South Asia Citizens Web

The fascist rule of BJP in Chhattisgarh has witnessed the systematic suppression of civil and democratic rights in the state with the rulers resorting to violence and repression as the only means of dealing with violence. Two days ago in Dantewada, a group of activists representing various peoples’ movements belonging to NAPM, PUCL, etc. were confronted by a mob brought in from Kasauli Relief Camp by an organization called Ma Danteshwari Swabhiman Manch which is essentially a new version of Salwa Judum.

There have also been reports in the media that the upazila administration in Bandarban is illegally grabbing land belonging to Marma and Bawm communities in the name of tourism development in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The PUCL condemns the detention of Himanshu of Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA), Dantewada and PUCL State Executive member of the Chhattisgarh at Kanker Police Station today 3rd January, 2010. This detention has been made on the eve of the Public Hearing that was being organised by VCA on the atrocities being committed by police and security forces in that area. According to the VCA the detention of Himanshu at this stage is to clearly sabotage the hearing.

Zulaikha Jabeen, an activist from Raipur, who has been with Himanshu Kumar in Dantewada for the last two days, talks about sexual crimes against women in Chhattisgarh in this war in the tribal belt of India. She states how crimes against a womans body is used as a weapon with specific example of the rapes in Samsetti village of Dantewada district.

Ujjwal Kumar Singh, Professor of Political Science, Delhi University and I have just returned (January 1st) from a visit to the police state of Chhattisgarh. Ujjwal had gone for research and I had gone for a
combination of research and verification purposes to assess the livelihood situation of villagers for our case before the Supreme Court, both entirely legitimate activities.