Communist backed forum recently published a report on Bastar, a Naxalite dominated area
of
Chhattisgarh state. The title of the report has created an impression among readers
that, report is regarding total anarchy in Bastar region, where law is
being subjugated and law enforcement agencies doesn’t exist at all. The fundamental rights of the citizens are trampled by anti-social elements.
But report miserably failed to address many burning issues in Naxalite area such as, Naxal atrocities on villagers, public killings of innocent
people under false allegation of being Police informant, presence of countless
Kangaroo Courts run by Naxals to punish helpless citizens, brutalities of Naxal
commanders, forced minor soldiers and rampant destruction of government
infrastructure by Naxalists.
The report
is typical leftist ploy to malign image of Indian security forces countering Naxal violence, Hindu organizations propagating democratic
values among Naxal dominated society and preserving rich cultural traditions
from onslaught of aggressive evangelists.
I will try
here to analyze AIPF report point by point to expose false allegations leveled against Hindu groups and Security Forces.
Allegation-
Scores of
intelligence officers closely followed 8 members Communist Team round the clock
in Jagdalpur. The team was intervened, stopped, frisked, interrogated
frequently at number of CRPF and Police check points. Number of vehicles was
passed to CRPF check points for further interrogation. Team was asked to share
name of villages they visited & name of people the met. The safety of those
people from Jagdalpur and Sukma who spoke with team is at stake.
Reality:-
It is Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) followed by security forces deployed in counter insurgency
operations. No one is
exempted from interrogation, frisking and questioning. The vehicles plying on
roads are
always informed to all check points so that missing vehicle could be
easily tracked in case of emergency.
So, this is
meaningless allegation.
Allegation-
Bastar is the area
where Christians are systematically being persecuted by Hindu radicals and
Bajrang Dal-VHP activists. It is laboratory for Hindu Nation. Chhattisgarh Gram
Panchayat Act’s section 129 (C) is being wrongly invoked to persecute local
Christians and to prevent them from building places of worship. In at least 7
villages construction of Churches are halted by misusing provisions of
aforesaid law.
Reality:-
The aforesaid law
prevents anything that is detrimental to cultural & religious traditions of
Scheduled Castes. The construction of churches was halted by villagers as
designs of the churches were totally different from traditional houses built in
the area. So it was appropriately invoked in these cases.
According to
Superintend of Police office in Jagdalpur, the villagers filed complaint under Chhattisgarh
Gram Panchayat Act’s section 129 (C) and then construction of church was
halted. Police denied involvement of Bajrang Dal- VHP workers in the matter.
Allegation-
Testimony of Pastor
Pilaram Kawde from Bhadisgao village in Tokapal panchayat of Bastar district
told villagers threatened to demolish prayer hall built by him. Also on On 25
May 2016, Saradi Bai, an old Christian lady died, but villagers provoked by Bajrang
Dal stopped us from burying her. Then villagers allowed burial when Police
intervened.
Reality:-
According to SDM
office the villagers didn’t deny the permission to bury dead lady on religious
ground, the actual reason was that the family of deceased lady refused to
comply with the rules laid by villagers related to use of crematorium. The SDM
office further said that not only Hindu villagers, but Christian villagers also
opposed burial of said woman and her husband.
Allegation-
Layers Son Singh
Jhali told that in Ara village, Bariyo Chowki, Jeypore thana, District
Balrampur, Bajrang Dal organised mob of 25-30 people led by Shri. Chhotu
Jaiswal on Sunday, 5 June 2016 and attacked Sunday prayers in Church. They
vandalized church, beaten up the pastor along with wife and 3 others. A case
under Section 295 A, Anti Conversion Act Section 4 and Section 502, 504 and 505
IPC also invoked against the Pastor.
Reality:-
According to
Superintendent of Police office of Balrampur, the incidence of violence triggered
due to attempt of deceitful religious conversion being made in the said Church.
When villagers gathered at Church to take stock of the situation, the violence
broke out between both sides. When villagers registered a case against pastor
under Anti Conversion Act Section 4, pastor was arrested and lodged in Police
custody.
Allegation-
Pastor John Masih
(alias Chunnu) from Karmari vllage in Bastar block of Bastar district told that
the construction site of the Christian prayer hall in his village was attacked
by villagers and Bajrang Dal activists badly beating two women working on site.
