Human rights group condemns 'escalation of state violence' in Chhattisgarh, demands release of detained activists

By A Representative 

The advocacy group, Campaign for Peace and Justice in Chhattisgarh (CPJC), in a statement has condemned what it called "recent surge in state-led violence, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings of members of the Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM) and local villagers in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district." Following events on November 7 and 8, which it said included the abduction and killing of citizens, CPJC described the incidents as a continuation of severe human rights abuses in a region increasingly marked by military presence.

On November 8, CPJC said, the security forces detained eight prominent MBM activists, including Arjun Sodhi, Muiya Hemla, and Ganesh Kattam, during an operation in Gundiraguda village. The crackdown expanded across nine villages, where 44 individuals were reportedly detained without due process, sparking grave concerns about their safety.

In addition to these arrests, the deaths of two young men—Hidma Podiam, under 16, and Joga Kunjam, around 20—were reported, allegedly in a sudden shooting by security forces. Local witnesses have called the shootings indiscriminate, while police framed the incident as part of their anti-Naxal operations, alleged CPJC. Questions persist regarding the identities and motives attributed to the deceased, leaving families and community members in shock, it added.

The CPJC further questioned the government’s reported figures, which claim 192 “Naxalites” killed and 782 arrests in 2024 alone, alongside 783 alleged surrenders. The group warned that these numbers may conceal cases of illegal detention and forced recruitment, pointing out discrepancies with official estimates of Maoist cadres.

The organization also highlighted the militarization of Bastar as detrimental to Adivasi communities, citing initiatives like the Niyad Nellanar project, which links basic services to the establishment of security camps. It argued, this policy has created a "state of siege," with over 300 camps in the region disrupting local rights and way of life.

The CPJC noted that MBM and other grassroots organizations have long protested peacefully against land dispossession, environmental exploitation, and militarization. They also criticized the deployment of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a battalion comprising surrendered Naxalites and local youth, calling it a violation of the Supreme Court’s 2011 Salwa Judum ruling, which bans the recruitment of tribal youth in counterinsurgency efforts.

In response, the CPJC issued a list of demands:

1. Immediate release of the detained MBM members and villagers, along with an end to the harassment of peaceful protesters.

2. Independent investigation into alleged staged encounters, including the deaths of Hidma Podiam and Joga Kunjam, with full transparency and accountability.

3. End to militarized development, calling for a halt to security camps and schemes like Niyad Nellanar, which restrict community access to basic rights under the guise of development.

4. Adherence to Supreme Court orders, urging the state to stop using tribal youth in paramilitary roles in line with the 2011 ruling.

The CPJC implored the government to rethink its approach and prioritize dialogue over militarization, pledging to continue monitoring and documenting human rights violations in the region.