'FIR against DU don vicious, vindictive'

Expressing outrage over the registration of a murder case against Delhi University Professor Nandini Sundar, historian Ramachandra Guha and Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday flayed the Chhattisgarh government on the issue.

Sundar and 10 others have been booked for the murder of tribal Shamnath Baghel, who was allegedly killed by Maoists at his Nama village in Tongpal area of Chhattisgarh on November 4.

On the basis of a complaint by Baghel's wife, police registered a case of murder, rioting and trespassing against Sundar and others, including Jawaharlal Nehru University Professor Archana Prasad.

"A case was registered against DU Professor Nandini Sundar, Jawaharlal Nehru University Professor Archana Prasad and others on November 5 at Tongpal police station for the murder of Shamnath Baghel on November 4," Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sukma I.K. Elesela earlier told IANS.

"They have been booked under the charges of murder, rioting and trespassing," the officer added.

The officer said Baghel's wife complained that he was getting threats from Maoists after he and other villagers complained against Sundar in May.

"This vicious and vindictive FIR (first information report) proves beyond doubt that Chhattisgarh is a police state," Guha said on Twitter.

"Professor Nandini Sundar is one of the bravest, and most decent, Indians I have known. The Chhattisgarh government's action shows their utter depravity," he added.

Bhushan too expressed his outrage: "Outrageous! Raman's killer cop (Bastar Inspector General of Police) S.R.P. Kalluri books DU Prof. Nandini Sundar, who had moved the Supreme Court to ban Salwa Judum, for murder!

"Prof. Nandini Sundar, booked by the Chhattisgarh's killer cops, had written a book on police atrocities on Adivasis of Bastar."

--IANS

and/tsb/bg