Bastar, the Congress had won eight in 2013 and the BJP managed to edge out the opposition in the overall tally. This was possible on the back of the BJP's strong performance in the plains, helped to no small extent by the Narendra Modi factor.

PM Modi, who was then the party's prime ministerial candidate, had campaigned extensively in the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls.

BJP sources noted that in the last Assembly elections, the difference in vote share of their party and that of the Congress was less than one per cent, as they underlined the importance of the tribal-dominated region, which has often given either of the two main parties a decisive mandate.

In 2008, the BJP had emerged victorious in 11 of the 12 seats in Bastar. It had won 50 seats in the 90-member state assembly. The Congress had won 38 and received about 1.7 per cent less vote than the saffron party.

Though the BJP has been in power in Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years, the opposition Congress has been bridging the gap with the ruling party in terms of popular support.

The BJP received 39.26 per cent, 44.33 per cent and 41 per cent votes in 2003, 2008 and 2013 polls respectively. The Congress had got 36.71 per cent, 38.63 per cent and 40.3 per cent votes in those Assembly elections.

Chief Minister Raman Singh has been at the helm since 2003.

Opinion polls held in the state have predicted yet another close fight between the two traditional rivals with some giving edge to the Congress and others to the BJP.

Shah has been visiting the state frequently, holding meetings with party leaders and workers and addressing public meetings.

While Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 12 and 20, the Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram Assembly elections will be held on November 28.

Polling in Rajasthan and Telangana will be held on December 7 and the counting of votes will be held across all the five states on December 11.

With the Lok Sabha polls due to be held barely four months after the results of assembly elections in the five states, their outcome is bound to be a factor in the campaign for the general elections.

Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, the worst Naxal-hit place in the country, is likely to hold the key to the Assembly poll outcome, with the BJP pulling out all stops to reverse its fortunes here, as the Congress had got the better of it in 2013.

Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, the worst Naxal-hit place in the country, is likely to hold the key to the Assembly poll outcome, with the BJP pulling out all stops to reverse its fortunes here, as the Congress had got the better of it in 2013. BJP president Amit Shah, during his frequent visits to the state, including to Bastar division headquarters Jagdalpur on Saturday, has asked party workers to ensure that the Congress is routed in the region on the back of the state government's "development works" and fall in Naxal violence. Of the 12 Assembly seats in Bastar, the Congress had won eight in 2013 and the BJP managed to edge out the opposition in the overall tally. This was possible on the back of the BJP's strong performance in the plains, helped to no small extent by the Narendra Modi factor. PM Modi, who was then the party's prime ministerial candidate, had campaigned extensively in the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls. BJP sources noted that in the last Assembly elections, the difference in vote share of their party and that of the Congress was less than one per cent, as they underlined the importance of the tribal-dominated region, which has often given either of the two main parties a decisive mandate. In 2008, the BJP had emerged victorious in 11 of the 12 seats in Bastar. It had won 50 seats in the 90-member state assembly. The Congress had won 38 and received about 1.7 per cent less vote than the saffron party. Though the BJP has been in power in Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years, the opposition Congress has been bridging the gap with the ruling party in terms of popular support. The BJP received 39.26 per cent, 44.33 per cent and 41 per cent votes in 2003, 2008 and 2013 polls respectively. The Congress had got 36.71 per cent, 38.63 per cent and 40.3 per cent votes in those Assembly elections. Chief Minister Raman Singh has been at the helm since 2003. Opinion polls held in the state have predicted yet another close fight between the two traditional rivals with some giving edge to the Congress and others to the BJP. Shah has been visiting the state frequently, holding meetings with party leaders and workers and addressing public meetings. While Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 12 and 20, the Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram Assembly elections will be held on November 28. Polling in Rajasthan and Telangana will be held on December 7 and the counting of votes will be held across all the five states on December 11. With the Lok Sabha polls due to be held barely four months after the results of assembly elections in the five states, their outcome is bound to be a factor in the campaign for the general elections.

Naxal-hit Bastar region key to Chhattisgarh poll outcome: Report

Seven Naxals were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday.

Earlier Maharashtra police had killed 37 Naxals in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.&nbsp;

The increasing number of encounters is the outcome of the ongoing anti-Maoists operation in the red corridor region.

On Thursday sixty Maoists including 13 minors and 20 females surrendered before the Chhattisgarh police at restive Narayanpur district of Bastar.&nbsp;

Each of the Naxals surrendered will be&nbsp;entitled to an incentive amount of Rs 10,000 and rehabilitation package of the state government, the police said.

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Chhattisgarh: 7 naxals killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district. More details awaited.
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/989754604240830465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Earlier Maharashtra police killed 37 Naxals in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra

Seven Naxals were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday. Earlier Maharashtra police had killed 37 Naxals in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The increasing number of encounters is the outcome of the ongoing anti-Maoists operation in the red corridor region. On Thursday sixty Maoists including 13 minors and 20 females surrendered before the Chhattisgarh police at restive Narayanpur district of Bastar. Each of the Naxals surrendered will be entitled to an incentive amount of Rs 10,000 and rehabilitation package of the state government, the police said. Chhattisgarh: 7 naxals killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district. More details awaited. — ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2018 ×

Seven naxals killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh

A police constable from Bastar has set off on a 6,000-kilometre cycle ride from Delhi&#39;s India Gate which will go along the Golden Quadrilateral. 42-year-old Banshi Lal Netam says he wants to spread the message of peace and create a Guinness World Record with his cycle ride.&nbsp;

The Bastar community of Chhattisgarh grapples with chaos and Netam, through his ride, is determined to spread the message of peace all across. In about 20 days Netam will be travelling to states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and then return to Delhi.

