Extending greetings on International Women's Day, FACAM highlights allegations of human rights violations in Bastar

By A Representative 

On the occasion of International Working Women’s Day, the Federation Against Corporatization And Militarization (FACAM) extended what it called revolutionary greetings to women worldwide. In a statement, the organization emphasized the resilience of working women and highlighted what it described as ongoing struggles faced by women in India, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Bastar.

FACAM’s statement raised concerns about the treatment of women under the current administration, pointing to incidents of violence and human rights violations in several regions. Specific reference was made to last year’s widely publicized incidents in Manipur, as well as reports of harassment against Muslim women.

The organization drew particular attention to the situation in Bastar, a mineral-rich region in Chhattisgarh, where it alleges that women face systemic violence amid ongoing militarization and anti-insurgency operations. FACAM claims that security forces and state-backed groups have been responsible for widespread sexual violence and extrajudicial killings, particularly targeting Adivasi women.

Citing reports from fact-finding missions and human rights organizations, the statement referenced past incidents, including the alleged mass sexual assault in Bellam Nendra village in 2016 and subsequent cases in Bijapur and Sukma districts. FACAM alleges that these patterns of violence have continued, with reports of killings and assaults in recent years, including the death of a six-month-old child in Bijapur in early 2024.

The group also highlighted the role of Adivasi women activists leading local resistance movements. It profiled individuals such as Sunita Pottam, Somari Kashyap, and Pinky Kashyap, describing their leadership in campaigns against mining, militarization, and displacement in Bastar and surrounding areas. FACAM alleges that such activism has been met with repression by state authorities.

FACAM concluded its statement by calling for solidarity with the struggles of Adivasi women in Bastar and urged broader opposition to what it describes as corporatization, militarization, and state repression in India’s mineral-rich regions.

Government authorities have not publicly responded to FACAM’s recent claims. In previous statements, security forces and government officials have maintained that anti-insurgency operations in Bastar are aimed at combating Maoist militancy and ensuring development in the region. Allegations of human rights violations have been periodically investigated by bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).