NHRC approves of Chhatishgarh rational for backing Salva Judum

The National Human Rights Commission has approved the Chattisgarh government's policy of arming the activists of Salva Judam to tackle Naxal movement in the state. The Commission in its report submitted in the apex court in a sealed cover expressed concern over some some stray cases of criminal activities and violence by the Salva Judam activists against the dalits in the stated. The Commission also suggested some remedial measures to the court so that the arms provided to the Salva Judam are not misused.

A three judge bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan has now asked the petitioners, Central and State government to respond to the NHRC report. The petition filed in the Supreme Court had opposed the Salva Judam movement saying that in the garb of this movement, the activists are committing atrocities on dalits in the state. The court has fixed October 23rd as the date till the responses have to be filed and the matter shall be taken up for hearing in December.

The apex court earlier on Aril 15 had asked the NHRC to probe whether allegations that Salva Judam activists, backed by Chhatishgarh government for curbing Maoists spread in the state, have been indulging in rape and killings of aboriginals there. The court had asked the NHRC to have the allegations probed and submit its findings to the court within two months.

 

The apex court's order came during the hearing of a petition by academicians Ramachandra Guha and Nandni Sunder who had alleged that in the name of fighting Maoists, the state government was arming Salva Judam activists and encouraging them to kill innocent tribal and villagers. The contents of the right panel's report, submitted to the apex court Friday, could be discerned as the bench cited the main findings of the NHRC in its observation during the hearing of the matter.

 

Quoting parts of the report, the bench said there are areas in the state, where the police does not have easy access and the Maoists have set up the parallel government. Accordingly, it was inevitable for the police to rope in Salva Judam activists' help in gaining access to the far-flung and remote areas of the state, where the Maoists have supplanted the state administration. The reprt elsewhere said that the police generally refuse to lodge criminal cases against the Salva Judam activists on the allegations of rape and violence by them against the poor and dalits.