Families of Maoist victims erupted in anger over the actions of civil rights leaders. They expressed their outrage upon learning that these leaders were arriving to conduct a fact-finding mission on the encounter that took place on the 1st of this month in the forests of Chelpaka in Eturnagaram Mandal, Mulugu district. Questioning why these leaders did not visit when Maoists killed their loved ones, the families staged a protest in front of the ITDA office in Eturnagaram on December 22.
As per sources, some family members of the victims stated that prior to the encounter in Chelpaka forests, their loved ones, Uke Ramesh and Arjun, were killed by Maoists in Wazedu Mandal.
The tribals questioned why the civil rights leaders did not come for a fact-finding mission at that time but are now rushing to investigate the encounter involving the Maoists.
The families lamented that they were left on the streets due to the atrocities of the Maoists. They questioned why they were not remembered by civil rights leaders when their loved ones were killed under the pretext of being informers. Expressing strong opposition to the stance of the civil rights organizations, the families burned effigies of the civil rights leaders.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, civil rights organization leaders inspected the site of the encounter in the Chelpaka forest area. Speaking to reporters afterward, the organization’s state president, Professor Gaddam Laxman, and state general secretary, Narayana, alleged that the encounter was staged. They accused the police of killing the Maoists by using covert operations to set up a trap. They criticized the police for creating obstacles at every step of their fact-finding mission and demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court judge if the government had any sincerity regarding the encounter.
In October, fifty victims of Maoist attacks from Bastar marched to Jantar Mantar, demanding an end to Naxal violence. Under the banner of Bastar Shanti Samiti, they held a silent protest, met President Droupadi Murmu and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Victims of Maoist Attack: Unheard voices of Bastar know Delhi’s door
https://t.co/eN0lw51XbT— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) October 3, 2024
In June, people from Mulugu district’s Vajedu and Venkatapuram mandals organised big protests. A massive rally of 4000 persons was organised from Y Junction to the Hanuman Centre in Jagannadhapuram village, exposing the contrast between the Maoists’ promises and the reality of causing harm to to the communities they claim to protect.
