Civil rights group People's Union for Civil Liberties today condemned the reported action by Chhattisgarh Police and the administration "threatening criminal prosecution" against a team of academicians who visited the state earlier to research on conditions of adivasis.
A fact-finding team consisted of DU professor Nandini Sundar, Archana Prasad from JNU, Vineet Tiwari from Joshi- Adhikari Institute and Sanjay Parate, State Secretary, CPI(M) visited many villages in Kanker, Bastar, Dantewada and Sukma districts of southern Chhattisgarh between May 12-15.
They enquired into the conditions of life of ordinary adivasis caught in the conflict between the state and the Maoists and released to the press its preliminary findings of the very "serious humanitarian crisis" prevailing in the areas.
The team pointed out the alleged human rights violations suffered by ordinary adivasis "at the hands of both parties to the conflict -fake encounters, surrenders and arrests by the state as well as arbitrary beatings and killings by the Maoists".
"It is shocking and deplorable is that the state police instead of providing their response to the findings has chosen to sponsor a ridiculous and politically-motivated allegation against the team that they are JNU professors who threatened the villagers to side with Maoists," a PUCL statement said.
"It is unfortunate that the high office of the District Collector, who is expected to behave in a restrained, independent and balanced manner has degenerated to indulging in political propaganda to whip up hate campaign filled with hostility, hysteria and hype against anyone exposing the role of the police and state administration in creating the war like situation that has enveloped the life of adivasis in the Bastar area," it said.