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42-yr-old police constable Banshi Lal Netam from Bastar, sets off on 6,000 km cycle ride along Golden Quadrilateral from Delhi&#39;s India Gate says I want to spread the message of peace and to create a Guinness World Record with this cycle ride. (05.03.2018) <a href="https://t.co/9mxryB47mH">pic.twitter.com/9mxryB47mH</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/970837810851717120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;My main motive is to feature in the Guinness World Record, Golden book world record. Then I want to open a hub of adventurous sports in Bastar and help the youth of Bastar use this opportunity fully -- like cycling, mountaineering, para mountaineering, horse riding. I want to help the kids of Bastar,&quot; Netam said.

&quot;When I go on the tour and meet different people I have just one aim. You must have heard about Bastar. Hence spreading peace in Bastar would be my message,&quot; he further added.

Netam has been preparing for over a year for this ride. He practised every day by cycling for about 350 kilometres.

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

Through his ride Netam is determined to spread the message of peace all across

A police constable from Bastar has set off on a 6,000-kilometre cycle ride from Delhi's India Gate which will go along the Golden Quadrilateral. 42-year-old Banshi Lal Netam says he wants to spread the message of peace and create a Guinness World Record with his cycle ride. The Bastar community of Chhattisgarh grapples with chaos and Netam, through his ride, is determined to spread the message of peace all across. In about 20 days Netam will be travelling to states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and then return to Delhi. 42-yr-old police constable Banshi Lal Netam from Bastar, sets off on 6,000 km cycle ride along Golden Quadrilateral from Delhi's India Gate says I want to spread the message of peace and to create a Guinness World Record with this cycle ride. (05.03.2018) pic.twitter.com/9mxryB47mH — ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2018 × "My main motive is to feature in the Guinness World Record, Golden book world record. Then I want to open a hub of adventurous sports in Bastar and help the youth of Bastar use this opportunity fully -- like cycling, mountaineering, para mountaineering, horse riding. I want to help the kids of Bastar," Netam said. "When I go on the tour and meet different people I have just one aim. You must have heard about Bastar. Hence spreading peace in Bastar would be my message," he further added. Netam has been preparing for over a year for this ride. He practised every day by cycling for about 350 kilometres. (With inputs from ANI)

42-year-old policeman from Bastar to cycle 6,000 kilometres for peace

Nine tractors were set on fire by Naxals in Jagdalpur a tribal district of Bastar, Chattisgarh.

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Chhattisgarh: Naxals torched 9 tractors engaged in road construction work in Bastar&#39;s Jagdalpur. Naxals also thrashed a JCB driver; Police on the spot
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/968348204956835840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The tractors were torched while it was engaged in road construction work.

A JCB driver was also thrashed in the incident.

Police have reached the crime spot and an investigation is underway.

More information awaited.

 
&nbsp;

Police have reached the crime spot and an investigation is underway

Nine tractors were set on fire by Naxals in Jagdalpur a tribal district of Bastar, Chattisgarh. Chhattisgarh: Naxals torched 9 tractors engaged in road construction work in Bastar's Jagdalpur. Naxals also thrashed a JCB driver; Police on the spot — ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 × The tractors were torched while it was engaged in road construction work. A JCB driver was also thrashed in the incident. Police have reached the crime spot and an investigation is underway. More information awaited.

Chattisgarh: Naxals torched 9 tractors in Bastar

Security forces arrested a naxalite from Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh after carrying search operations on Wednesday.

Detonator, wires and other equipment have been recovered from him. Maoists have been a regular nuisance in Bijapur.

On Monday, fourteen Naxals were arrested from two districts of the insurgency-hit Bastar division of Chhattisgarh while nine rebels were arrested in Sukma district, five were picked up in Narayanpur district.

All of them were allegedly involved in carrying out improvised explosive device (IED) blasts targeting the security forces and firing on police teams in Bhejji and Maraiguda areas of Sukma, Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla said.

A joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the District Force of police was out on a search operation under the limits of Bhejji police station in Sukma when it rounded up eight Naxals, Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla said.&nbsp;

On Monday, fourteen Naxals were arrested from two districts of the insurgency-hit Bastar division of Chhattisgarh while nine rebels were arrested in Sukma district, five were picked up in Narayanpur district

Security forces arrested a naxalite from Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh after carrying search operations on Wednesday. Detonator, wires and other equipment have been recovered from him. Maoists have been a regular nuisance in Bijapur. On Monday, fourteen Naxals were arrested from two districts of the insurgency-hit Bastar division of Chhattisgarh while nine rebels were arrested in Sukma district, five were picked up in Narayanpur district. All of them were allegedly involved in carrying out improvised explosive device (IED) blasts targeting the security forces and firing on police teams in Bhejji and Maraiguda areas of Sukma, Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla said. A joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the District Force of police was out on a search operation under the limits of Bhejji police station in Sukma when it rounded up eight Naxals, Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla said.

Chhattisgarh: Naxal arrested, wires and equipment recovered

A differently-abled girl is appointed as a computer operator in Chhattisgarh.

The girl has been appointed by the forest department office in Bastar.