He had all NOC and permissions in his hand, but still people raised objections
about it and pressurised them to halt it. The matter went to court. Then
village Karmari gram panchayat passed a
resolution under Section 129 (C) of the Chhattisgarh Gram Panchayat Act, “To
stop forced religious conversion by outside campaigners, preventing use of
derogatory language against Hindu deities.”
Reality:-
The permission and
NOC which Pastor John Masih had obtained from revenue department and other
concerned departments was actually meant for construction of residential
building. Buildings for religious purpose needs separate permissions, which he
had never sought. Knowing the truth, villagers stormed the venue where people
from both groups resorted to violence. Police denied involvement of Bajrang Dal
as it was village level skirmish.
Karmari
village Gram Panchayat actually passed the resolution under Section 129 (C) as
there was history of Christian conversions by fraud, allurement and duress.
Also during aggressive evangelisation drives by outsider Christians, they
always used foul and derogatory language against Hindu deities, so Gram
Panchayat passed resolution to prevent it. They also informed police and
administration about foul language used during campaigning and resolution
passed by Panchayat.
Allegation-
Pastor Munne Lal
Pal, who is ex-president of United Church Union and Graveyard Management
Committee of Jagdalpur claimed that boundary wall of 100 year old graveyard was
demolished with JCB by Bajrang Dal and VHP workers in presence of government
officials in the pretext of clearing encroachment on government land. When VHP-
Bjarang dal activists were demolishing compound wall administration and police
officers turned moot spectators.
Reality:-
As per Jagdalpur DC
office sources, administration has issued repeated notices to graveyard
committee to clear off encroachment on government land, but when notices were
ignored, administration decided to clear off by force. Also administration
flatly denied the involvement of Bajrang Dal- VHP involvement and termed it as
mischievous act of propaganda.
Allegation-
Sanuram Gupta from Tumasnar
village of Kanker district told that in 2006 7 Christian villagers were beaten
up by Hindus and then they demanded “Chanda” from Christian villagers for
construction of Hindu Temple. The Hindu villagers always boycott functions
arranged by Christians.
Reality:-
Kanker district
Police sources said no such incidence is registered in Police diary. On the
other hand villagers from said village confirmed that they don’t prefer to
attend functions arranged by Christian villagers as organisers used derogatory
language for Hindu rituals and foul language for Hindu deities. Villagers
denied charge of social boycott on Christians.
Allegation-
Baman Kowasi from
village Parapur and Chhichoripara of Lohandiguda block in Bastar district said
on 15 May, 2016, local Bajrang Dal workers mercilessly beat up his sister named
Kumli Kowasi (18 yrs), for doing ‘jadu tona’ (witchcraft). All family members
took refuge in Church in another village.
Reality:-
Police confirmed the
incidence but termed it as village level clash and further told that there was
no involvement of any group like Bajrang Dal. Those familiar with tribal life
knows well that allegations of witchcraft are not new in such areas where
superstitions are part and parcel of daily life.
Allegation-
Communist team
members met Kumli Kowasi in the village where she took shelter. She is living
under fear. Kumli told the team that she was assaulted for being Christian. The
Bajrang Dal workers are instigating her family members to be violent against
their own family members for getting converted to Christianity.
Reality:-
Police sources and
social workers active in the area told that, frictions and infighting within
family due to conversion in Christianity
has become common in the state. The conflict of this sort is common
phenomenon all over the state and no one from outside is needed for instigating
violence in such cases. The violence within family after conversion of family
members is widely reported in whole state.
Allegation-
Pastor Sivo Mandavi
from village Sirisguda of block Tokapal (district Bastar) told, that his ration
supply was halted for being Christian. Then food inspector called them to
collect ration dues on 16 June 2014. When he went to coolect it, he was
attacked and beaten up. Next day, 17 May 2014, the village gram sabha adopted
resolution that non-Hindus must leave the village. Fake FIR registered against
12 Christians by Bajrang Dal.
Reality- Uncertainty and frauds in ration
supply are common issues in backward areas. Rampant corruption in ration supply
is not new in such cases, where supply is withhold to collect bribe. But Communist
chicanery unnecessarily painted this issue as Hindu- Christian conflict, just
to drag Bajrang Dal in it. The case filed against 12 Christian found no proof
in Police record, so the allegation proved malicious and framed.
