CPI accuses Gadchiroli police of illegal arrest of tribals

The Communist Party of India (CPI) today alleged that local police illegally arrested four tribals, including three women, from the district in a bid to project them as surrendered naxals, a charge denied by police.
"Police picked up Sunita Dhondu Kumoti (20) from Kurkheda village last night, besides Jaywanta Dhaniram Kerami (25), Sukaro Hagru Tulavi (18) and Zituram Dinu Madavi (21)--all residents of Lavhari village, in violation of rules", said Mahesh Kopulwar, District Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in a press conference here today.
He alleged that police kept the family members of all the four tribals in the dark about their arrest and also made them run from one police station to another when they approached them for information on their whereabouts.

"Police action was illegal. How can any citizen be arrested without assigning any reason?...The district police want to project these tribals as surrendered naxalites to embellish their record", Kopulwar said while demanding immediate release of the tribals.
Denying the allegations, SP Mohammed Suez Haq said that all the arrested persons are accused wanted in connection with a naxal-related case.
"They were among the others already booked in naxal-related offences and a chargesheet was also filed against them in a court. We arrested them as they are accused", he told PTI.
Haq denied allegations that police did not inform the family members of the arrested tribals. "We followed the procedure. We took women constables along with us to arrest them as per the law", he added.