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The differently abled girl is being helped by one of her family members. (ANI)
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The girl is disabled at hands. (ANI)
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Chhattisgarh is the latest entrant in providing special assistance to differently-abled. In May, the Tamil Nadu government had increased the reservation for differently-abled people for government positions from three per cent to four per cent.

Chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami reserved a position for differently-abled in all State public service, enterprises, public sector undertakings, boards, corporations, educational institutions, local bodies and government-aided institutions across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Section 34 of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 states that every government establishment should appoint people with benchmark disabilities not less than four per cent of the total number of vacancies in the cadre.

&nbsp;

A differently-abled girl is appointed as a computer operator in Chhattisgarh

A differently-abled girl is appointed as a computer operator in Chhattisgarh. The girl has been appointed by the forest department office in Bastar. The differently abled girl is being helped by one of her family members. (ANI) × The girl is disabled at hands. (ANI) × Chhattisgarh is the latest entrant in providing special assistance to differently-abled. In May, the Tamil Nadu government had increased the reservation for differently-abled people for government positions from three per cent to four per cent. Chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami reserved a position for differently-abled in all State public service, enterprises, public sector undertakings, boards, corporations, educational institutions, local bodies and government-aided institutions across the state. Section 34 of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 states that every government establishment should appoint people with benchmark disabilities not less than four per cent of the total number of vacancies in the cadre.

Chhattisgarh forest department's nobel gesture for differently-abled girl

Bastar was some time ago described as a media &ldquo;black hole&rdquo;. There was no information coming out of there apart from &quot;good news&quot;&nbsp;because the government was evicting anybody who said something different from the powers that be.&nbsp;

The Bastar division is made up of the seven southernmost districts of Chhattisgarh. Together, they make up about a fourth of the state&#39;s land mass, or an area larger than Kerala.&nbsp;

The people hounded out of Bastar &ndash; allegedly by the police &ndash; included the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group. Isha Khandelwal and Shalini Gera, the lawyers of JagLAG, now work out of Bilaspur in the north of Chhattisgarh, making a 14-hour bus journey each time they have to get to the court in Dantewada in Bastar, which is where most of their work is.&nbsp;

The journalist Malini Subramaniam left after the home she shared with her young daughter was attacked in the middle of the night.&nbsp;

In January this year, the researcher and human rights worker Bela Bhatia was attacked in her home. (She remains in Bastar.)

A local journalist, Prabhat Singh, was arrested, allegedy for a WhatsApp post that was critical of a senior police officer.&nbsp;

The truly frightening thing is that the finger of suspicion in most of these cases points to the police, or to vigilante groups allegedly encouraged by the police.&nbsp;

At the same time as these people were being made persona non grata, the police were reporting a massive surge in the &ldquo;surrenders&rdquo; of Maoist personnel.&nbsp;

A December 18, 2014 report in the Indian Express, for example, said that from June 1 to November 28 of that year, the police reported 377 Maoist surrenders. In the two and a half years before that, from January 2012 to May 2014, Bastar had had only 29 Maoist surrenders.&nbsp;

The person given the credit for the surrenders was Bastar Inspector General of Police SRP Kalluri, the seniormost policeman in the region.

The Express report however also added that:&nbsp;

&ldquo;A scrutiny of police records and meetings with these &#39;surrendered&#39; Maoists show that at least 270 of the 377 are actually ordinary villagers or routine criminals not eligible to be termed &#39;surrendered Maoists&#39;.

Not one of the 377 surrendered with a weapon, and no one has got the post-surrender relief or rehabilitation. Over 80 per cent of those who surrendered continue living in their villages, the remaining ones in police camps.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Kalluri was finally asked by the government of Chhattisgarh early this February to &ldquo;proceed on medical leave&rdquo; &ndash; a euphemism for &ldquo;we&#39;re trying to figure out what to do with you&rdquo; &ndash; after he responded rudely to people calling and texting him after the attack on Bela Bhatia.&nbsp;

He told one caller that Bhatia had died &ndash; she had not &ndash; he replied &#39;F u&#39; to one text, and &#39;stop bitching&#39; to another.&nbsp;

One of the people who was arrested on Kalluri&#39;s watch was the Bastar-based journalist Santosh Yadav.&nbsp;

Yadav spent almost two years in jail &ndash; he was charged with &ldquo;associating with a terrorist organisation&rdquo; and &ldquo;supporting and aiding terrorist groups&rdquo; &ndash; until finally being given bail by the Supreme Court in February this year.&nbsp;

In Delhi to speak on the report Bearing Witness: Sexual Violence in South Chhattisgarh by the WSS (Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression), he spoke with WION at the University of Delhi.&nbsp;

Q: Have things changed after Kalluri?&nbsp; 
A: Yes. The number of surrenders, and the number of adivasis being imprisoned have gone down, but the police are keeping an even closer watch on (Bastar&#39;s) villages.&nbsp;

Wait, that doesn&#39;t make sense. You&#39;re saying that the number of surrenders has&nbsp;gone down but the police are keeping an even closer watch on the villages...&nbsp; 
Yes. Maybe they&#39;re doing it for the corporates. (Bastar is rich in minerals.) Maybe it means Kalluri is coming back.&nbsp;

Vikas (development) has gone up too.&nbsp;

What is &#39;development&#39; for the Bastariya? Does it mean mining and big industry, like that Delhi University student was implying today?&nbsp;

No. For the Bastariya, development does not mean that. To him it means schools, hospitals, help with agriculture, and better roads.&nbsp;

