Attacks on tribals, activists in restive Bastar

Situation in the red zone turned worse after S R P Kalluri took over as inspector general of police

About three months ago, the Sarva Adivasi Samaj (SAS) called for a Bastar bandh to protest the allegedly fake encounters by police in Chhattisgarh’s restive red zone. In a small room in Jagdalpur, the divisional headquarters of Bastar, top leaders of the SAS were busy designing the strategy to ensure the success of the bandh. Then came a message: The Bastar police would ensure that the bandh failed.

Although the police denied its role, SAS leaders said they were threatened and trader groups asked not to cooperate. There was heavy deployment in each square of Jagdalpur, with guidelines to take