Allegation-
Pastor Abhimalik of
village Mudhota- Bhanpuri (Bastar) said
On 19 October 2014, about 30 Bajrang Dal workers entered Church, beaten up
Christians ordered them to convert to Hindu or else they will be killed. He
went to Jagdalpur to meet Police officer. Meeting was convened on 25th
October. Police didn’t turn up and Bajrang Dal workers attacked Christians. Ambulance didn’t allow by mob to enter
village.
Then village
panchayat refused to allow us the use of bore well, for which Christians
approached Collector, who arranged meeting of Christians and Bajrang dal, where
Bajrang Dal insisted on “Ghar Wapasi” of Christians under Section 129 C of the
Gram Panchayat Act.
Reality- As per Police record, no such
incidence occurred in village on said day. Police said it was clash between two
Christian groups in village and there was no Bajrang Dal involvement.
The
allegation of “Ghar Wapasi” threat was also baseless as no such meeting occurred
in Collector’s office.
Encounters
& Rapes
In
Nagalguda village under Gadiras thana of Vankapal in Kuakonda Tehsil of Dantewada
District, state police claimed killing four women viz. Rame, Pandee, Sanni,
Mase - in an fierce encounter on 21st November 2015. Villagers said
that it was fake encounter. Villagers identified all four women as Maoists.
They had come to village to solve a dispute. Then village was ambushed by the
police force. One of the four women got killed from long distance. Two women
shot dead even after they surrendered.
Reality- Even villagers told Communist
team that all four women were known Maoists. Also, villagers said that one
woman killed in shoot out from long range, then how can one conclude that three
women surrendered and killed in staged encounter? Everyone knows that Dantewada is
Maoist hotbed, is it not fare to engage Maoist in such area?
In all
insurgency, terrorism prone areas there are always two opinions about
encounters. Sometimes chances of fake encounters do exist. But many a times
puppets and fake NGOs, violence supporters under the garb of Human Rights
activists used to take advantage of genuine encounters to push security forces
to the walls, so that morale of the forces can be hurt.
Actual rapes
and allegations of rapes against Security forces go hand in hand in trouble
torn areas. The supporters of violence exploit false and fabricated stories of
rapes by forces to earn more support from common man to their movement.
But in both
rape and fake encounters neutral inquiry must be establish to go deep in the
matter.
Camps and
Check posts:- The
AIPF team has elaborately narrated their experience about CRPF camps and check
posts and Police stations in Bastar. The entire conclusion is that security
forces behave in arrogant, abusive and harsh manner. The team also raised
strong objection to the placard placed by forced which reads, ‘Renounce Maoism,
Support Development’. They have objection for equating Maoism with violence and
as enemy of development.
The fact is
that security forces deployed in insurgency infested areas remains under deep
threat from all over. The death looms over troops every time. In such
condition, how we can expect gentle behaviour from security forces? In a single
ambush on CRPF patrol at least 10 troops loses lives, is it not natural for
their fellow servicemen to behave tough and harsh while on duty?
AIPF team
was enraged when CRPF asked multiple questions to them. But it was obvious
behaviour by CRPF troops with open and over ground supporters of Naxalites and
Maoists? And the credit goes to AIPF Team itself.
About
Insecurity, Fear and Mutual Suspicion:- The
Team observed that atmosphere of insecurity, mutual suspicion and fear prevails
in whole area. People fear for getting branded as “Maoist” on one hand and “Police
Informants” on another.
It is
disturbing but true, but whom to blame? The situation where society is
polarised between police and Maoists is created by Maoist and warmonger Communist
ideology, so blaming security forces for current situation is hypocrisy.
About protests
against Bela Bhatia:-
Organisation called Naxal
Peedit Sangharsh Samiti protested against Bela Bhatia and burnt down her
effigy. As per AIPF such groups are being utilised to quench research scholars,
lawyers and social activists. But reality is that such research scholars,
activists, exploit their fame, intellect and resources just to demoralise
security forces fighting bloody battle against Naxalites and also works as over
ground Naxalite supporters galvanizing civil society for protecting Maoists,
Naxalites war against state. So, it is obvious that anti- Naxal groups become
natural opponents of such over ground supporters of violence and Naxals feels comfortable
under tutelage of these so-called social activists.
