By IANS,
New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has approved the Chhattisgarh government’s imperatives and rationale of arming activists of the Salwa Judum movement to tackle Maoists.
In a report submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover Friday, the commission, however, voiced concern over some cases of criminal activities and violence by Salwa Judum activists against Dalits and tribals.
The report also suggested remedial measures for the state government to ensure that the Salwa Judum activists do not indulge in violence against Dalits and the poor, misusing the weapons and powers given to them by the government.
Acting on the NHRC report, a bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Friday asked both the central and state governments besides the petitioners who have objected to the government policy of arming Salwa Judum activists to respond to the NHRC report by Oct 23.
The bench, which also included Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice J.M. Panchal, adjourned the matter for further hearing in December.
The apex court April 15 had asked the NHRC to probe allegations that the Salwa Judum activists had been indulging in rape and killing of tribals in the state.
The court had asked the NHRC to have the allegations probed and submit its findings in two months.
The order came during the hearing of a petition by academicians Ramachandra Guha and Nandni Sunder who alleged that in the name of fighting Maoists, the state was arming Salwa Judum activists and encouraging them to kill innocent tribals and villagers.
Quoting parts of the report, the bench said there were areas in the state where the police do not have easy access and the Maoists have set up a parallel government.
So the police roped in Salwa Judum activists to reach out to far-flung and remote areas, where the Maoists have supplanted the state administration.
The report also said that the police generally refuse to lodge criminal cases against Salwa Judum activists despite allegations of rape and violence targeted against the poor and Dalits.
Salwa Judum (“peace mission”) was an initiative launched in 2005 with the support of the state government to tackle violence and killings by Maoist guerrillas.