You&#39;ve spent a year in jail? Where is your case now?&nbsp; 
I spent almost two years in jail. I&#39;m out on bail. We got bail from the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

Where did you spend your time in jail?&nbsp; 
I spent 15 months in Jagdalpur central jail. And four months in Kanker.&nbsp;

Why were you arrested?&nbsp; 
You&#39;ll have to ask the police team that.&nbsp;

Okay. Why do you think you were arrested?&nbsp; 
There are two villages, Badri Mohu and Boda Warah, about 12 kilometres from where I live, Darbha. The CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) had beaten up villagers there.&nbsp;

The villagers called me, saying I would write about what had happened. So I went.&nbsp;

I met the TI (thana in-charge), Durgesh Sharma, there.&nbsp;

He asked me, &#39;What are you doing here?&#39; I asked him, &#39;What are you doing here?&#39;

Later, I got a call from additional SP Vijay Panda. He told me not to write about Badri Mohu.&nbsp;

But I did.&nbsp;

Then the police called the villagers to talk. They told the villagers, &#39;Call Santosh also.&#39;&nbsp;

When I got there, IG Kalluri was there too. He said, &ldquo;Stop writing about all of this.&#39;

I said, &#39;You let those men go.&#39;&nbsp;

The whole problem had started because the police had picked up five men from Badri Mohu and Boda Warah. The villagers had been demanding that the police let them go. That is when they were beaten up.&nbsp;

When I said that &ndash; &ldquo;You let those men go&rdquo; &ndash; Kalluri told his men to arrest me.&nbsp;

If you were to try and explain Bastar to these University of Delhi students you talked to today, what would you tell them?&nbsp; 
Bastar is very beautiful. It&#39;s very green.&nbsp;

But it&#39;s broken. Ever since the Naxals and the force (security forces) have come, it&#39;s been broken.&nbsp;

The force has done the most damage.&nbsp;

How do I explain the situation there, the system there? It&#39;s all broken.&nbsp;

Nobody wants to go anywhere because if you leave, you know you will go to jail.&nbsp;

Look at Darbha. The educated young men have left. They&#39;ve gone to Hyderabad, Chennai, where they work as construction workers. But when they come back, the police put them straight in jail.&nbsp;

Do you think the students got what you talked about today?&nbsp; 
No. They won&#39;t get it that quickly. It&#39;ll take some time.&nbsp;

(WION)

The Bastar-based journalist Santosh Yadav, who was recently given bail by the SC after spending almost 2 years in jail, speaks to WION

Bastar was some time ago described as a media “black hole”. There was no information coming out of there apart from "good news" because the government was evicting anybody who said something different from the powers that be. The Bastar division is made up of the seven southernmost districts of Chhattisgarh. Together, they make up about a fourth of the state's land mass, or an area larger than Kerala. The people hounded out of Bastar – allegedly by the police – included the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group. Isha Khandelwal and Shalini Gera, the lawyers of JagLAG, now work out of Bilaspur in the north of Chhattisgarh, making a 14-hour bus journey each time they have to get to the court in Dantewada in Bastar, which is where most of their work is. The journalist Malini Subramaniam left after the home she shared with her young daughter was attacked in the middle of the night. In January this year, the researcher and human rights worker Bela Bhatia was attacked in her home. (She remains in Bastar.) A local journalist, Prabhat Singh, was arrested, allegedy for a WhatsApp post that was critical of a senior police officer. The truly frightening thing is that the finger of suspicion in most of these cases points to the police, or to vigilante groups allegedly encouraged by the police. At the same time as these people were being made persona non grata, the police were reporting a massive surge in the “surrenders” of Maoist personnel. A December 18, 2014 report in the Indian Express, for example, said that from June 1 to November 28 of that year, the police reported 377 Maoist surrenders. In the two and a half years before that, from January 2012 to May 2014, Bastar had had only 29 Maoist surrenders. The person given the credit for the surrenders was Bastar Inspector General of Police SRP Kalluri, the seniormost policeman in the region. The Express report however also added that: “A scrutiny of police records and meetings with these 'surrendered' Maoists show that at least 270 of the 377 are actually ordinary villagers or routine criminals not eligible to be termed 'surrendered Maoists'. Not one of the 377 surrendered with a weapon, and no one has got the post-surrender relief or rehabilitation. Over 80 per cent of those who surrendered continue living in their villages, the remaining ones in police camps.” Kalluri was finally asked by the government of Chhattisgarh early this February to “proceed on medical leave” – a euphemism for “we're trying to figure out what to do with you” – after he responded rudely to people calling and texting him after the attack on Bela Bhatia. He told one caller that Bhatia had died – she had not – he replied 'F u' to one text, and 'stop bitching' to another. One of the people who was arrested on Kalluri's watch was the Bastar-based journalist Santosh Yadav. Yadav spent almost two years in jail – he was charged with “associating with a terrorist organisation” and “supporting and aiding terrorist groups” – until finally being given bail by the Supreme Court in February this year. In Delhi to speak on the report Bearing Witness: Sexual Violence in South Chhattisgarh by the WSS (Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression), he spoke with WION at the University of Delhi. Q: Have things changed after Kalluri? A: Yes. The number of surrenders, and the number of adivasis being imprisoned have gone down, but the police are keeping an even closer watch on (Bastar's) villages. Wait, that doesn't make sense. You're saying that the number of surrenders has gone down but the police are keeping an even closer watch on the villages... Yes. Maybe they're doing it for the corporates. (Bastar is rich in minerals.) Maybe it means Kalluri is coming back. Vikas (development) has gone up too. What is 'development' for the Bastariya? Does it mean mining and big industry, like that Delhi University student was implying today? No. For the Bastariya, development does not mean that. To him it means schools, hospitals, help with agriculture, and better roads. You've spent a year in jail? Where is your case now? I spent almost two years in jail. I'm out on bail. We got bail from the Supreme Court. Where did you spend your time in jail? I spent 15 months in Jagdalpur central jail. And four months in Kanker. Why were you arrested? You'll have to ask the police team that. Okay. Why do you think you were arrested? There are two villages, Badri Mohu and Boda Warah, about 12 kilometres from where I live, Darbha. The CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) had beaten up villagers there. The villagers called me, saying I would write about what had happened. So I went. I met the TI (thana in-charge), Durgesh Sharma, there. He asked me, 'What are you doing here?' I asked him, 'What are you doing here?' Later, I got a call from additional SP Vijay Panda. He told me not to write about Badri Mohu. But I did. Then the police called the villagers to talk. They told the villagers, 'Call Santosh also.' When I got there, IG Kalluri was there too. He said, “Stop writing about all of this.' I said, 'You let those men go.' The whole problem had started because the police had picked up five men from Badri Mohu and Boda Warah. The villagers had been demanding that the police let them go. That is when they were beaten up. When I said that – “You let those men go” – Kalluri told his men to arrest me. If you were to try and explain Bastar to these University of Delhi students you talked to today, what would you tell them? Bastar is very beautiful. It's very green. But it's broken. Ever since the Naxals and the force (security forces) have come, it's been broken. The force has done the most damage. How do I explain the situation there, the system there? It's all broken. Nobody wants to go anywhere because if you leave, you know you will go to jail. Look at Darbha. The educated young men have left. They've gone to Hyderabad, Chennai, where they work as construction workers. But when they come back, the police put them straight in jail. Do you think the students got what you talked about today? No. They won't get it that quickly. It'll take some time. (WION)

