Chhattisgarh not to book Arundhati for Naxal support

Chhattisgarh Police have refused to lodge a complaint against author-turned-social activist Arundhati Roy for supporting the Naxalites and challenging the government to send her to jail for the same.

Raipur district panchayat member Murari Mishra submitted a written complaint to the Bhatapara police station to lodge a case against Roy for backing the armed struggle. Police, however, declined to lodge the complaint stating that it was not admissible.

Mishra said that Roy had been openly issuing statements that she supported the Naxalites and was ready to go to the jail. "Since she (Roy) claims that she supports the armed struggle, she can be in a position to speak about the deadliest attacks carried out by the rebels in Chhattisgarh," Mishra said.

Mishra wanted Roy to be booked under Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act. Police asked him to move to the court of law, Mishra said.

The Station House Officer of Bhatapara police station, D K Netam said that Roy's statement had been published in the newspapers and they (police) cannot take cognizance on the basis of media reports.

Police have to verify whether the statement published in the newspapers was issued by Roy, he added.

Chhattisgarh Police, however, were not taking the statement of Booker prize winner seriously. Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan had recently told that he would not take them seriously as people would soon dismiss Arundhati Roy.