Naxalite-Police Encounters Under Scrutiny in Assembly; Opposition Raises Concerns, Home Minister Vijay Sharma Calls Allegations of Fake Naxalite Encounters False, Unacceptable
Raipur
The issue of the Naxalite-police encounter was raised during Question Hour of the Assembly on Wednesday. Congress MLAs accused the police of killing and arresting villagers by labeling them as Naxalites. In response, Home Minister Vijay Sharma said the allegations were false and unacceptable. Subsequently, opposition members began shouting slogans in the House.
Congress MLA Vikram Mandavi stated in the Assembly that villagers were being killed and arrested under the pretext of fake encounters, mentioning incidents in Pedia and Nadpalli. Home Minister Sharma responded by urging members not to demoralize the security forces with such accusations. Former Minister Kawasi Lakhma claimed that tribals collecting tendu leaves were surrounded and killed. Sharma replied that these allegations were false and intolerable.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Charan Das Mahant raised the issue of Naxalite incidents, asking how many such incidents occurred from December 2023 to June 2024, the police station areas where these incidents took place, the number of security personnel martyred and injured, and the number of civilians and Naxalites killed and arrested.
He also requested information on the items recovered from Naxalites between January 2024 and June 30, 2024, including ammunition and explosives, the number of Naxalites in jail, how many have been sentenced, and how many are awaiting trial.
Home Minister Vijay Sharma reported that there had been 273 Naxalite incidents to date, including 92 Naxalite-police encounters, in which 19 security personnel were martyred. Maoists killed 34 civilians, 137 Naxalites were killed, and 171 were arrested. As of June 30, 2024, there were 790 Naxalites in jail, including 25 convicted and 765 awaiting trial.
Dr. Mahant asked how the 34 civilians killed by Maoists were murdered. Sharma replied that four were killed in people’s courts, 24 were killed on charges of being informants, and six died from landmines planted by the Naxalites.
Dr. Mahant further questioned whether the 137 killed Naxalites were from Chhattisgarh or outside. The Home Minister provided detailed information but mentioned that the categorization of locals and outsiders was not yet available and would be provided later. Dr. Mahant inquired about the confiscation and condition of country-made guns. Sharma stated that it was unacceptable to claim someone was killed and then say a country-made gun was found with them, asserting that all recovered items were documented.
Dr. Mahant sought detailed information about the Naxalites awaiting trial, which Sharma said would be provided later.
