Naxal case: NHRC summons C'garh Chief Secy, IG of Bastar Range

The National Human Rights Commission has summoned Chief Secretary of Chhatisgarh government and IGP of Bastar Range, in the wake of alleged hostility and abuse of power against social activist Nandini Sundar and others in connection with a tribal murder case.
The NHRC said it has noted and taken suo motu cognisance of the "nationwide outcry and protest" against IGP of Bastar Range S R P Kalluri for registering an FIR on November 5 against Sundar, Delhi University professor Archana Prasad and few others in connection with the alleged murder of a tribal man in Naxal-affected areas of the state.

As per media reports over the last week, it has been alleged that Chhattisgarh Police has named Sundar, a JNU professor and 10 others as accused in the murder of Samnath Baghel in Sukma District on November 4, the NHRC said in a statement today.
"It is reported that he was killed by Maoists as he had been leading a campaign against Maoists activities since April 2016. It has been alleged that these professors had visited Bastar in May 2016, while this murder took place in November.
"There is no apparent connection between murder and visit of these human rights activists and, therefore, it has been alleged that they have been framed in mala fide manner by police to settle scores," the statement said.

The Commission said that on consideration of the whole situation in Chhattisgarh over more than a year, views the action of registration of FIR against Sundar and others "as an act in line with earlier acts of hostility displayed by police".

"Naming of these human rights activists in the FIR...Lends credence of the observation of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) that all this was part of the state police vendetta against the lawyers, journalists and human rights activists who have been critical of fake encounters, mass rapes, arson, etc. By security forces.
"The naming of these persons in FIR appears to be the ploy to stop their entry and visit to the tribal areas for exposing their misdeeds," the NHRC said.

The Commission is "deeply disturbed" by the state of affairs in Chhattisgarh over last one year or more and is of the view that the Chief Secretary and IGP of Bastar Range "should appear in person before the Commission on November 30 at 11:00 AM with all reports to explain the allegations made against the police and administration in the media and by human rights defenders."
In the considered view of the Commission, police of Chhattisgarh owes its explanation to the NHRC, as "there are allegations and its action seems to be coloured by mala fide, hostility and abuse of power on the allegations of false implication to silence the human rights defenders," it said.

(REOPENS DES33)
"It is the duty and function of the Commission to see that the faith of the people in the police is not eroded and society is governed by rule of law and faith of people in upholding the human rights of people is restored and vindicated at the earliest," the NHRC said in the statement.
The Commission also takes judicial notice of petition filed by Sundar recently in the apex court against alleged atrocities by Bastar Police against tribal people by burning of their homes, it said.
"She has also earlier filed a petition in the Supreme Court in Salwa Judum case in 2007 against atrocities by police in the tribal areas.

"She, along with other lawyers and journalists, has in the past brought to the notice of the Commission, mass rape of women, murders and other crimes by security officers under the umbrella of police. The Commission is separately examining those complaints and has sought comments from the state of Chhattisgarh on the findings submitted to the Commission by its team after visiting Chhattisgarh," the NHRC said.
The Commission said, it also took "suo motu cognisance this month against the unprecedented acts of hostility and indiscipline by Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Police in burning the effigies of professor Nandini Sundar and other lawyers and journalists as they were instrumental in exposing the deeds of police."

The Commission also is of the view that since allegations are made against the IGP, Bastar Range, the NHRC would "like to know from them, why the investigation in the FIR now registered, should not be handed over to an independent agency like CB CID or CBI.