'Maoist surrenders have gone down in Bastar but police is keeping a stricter watch on villages'

The independent researcher and human rights worker Bela Bhatia was woken early on Sunday morning -- the 23rd, at about 1.30 am -- by the sound of her dog Somari barking furiously.&nbsp;

That was followed by a loud banging on the door, made of tin and propped up with a bamboo stick, to the compound of her home in Parpa village on the outskirts of Jagdalpur, the district and divisional headquarters of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

&quot;Come out on to the road,&quot; two men told her.&nbsp;

&quot;No thank you,&quot; said Bela. &quot;Come back tomorrow.&quot;&nbsp;

They did, on Monday. There were about 30 of them this time, says Bela.&nbsp;

Some of them walked into her home, after which they threatened to burn it down if she did not leave Bastar within 24 hours, and then made Bela and her landlady sign an undertaking that she would leave in a day. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The attacks on Bela came a few days after she had journeyed to the villages of Pedagellur and Bellam Nendra in Bijapur district to help women there testify to a visiting National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team.&nbsp;

In October 2015 and January 2016, women from the two villages, and others, had allegedly been raped, and sexually and physically assaulted by personnel of the security forces. Bela had helped the assaulted women file FIRs (first information reports). &nbsp;&nbsp;

The NHRC team had come to collect the testimonies of the women they had not&nbsp;yet got.&nbsp;

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Bastar inspector general of police SRP Kalluri. (Image source: Adivasi Resurgence) (Others)
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&nbsp;

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Bela Bhatia at home in Bastar with her dog Somari. (WION)
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The reaction

In reaction to the attacks on Bela, an email was sent out and a post put up on Facebook. The email and Facebook post contained numbers to four people: the inspector general of police of Bastar SRP Kalluri, the superintendent of police of Bastar RN Dash, the district collector Amit Kataria, and the director general of police (anti-Naxal operations, Chhattisgarh) DM Awashthi.&nbsp;

The email and post urged anybody reading to call the officials, and demand Bela&#39;s safety.&nbsp;

One of the first people to call was Gayatri V. (Gayatri runs the NGO Bagheera which works with wastepickers in Kolkata, before which she worked with the UNHCR in Jordan.)&nbsp;

Gayatri called -- on Monday at about 9 pm -- one of the numbers given in the email and post to Mr Kalluri, the seniormost police officer in Bastar. &nbsp;&nbsp;

She says the phone was picked up and when she asked for him, handed to Mr Kalluri.&nbsp;

She asked about Bela.&nbsp;

&quot;Yes, she (Bela) was attacked,&quot; Gayatri says Mr Kalluri said to her. &quot;She was hurt,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

&quot;She was taken to hospital,&quot; he said. And, &quot;We have now got news that she has died...&quot;

Gayatri says she was shocked. &quot;Died?&quot; she asked again.&nbsp;

&quot;Haan, haan,&quot; she says Mr Kalluri said to her. After which he added, &quot;I&#39;m very sorry.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;Which hospital was she taken to?&quot; Gayatri asked Mr Kalluri.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;m looking into it,&quot; she says he replied.

