Reprisal for protest against ‘illegal detention’ of woman, say residents

For almost a week now, Bhime Kawasi (45), a resident of Chota Tongpal village in Sukma district of South Chhattisgarh is being fed by her neighbours.

“Police personnel beat me up with the gun-butts when I tried to stop them from detaining my brother” claimed Bhime showing the plaster on her hands and legs.

According to the villagers of Chota Tongpal, Jangampal and Bade Gurbe, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Kukanar police station, over 150 police personnel entered their villages, ransacked their houses and detained 26 villagers.

“When we tried to protest, they [security personnel] attacked us including the women and children,” said Mose, a resident of Jangampal village claiming that she was also stripped and beaten up.

Villagers allege that the “police attacks” were in response to a protest, which the people of these three villages launched against the alleged illegal detention of Sukadi Mandavi of Bade Gurbe village on November 20.

“Police wanted to arrest and implicate me in some Maoist violence cases, but I was not at home so they picked up my wife,” Sukadi’s husband Ayata Mandavi told The Hindu.

Ayata also claimed that he had no contact with the Maoists and that Bastar range Inspector General (IG) SRP Kalluri was threatening him.

Sukadi was let off after continuous protests for three days by the villagers who had surrounded Kukanar police station. “But then the villagers were subjected to inhuman treatment because they protested against the illegal police action. Out of 26 villagers detained by the police, 11 were released, but 15 have been implicated in Maoist-related offences and have been sent to Dantewada jail. Over 12 women have suffered fractures,” claimed Jangampal Sarpanch Mudakram Sodi.

Ayata said that he had not been able to stay in his house in Bade Gurbe due to the “fear” of police.

“Now even the villagers have started saying that I should leave the village because they are being subjected to inhuman torture,” Ayata said. Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) D. Srawan, however, refuted the allegations levelled by the villagers.

“Sukadi was never with the police. We received a missing complaint and she was traced near Sukma and handed over to her family. As for the villagers’ claims of atrocities, an additional SP is investigating them. The 15 people were arrested for ransacking some vehicles during the Maoist bandh on November 8,” Mr. Srawan told The Hindu.