Congress slams Raman Singh government over Maoist ‘fake encounters’

The Indian Express had reported from Sanguel village on Wednesday, where the two were allegedly dragged out of the home of a relative and shot a little distance away.

On Thursday, the Congress said the state government was guilty of the murder of adivasis in Bastar, and called for the immediate removal of Bastar IG S R P Kalluri.

State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the family and said the party will demand a CBI probe into the incident. Congress leaders said they would write to the National Human Rights Commission and the Child Rights Commission.

T S Singhdeo, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said, “This has become serial killing of some sort. We fully support security personnel when they are fighting Maoists or there is an exchange of fire. But picking up people and killing them is getting out of hand. In this case, the state gave Rs 5,000 for cremation. That itself is an indicator. Since when is it state policy to give money to people they think are Maoists? Even before this case, there have been several other cases. We will take up this issue seriously.”

The Congress attack comes on a day Chief Minister Raman Singh held a public rally in Jagdalpur in Bastar.
He said the region was now enjoying fruits of development and was being weaned away from the clutches of Maoism.