Counterinsurgency? PUCL seeks transparent, independent judicial inquiry into Maoists' 'extrajudicial killings'

By A Representative

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has strongly condemned what it described as the extrajudicial killing of Nambala Keshava Rao, General Secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist), and 26 others in a reported encounter by security forces in Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh. PUCL stated that many of the deceased were Adivasi residents and accused the state of bypassing due process under the guise of counterinsurgency.

The operation, which resulted in the death of one District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and injuries to several others, was praised by the Union Home Minister on social media as a "landmark achievement" in the fight against Naxalism. PUCL, however, asserted that no individual, regardless of ideology, is beyond the protection of the law and denounced the incident as a violation of the right to life and due process.

Citing guidelines issued by the National Human Rights Commission and upheld by the Supreme Court in the PUCL v. State of Maharashtra case (2014), the organisation reiterated that every police encounter death must be treated as a cognizable offence, with mandatory FIR registration and a magisterial inquiry.

PUCL expressed grave concern over what it described as a pattern of indiscriminate killings under Operation Kagar and its offshoots, claiming over 430 people have been killed in Bastar since January 2024, including civilians and alleged Maoists. The group further criticised the reported cremation of bodies without handing them over to families, despite court orders and the families’ persistent demands.

Quoting from the Supreme Court’s ruling in DK Basu v. State of West Bengal, PUCL highlighted that the right to life includes dignified treatment of the dead and timely release of bodies to family members. The organisation warned that the actions of the state may amount to a grave breach of international humanitarian law under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions if the victims were unarmed or in custody.

PUCL accused the government of ignoring peace initiatives, including a unilateral ceasefire proposal from CPI (Maoist), and raised questions over its commitment to constitutional values. It warned that continued impunity threatens the moral legitimacy of the state.

The organisation called for a transparent, independent judicial inquiry into the killings, accountability of officials involved, the immediate return of remaining bodies to families, and a halt to ongoing military operations in the region.

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities.

Garba on the tarmac and other lessons in tourist arrogance

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat A video of a group of Indian tourists, reportedly from Gujarat, performing Garba on the airport tarmac in Vietnam has gone viral on social media. The group, consisting of men and women, was seen dancing in front of their aircraft, making considerable noise, ignoring instructions from airport staff, and disrupting the boarding process for other passengers. The incident triggered widespread criticism online. Many viewers expressed outrage and began recalling similar episodes in which Indian tourists have displayed a disregard for local norms, civic behaviour, and public etiquette while travelling abroad.

Counterview

Search This Blog