And then he cut the call.&nbsp;

But Bela was alive and well

None of what Mr Kalluri is alleged to have said was true.&nbsp;

Bela was not dead, she was alive and well, though presumably shaken by the two attacks on her.&nbsp;

In the meantime, the email and Facebook post had found traction. The messages to Mr Kalluri continued, and slowly devolved (on at least one side) into a repulsive war of words between concerned citizens and a senior police officer. &nbsp;

The Supreme Court lawyer and socio-political activist Pyoli Swatija says she messaged Mr Kalluri at about 11 am on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Her message read: &quot;Please ensure that Bela Bhatia is not hounded out of her residence. The law of the land applies to Chhattisgarh too.&quot;&nbsp;

An hour later, she says she received this message: &quot;Naxals will be kicked out of Bastar.&quot;&nbsp;

When Pyoli answered, &quot;What has your answer to do with my query?&quot;, the reply she got was &nbsp;&quot;F u&quot;.&nbsp;

Another message to Mr Kalluri -- &quot;This can&#39;t go (sic) long. You are not above the constitution. Don&#39;t sell your conscience for money&quot; -- elicited the response: &quot;Maoists and their dogs like you will be stoned out of Bastar. Beware.&quot;&nbsp;

Yet another message to Mr Kalluri (see photo below) -- &nbsp;&quot;Do citizens of India not have the right to residence in Chhatisgarh?!&quot; -- was met with the reply: &quot;Yes, we are taking strong action. Very soon, Maoists and their dogs will be thrown out of Bastar.&quot;&nbsp;

Supreme Court lawyer and former Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group (JagLAG)&nbsp;member Guneet Kaur&#39;s message to Mr Kalluri -- &quot;Your actions are unconstitutional and anti national&quot;, was replied to with: &quot;Stop bitching&quot;.&nbsp;

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The messages, and their replies, sent to Mr Kalluri. (Facebook)
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The police version: &#39;I have no time for you&#39;

When WION called Mr Kalluri -- on one of the four numbers given to Mr Kalluri in the original email and Facebook post -- he refused to answer any questions, instead saying: &quot;You want to talk about Bela Bhatia, then I have no time for you.&quot;&nbsp;

Bela says she will be leaving her current home.&nbsp;

A little after the attacks on her, she says her landlady&#39;s husband and sons were called in for a talk with the police. And that, despite the fact that her landlord and landlady are not happy about it, she has decided to leave. &nbsp;

For now, she says, the district collector has offered to find her a home. &quot;That will be temporary,&quot; she says. &quot;I will find something else in the meantime.&quot;&nbsp;

The &quot;pressure&quot;&nbsp;on her, says Bela, had been building for some time.&nbsp;

In November last year, Bela says a &quot;letter&quot; reached the Parpa thana via the office of the superintendent of police saying residents of the village were upset with Bela, and that she should be looked at as a person of suspicion. Bela says the locals mentioned in the letter say they never wrote any such letter.&nbsp;

In January this year, another letter appeared, this time purporting to be from Bela herself. Bela says this letter complained (by her) about the illegal brewing (by the villagers) of liquor in Parpa.&nbsp;

The letters, she says, were probably trying to create a rift between the villagers of Parpa and Bela.&nbsp;

She also adds that she never wrote any such letter.&nbsp;

In October last year, uniformed personnel of the security forces burnt an effigy of her in Kondagaon. (This was a first. Whatever the Indian police&#39;s excesses, in Chhattisgarh and elsewhere, they have never been known to burn effigies of common citizens.)&nbsp;

Effigies of other people burnt in Kondagaon included those of the Communist Party of India leader Manish Kunjam, Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar, social activist Himanshu Kumar, &nbsp;Aam Aadmi Party leader Soni Sori, and the Scroll journalist Malini Subramaniam.&nbsp;

There is no one left in Bastar

The &quot;attacks&quot; -- by the police -- &nbsp;on these common citizens have been &quot;successful&quot;.&nbsp;

Himanshu Kumar left Bastar in 2009.&nbsp;

Malini Subramaniam left Jagdalpur on February 20, 2016.&nbsp;

A few days prior, her home had been attacked at night. (Malini and her daughter were alone at home at the time.)&nbsp;

And just before that, a &quot;demonstration&quot; against her had been held by the citizens&#39; vigilante group Samajik Ekta Manch. (An India Today television sting later seemed to prove the manch was created by the Bastar police.)&nbsp;

Isha Khandelwal of JagLAG says they left Jagdalpur at about the same time. (JagLAG now works out of Bilaspur, a 14-hour drive away.)&nbsp;

In both cases, Isha alleges police coercion.&nbsp;

In Malini&#39;s case -- whom JagLAG represented -- she said Malini&#39;s maid was held by the police.&nbsp;

In JagLAG&#39;s case, their landlord&#39;s car was confiscated. Their landlord was a taxi driver, and his livelihood depended on the car.&nbsp;

&quot;It was only when we agreed to leave Bastar that the police let Malini&#39;s maid go, and released our landlord&#39;s car,&quot; she says.&nbsp;

Exactly the same sort of pressure, it seems, is being brought to bear on Bela.&nbsp;

The common link between all these people is that they offered (or offer) a narrative that was different from the one the government of Chhattisgarh or the police administration of Bastar has to tell -- Kumar was raising human rights violations by the police and the Salwa Judum (the civilian militia raised by the state in Chhattisgarh), the lawyers of JagLAG were representing the families of men and women murdered in extra-judicial killings, the victims of rape and sexual assault by personnel of the security forces, and the (largely) tribal men and women falsely accused on charges of Naxalism, Malini Subramaniam was reporting and continues to report on police excesses in the region, and Bela Bhatia is helping women who say they have been raped and assaulted by personnel of the security forces file FIRs against their attackers.&nbsp;

