End restrictions on civil society investigating killing of 4 tribals: Chhattisgarh govt told

By A Representative
India's premier civil society network, National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM), has demanded “immediate end” to the Chhattisgarh government’s alleged efforts to restrict movement of civil society groups investigating the killing of four Adivasis by security forces in Silger village, Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.
A 10-member investigation team of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA) travelling to Silger was stopped near Nelsnar police station in Bangapar, Bijapur district. The investigation team comprises of prominent citizens and activists including Anubhav Shori, Vijender Tiwari, Sagarika Pandey, Rashi Agarwal, Sanjay Parte, Alok Shukla, Geet Deheriya, Bela Bhatia, Sudesh Tikam and Indu Netam.

Security forces blocked the road and prevented the team members from proceeding on foot even to nearby Bijapur city. Following this, the entire Silger block was declared as a containment zone for seven days.
According to NAPM, “These measures are an open violation of democratic rights for freedom of movement and expression. They are clearly an attempt to prevent a fair and open investigation into the indiscriminate firing by security forces on May 16 on the peaceful Adivasi protesters in Silger, Bastar.”

The firing followed a “series of large-scale peaceful protests by Adivasis against a proposed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camps, which they feel would further militarize the region. The firing resulted in the killing of four Adivasis and injured 18 others”, it added.

“Instead of ordering a full and fair investigation into the firing and taking action against the responsible security forces, the government is making all efforts to restrict civil society efforts to investigate the incident”, the civil rights network asserted.
Demanding judicial investigation into the incident and prosecution of security officers who were involved in and ordered the firing, NAPM said, “Exemplary compensation must be paid to all the families of the deceased and injured”.

It added, there should be “a full moratorium on construction of additional CRPF camps in the region must be ensured and a phased-plan for de-militarization as well as active dialogue between State, Adivasis and civil society.”

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