Objections
about Salwa Judum & Samajik Ekta Manch
As Supreme Court disbanded “Salwa
Judum” movement, people created new outfit called Samajik Ekta Manch to fight
Naxal menace. English weekly launched the sting operation to expose new outfit,
just to benefit Naxalites. The main objection and reservations of AIPF about
Manch was that they are targeting people like journalist columnist Malini
Subramaniam, advocate Shalini Gera of Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group, and human
rights activist Bela Bhatia (Read Naxal Right activist). Actually these so
called researchers, columnist, advocates and human rights activists are working
with singular objective of shielding Naxalites, garnering popular support from
society to Naxal violence and keeping security forces in Naxal hit area under
constant pressure of legal onslaught.
These fellow
activist and social workers issues press release from New Delhi within minutes
of arrival of the news of Naxal encounter in Chhattisgarh. They would say
within few minutes of arrival of news that it was “fake encounter”, “staged
encounter” “extra judicial killings” and they would vehemently demand NHRC
probe of encounter.
Is it their
activism? These gangs of activists and human rights workers has caused irreparable
damage to India’s democracy and maligned image of India’s security forces on
international level.
AIPF Conclusions and Recommendations-
Remedy Worse Than Disease
Last leg of
AIPF report on Bastar is “Conclusion and Recommendation” The Team mentioned, ‘Constitutional
provisions are openly fluted in region’. And Government’s policy of large scale
militarization. Communist leaning political parties is pressurised. Communist
activist are under fire. Arrests and detentions are very much common.
AIPF was
much concerned about fate of Christians in Naxal hit areas, and specifically
mentioned that Christian minorities are under continuous pressure of RSS
affiliated outfits.
The
recommendations section has 10 points, in which point number 9 finds single
reference in the whole 52 page document, where AIPF has urged Maoist to refrain
from committing violence against common man. The point number 10 is most
important for all those who raise voice against persecution of Communist
activist in this area. The 10th recommendation tells government to
immediately stop ‘Operation Green Hunt’ against Maoists and withdrawal of all
paramilitary forces from Bastar. Is it not dangerous to tell government to
withdraw forces letting Maoist unleashing bloodshed?
There is not
a single reference of Christian groups aggressive, abusive evangelisation drive
among Hindu villagers, but AIPF repeatedly mentioned Hindu groups viz. Bajrang
Dal and VHP and their violent attacks against Christians, majority of these
allegations proved false, baseless and pointed at defaming Hindu groups,
clearing way for conversions by Christians in vast Bastar region.
My Conclusions:-
1)
Considerable
portion of 52 page AIPF report is
dedicated to targeting Hindu groups like Bajrang Dal (22 references), RSS (2
references) and VHP (2 references). AIPF concluded that unarmed Hindu
groups are more dangerous than armed Maoists.
2)
Bastar
report turned blind eye on abusive and aggressive evangelistic activities by
Christian Missionaries but left no stone unturned to grill and scold Hindu
groups trying to preserve indigenous culture.
3)
The
report has no single mention of RSS outfits like Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram running
thousands of educational, health and service projects in Bastar region. Also
AIPF failed to take note of attacks and atrocities on Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram by
armed Maoist.
4)
All
accusations on Hindu groups found baseless, false and fabricated, as all
incidences of violence mentioned in report were village level factional
clashes, without any organizational connection.
5)
AIPF report miserably failed or I can say
deliberately ignored supreme sacrifice made by security forces while
maintaining law and order in Naxal hit areas. And report successfully painted
paramilitary forces as enemy troops willing to crush local people.
6)
AIPF
Team expected VIP treatment from paramilitary forces deployed in the region and
lashed out at troops for checking and frisking them. It shows their deep
contempt for security forces fighting Naxal terror.
7)
Report
has neither made a single reference of Naxal extortion gangs, kidnapping
rackets, ransom economy, forced sex, rapes and public executions nor condemned
it in clear word (except just single namesake reference of Naxal violence
against innocents).
8)
It
has no reference of destruction of infrastructure, public property and
educational infrastructure by Naxals.
9)
The
report completely ignored forced recruitment of adolescent and minors in Naxal
Army, by clearly violating United Nations Security Council resolution 1261,
which prohibits use of child soldiers.
Inference
The AIPF
report is total lie, highly objectionable, biased and unprofessional and
directly or indirectly supporting Naxal ideology and violence. Also it's sole objective is to shield abusive and aggressive Christian Evangelists against indigenous
faith movements of Bastar.
