“In Bastar, the human rights brigade, NGOs…all are doing dhanda (business).” (Source: File Photo) “In Bastar, the human rights brigade, NGOs…all are doing dhanda (business).” (Source: File Photo)

BASTAR IS being portrayed in a “wrong way by a handful of people and we (police) are trying to bring out the true (picture of) Bastar” before the nation, controversial Inspector General of Police from Chhattishgarh, S R P Kalluri, said on Saturday. Kalluri, who was criticised for his alleged high-handed style and human rights violations when he was the IGP of Maoist-affected Bastar, was in Delhi to speak at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication

After being moved out as I-G of Bastar, what role do you have in the anti-Maoist operations and strategising in the state?

I am in the Police HQ (Headquarters) but we are trying to bring out a true perception of Bastar, which is being portrayed in a wrong way by a handful of people. We are trying to bring the true (picture of) Bastar — what the 40 lakh people of Bastar represent, and not a handful of intellectuals. They (intellectuals) have succeeded so far, which is what we are trying to repair.

The CBI said that Chattishgarh Police, and not Maoists, set 160 houses of tribals in Sukma’s Tadmeta village on fire in 2011. It’s like they (CBI) have challaned (chargesheeted) certain people. We will go through the challan (chargesheet) and fight it in court.

You claim that human rights activist and NGOs working in Maoist insurgency-hit areas are sold out. What about the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which has issued several notices to you and Chhattishgarh Police for alleged atrocities?

In Bastar, the human rights brigade, NGOs…all are doing dhanda (business). I am not saying all NGOs are sold out, but a section of them (are)…. Yes, we get many summons. We attend (them), we answer (charges against police) — it is a routine process. Whenever they (NHRC) receive a complaint, they issue summons and we answer them.

If you have evidence against them, why don’t you take legal action?

The case is with the CID. They are investigating and will take action. An Intelligence Bureau (IB) report says that every year Maoists extort Rs 1,100 crore as terror money. This terror money doesn’t go to armed Maoists, who fight and kill security forces — he (armed Maoist) is still as poor as he was 40 years ago. This money goes to urban centres — to a section of academics, human rights activists…. They meet Maoists in jail, fight their cases and try to malign security forces. They help build perception worldwide against security forces…. They want to create internal security disturbances.

Don’t you think such action by the police leads to erosion of confidence among tribal and villagers?

No. Security forces are there to protect the villagers; they have not done anything. Nothing can to be proved (against police)…. Maoists have no ideology and are a bunch of criminals in Bastar…. Tribal people are living in dilemma, and the security forces try to protest them…. Since 2000, Maoists have killed nearly 2,000 tribal people.

It was following an incident in 2004 in north Chhattishgarh. I was not very serious then (but) one day, while posted in that area, I came across a distraught man at a police station. When I was coming to Delhi, my DG asked me to share this story: the complainant told me that the previous night Maoist commanders had come to his village from Jharkhand. After a meeting, they came to his house to eat. The commanders were being served outside the house. As they objected, the family served them (Maoists) inside the house — on the verandah. Later, they (Maoists) misbehaved with women (of the family).

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