Chhattisgarh: Extra-Judicial Killings, Illegal Detentions — Rights Group Demands Immediate Action from DGP

New Delhi- The National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights (NAJAR) has raised serious concerns over alleged unlawful detentions and extra-judicial killings in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, demanding immediate intervention from the state's Director General of Police.

In a detailed letter to the DGP, the legal collective has highlighted a series of incidents that occurred on November 8, involving security forces in multiple villages of Bijapur district.

According to NAJAR, eight prominent activists of the Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM), a grassroots organization working for Adivasi rights, were detained from Gundiraguda village without proper legal procedure. The detained activists have been identified as Arjun Sodhi, Muiya Hemla, Ganesh Kattam, Nanda Podium, Bhima Kunjam, Joga Midiyam, Jagdish Mandavi, and Nagesh Badse.

The operation reportedly extended to nine surrounding villages, including Marudbaka, Rekhapalli, Tumirguda, Singanpalli, and Kamlapur, where security forces detained 44 additional individuals. While some detainees were released on November 11, twenty five people, including seven MBM activists, remain in custody.

Most disturbing in NAJAR's allegations are the reported killings of two unarmed villagers. "Tragically, two young, unarmed villagers, Hidma Podiam (a minor, about 16 years old) from Marudbaka and Joga Kunjam (approximately 20 years old) from Rekhapalli, were reportedly killed during the operation. According to eyewitness accounts from villagers, who were hiding nearby, both youths were pulled out from their homes and shot in cold blood. The shocking and calculated nature of these killings underscores the extreme nature of the security forces’ actions and raises urgent concerns regarding breaches of protocol prohibiting the use of lethal force against civilians. Furthermore, we note with immense sorrow that while Hidma was a minor young boy, Joga Kunjam was the father of six small children, who are now left without a provider.

It is also imperative to highlight that some of the detained individuals are well-known activists within the Moolvasi Bachao Manch, advocating for Adivasi rights, environmental protections, and land rights. Their detention without legal procedures or formal charges reflects a troubling trend of state action aimed at silencing voices of dissent and criminalizing lawful activism. Such actions undermine constitutionally protected rights to freedom of speech, association, and peaceful assembly", the letter read.

Legal violations alleged- No formal notices were issued under Section 41A of CrPC/Section 35(3) of BNSS. Detention beyond 24 hours without production before a magistrate, denial of information to families about detainees' whereabouts, violation of D.K. Basu guidelines and Section 48 of BNSS regarding family access.

The rights group has put forth three main demands:

1. Immediate release of the 25 individuals still in custody

2. Allowing family visitation rights and information disclosure

3. Independent inquiry into the killings and mass detentions

NAJAR, an initiative of the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), emphasizes that the detained activists were involved in legitimate advocacy for Adivasi rights, environmental protection, and land rights. The organization views these detentions as part of a "troubling trend of state action aimed at silencing voices of dissent."