2011 anti-Naxal operation: Seven cops indicted

RAIPUR: In a major development related to strife-torn Bastar, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charged seven constables with Chhattisgarh police with arson and causing grievous hurt for allegedly setting ablaze 160 houses of villagers during an anti-Naxalite operation in Sukma district in 2011.
Though CBI filed its report in special CBI court in the state capital, the matter became public after the central agency filed the status report in the apex court, which gave a copy of it to the petitioners on October 21.
Besides, CBI has also charged 26 others, mostly members of the controversial civil vigilante group, Salwa Judum, with rioting and violence in connection with the attack that took place on social activist Swami Agnivesh and his team and media persons who were accompanying him. Agnivesh and his supporters were on their way to Tadmetla to provide relief to people whose houses were burnt down during the anti-Maoist operations.
The incident took place between March 11 and March 16 in 2011 in three tribal villages of Morpalli, Tadmetla and Timmapuram, which was part of Dantewada district before the new district of Sukma was carved out. Anti-Maoist vigilantes, who reportedly had tacit support of the state police, did not allow outsiders to the region, but news leaked several days later, sparking protests from civil and human rights groups.
However, police denied allegations, claiming arson was carried out by guerrillas to defame the security forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations. Subsequently, social activist Swamy Agnivesh and his supporters tried to travel to Tadmetla with relief supplies but they were stopped by a mob in the morning at Dornapal and forced them to return to Sukma town. When they returned to Dornapal again in the afternoon, a mob unleashed an attack on them.
Agnivesh later filed a petition in the apex court, which in July 2011 directed CBI to investigate the violence. Five years later, CBI has indicted Chhattisgarh police and vigilantes for the attack on Agnivesh. Senior police officials of Chhattisgarh were not available for comments.