The opposition Congress today staged a walk-out from the Chhattisgarh Assembly alleging that the BJP government in the state was shielding the police in the 2011 Meena Khalkho encounter case.
Khalkho was killed in an alleged encounter with police in Sarguja district in July 2011. Police said she was a Naxal, but her family denied it. They alleged that she was raped.
A judicial commission has given its report on the matter.
When Congress raised the issue today, Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra said a case was registered against Chando police station's then in-charge Nikodin Khes and other police personnel at the CID police headquarters on April 11, 2015. "Since the matter is under investigation, giving names of other police officials apart of the station in-charge is not possible," he said.
But the state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and other Congress MLAs pointed out that as per the commission's report, apart from bullet injuries, there were other injuries on her body, and a rape case should also have been filed.
Paikra said the rape charge could be added after the CID investigation.
Baghel and other Congress legislators said as a case was registered, the government should reveal names of all accused.
The Home Minister said there was not enough evidence, and since the investigation was underway, the names of the accused can't be revealed. Nobody had been arrested, he added.
The Congress MLAs also asked why the accused police officials were not suspended after the case was registered as they could influence the probe. They also sought to know if the policemen had been subjected to medical examination (in view of rape allegation).
Paikra said as per the commission's report, Khalko died after being hit by a police bullet. The matter was being investigated by the CID, and after it was complete, further action will be taken.
Congress MLAs alleged that the government was shielding the policemen, and staged a walk-out.