There have, in recent months, been myriad reports -- corroborated by the Press Council of India -- about Bastar turning into a media black hole.&nbsp;

No news comes out of there, because nobody is left there to tell a story different from the one the police tells us.&nbsp;

Apart from Bela.&nbsp;

(WION)

Another message sent to inspector general of police SRP Kalluri was replied to with: 'Stop b****ing'

The independent researcher and human rights worker Bela Bhatia was woken early on Sunday morning -- the 23rd, at about 1.30 am -- by the sound of her dog Somari barking furiously. That was followed by a loud banging on the door, made of tin and propped up with a bamboo stick, to the compound of her home in Parpa village on the outskirts of Jagdalpur, the district and divisional headquarters of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh. "Come out on to the road," two men told her. "No thank you," said Bela. "Come back tomorrow." They did, on Monday. There were about 30 of them this time, says Bela. Some of them walked into her home, after which they threatened to burn it down if she did not leave Bastar within 24 hours, and then made Bela and her landlady sign an undertaking that she would leave in a day. The attacks on Bela came a few days after she had journeyed to the villages of Pedagellur and Bellam Nendra in Bijapur district to help women there testify to a visiting National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team. In October 2015 and January 2016, women from the two villages, and others, had allegedly been raped, and sexually and physically assaulted by personnel of the security forces. Bela had helped the assaulted women file FIRs (first information reports). The NHRC team had come to collect the testimonies of the women they had not yet got. Bastar inspector general of police SRP Kalluri. (Image source: Adivasi Resurgence) (Others) × Bela Bhatia at home in Bastar with her dog Somari. (WION) × The reaction In reaction to the attacks on Bela, an email was sent out and a post put up on Facebook. The email and Facebook post contained numbers to four people: the inspector general of police of Bastar SRP Kalluri, the superintendent of police of Bastar RN Dash, the district collector Amit Kataria, and the director general of police (anti-Naxal operations, Chhattisgarh) DM Awashthi. The email and post urged anybody reading to call the officials, and demand Bela's safety. One of the first people to call was Gayatri V. (Gayatri runs the NGO Bagheera which works with wastepickers in Kolkata, before which she worked with the UNHCR in Jordan.) Gayatri called -- on Monday at about 9 pm -- one of the numbers given in the email and post to Mr Kalluri, the seniormost police officer in Bastar. She says the phone was picked up and when she asked for him, handed to Mr Kalluri. She asked about Bela. "Yes, she (Bela) was attacked," Gayatri says Mr Kalluri said to her. "She was hurt," he added. "She was taken to hospital," he said. And, "We have now got news that she has died..." Gayatri says she was shocked. "Died?" she asked again. "Haan, haan," she says Mr Kalluri said to her. After which he added, "I'm very sorry." "Which hospital was she taken to?" Gayatri asked Mr Kalluri. "I'm looking into it," she says he replied. And then he cut the call. But Bela was alive and well None of what Mr Kalluri is alleged to have said was true. Bela was not dead, she was alive and well, though presumably shaken by the two attacks on her. In the meantime, the email and Facebook post had found traction. The messages to Mr Kalluri continued, and slowly devolved (on at least one side) into a repulsive war of words between concerned citizens and a senior police officer. The Supreme Court lawyer and socio-political activist Pyoli Swatija says she messaged Mr Kalluri at about 11 am on Tuesday. Her message read: "Please ensure that Bela Bhatia is not hounded out of her residence. The law of the land applies to Chhattisgarh too." An hour later, she says she received this message: "Naxals will be kicked out of Bastar." When Pyoli answered, "What has your answer to do with my query?", the reply she got was "F u". Another message to Mr Kalluri -- "This can't go (sic) long. You are not above the constitution. Don't sell your conscience for money" -- elicited the response: "Maoists and their dogs like you will be stoned out of Bastar. Beware." Yet another message to Mr Kalluri (see photo below) -- "Do citizens of India not have the right to residence in Chhatisgarh?!" -- was met with the reply: "Yes, we are taking strong action. Very soon, Maoists and their dogs will be thrown out of Bastar." Supreme Court lawyer and former Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group (JagLAG) member Guneet Kaur's message to Mr Kalluri -- "Your actions are unconstitutional and anti national", was replied to with: "Stop bitching". The messages, and their replies, sent to Mr Kalluri. (Facebook) × The police version: 'I have no time for you' When WION called Mr Kalluri -- on one of the four numbers given to Mr Kalluri in the original email and Facebook post -- he refused to answer any questions, instead saying: "You want to talk about Bela Bhatia, then I have no time for you." Bela says she will be leaving her current home. A little after the attacks on her, she says her landlady's husband and sons were called in for a talk with the police. And that, despite the fact that her landlord and landlady are not happy about it, she has decided to leave. For now, she says, the district collector has offered to find her a home. "That will be temporary," she says. "I will find something else in the meantime." The "pressure" on her, says Bela, had been building for some time. In November last year, Bela says a "letter" reached the Parpa thana via the office of the superintendent of police saying residents of the village were upset with Bela, and that she should be looked at as a person of suspicion. Bela says the locals mentioned in the letter say they never wrote any such letter. In January this year, another letter appeared, this time purporting to be from Bela herself. Bela says this letter complained (by her) about the illegal brewing (by the villagers) of liquor in Parpa. The letters, she says, were probably trying to create a rift between the villagers of Parpa and Bela. She also adds that she never wrote any such letter. In October last year, uniformed personnel of the security forces burnt an effigy of her in Kondagaon. (This was a first. Whatever the Indian police's excesses, in Chhattisgarh and elsewhere, they have never been known to burn effigies of common citizens.) Effigies of other people burnt in Kondagaon included those of the Communist Party of India leader Manish Kunjam, Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar, social activist Himanshu Kumar, Aam Aadmi Party leader Soni Sori, and the Scroll journalist Malini Subramaniam. There is no one left in Bastar The "attacks" -- by the police -- on these common citizens have been "successful". Himanshu Kumar left Bastar in 2009. Malini Subramaniam left Jagdalpur on February 20, 2016. A few days prior, her home had been attacked at night. (Malini and her daughter were alone at home at the time.) And just before that, a "demonstration" against her had been held by the citizens' vigilante group Samajik Ekta Manch. (An India Today television sting later seemed to prove the manch was created by the Bastar police.) Isha Khandelwal of JagLAG says they left Jagdalpur at about the same time. (JagLAG now works out of Bilaspur, a 14-hour drive away.) In both cases, Isha alleges police coercion. In Malini's case -- whom JagLAG represented -- she said Malini's maid was held by the police. In JagLAG's case, their landlord's car was confiscated. Their landlord was a taxi driver, and his livelihood depended on the car. "It was only when we agreed to leave Bastar that the police let Malini's maid go, and released our landlord's car," she says. Exactly the same sort of pressure, it seems, is being brought to bear on Bela. The common link between all these people is that they offered (or offer) a narrative that was different from the one the government of Chhattisgarh or the police administration of Bastar has to tell -- Kumar was raising human rights violations by the police and the Salwa Judum (the civilian militia raised by the state in Chhattisgarh), the lawyers of JagLAG were representing the families of men and women murdered in extra-judicial killings, the victims of rape and sexual assault by personnel of the security forces, and the (largely) tribal men and women falsely accused on charges of Naxalism, Malini Subramaniam was reporting and continues to report on police excesses in the region, and Bela Bhatia is helping women who say they have been raped and assaulted by personnel of the security forces file FIRs against their attackers. There have, in recent months, been myriad reports -- corroborated by the Press Council of India -- about Bastar turning into a media black hole. No news comes out of there, because nobody is left there to tell a story different from the one the police tells us. Apart from Bela. (WION)

India: Messages of concern sent to Bastar top cop after activist is threatened, reply is 'F u'

Days after India&#39;s chief investigative agency, the central bureau of investigation (CBI) levelled charges against seven policemen from the Chhattisgarh state police, the Raman Singh government has suspended the policemen.&nbsp;

The CBI had indicted the men for setting nearly 200 houses ablaze during the 2011 raids in Tadmetla village of Sukma district. The seven policemen have been charged with arson and causing grievous hurt. The agency had earlier submitted a status report to the Supreme Court of India.&nbsp;

An official government statement said, &quot;The DGP has issued directives for taking action of suspension and line attach as per the rules against the then eight special police officers of Dantewada and Sukma districts who have been charge-sheeted by the CBI in connection with the Tadmetla incident.&quot;

The policemen had blamed the Maoists in the forests of Sukma district (then part of Dantewada district) in the Bastar region of burning down the houses between March 11 and March 16, 2011.

But political parties in the state demanded the government to fix responsibility on senior police officers, on whose orders such operations are carried out.&nbsp;

Another investigation has been ordered following the recent October 24 protests during which a mob, allegedly including police personnel, burnt effigies of social activists and political leaders in Bastar.&nbsp;

Social activist Swami Agnivesh filed a petition, saying he was attacked by a mob while travelling to the villages with relief supplies. But the protesters argued that they were, in fact, fighting Maoists in the region and these allegations are being made by their &quot;sympathisers&quot;.

Villagers have often complained of human rights violations in the region.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The state government suspended seven policemen after the CBI accused them of setting fire to nearly 200 homes

Days after India's chief investigative agency, the central bureau of investigation (CBI) levelled charges against seven policemen from the Chhattisgarh state police, the Raman Singh government has suspended the policemen. The CBI had indicted the men for setting nearly 200 houses ablaze during the 2011 raids in Tadmetla village of Sukma district. The seven policemen have been charged with arson and causing grievous hurt. The agency had earlier submitted a status report to the Supreme Court of India. An official government statement said, "The DGP has issued directives for taking action of suspension and line attach as per the rules against the then eight special police officers of Dantewada and Sukma districts who have been charge-sheeted by the CBI in connection with the Tadmetla incident." The policemen had blamed the Maoists in the forests of Sukma district (then part of Dantewada district) in the Bastar region of burning down the houses between March 11 and March 16, 2011. But political parties in the state demanded the government to fix responsibility on senior police officers, on whose orders such operations are carried out. Another investigation has been ordered following the recent October 24 protests during which a mob, allegedly including police personnel, burnt effigies of social activists and political leaders in Bastar. Social activist Swami Agnivesh filed a petition, saying he was attacked by a mob while travelling to the villages with relief supplies. But the protesters argued that they were, in fact, fighting Maoists in the region and these allegations are being made by their "sympathisers". Villagers have often complained of human rights violations in the region. (WION with inputs from agencies)

2011 Sukma raids: India's Chhattisgarh state orders probe against policemen

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