Urgent Letter to CM, Chhattisgarh and Chairperson, State Human Rights Commission, to ensure justice for adivasi villagers and accountability of authorities in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
To,
The Chief Minister,
Government of Chhattisgarh,
Civil Lines, Raipur
To,
The Chairperson,
State Human Rights Commission,
Chhattisgarh,
Raipur
Sub: Concerns regarding rising militarization, impunity of security forces, clamp down on democratic movements and violations of rights of adivasi communities in Chhattisgarh – Need for urgent intervention to ensure justice for villagers and accountability of authorities.
Sirs,
We, the undersigned on behalf of the All-India Inquilabi Youth and Students Alliance (ALIYSA), affiliated with the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), submit this letter to strongly condemn the escalating militarization, impunity of security forces, clamp down on democratic movements and human rights violations in Chhattisgarh. The growing violence against adivasi communities under the pretext of ‘counter-insurgency operations’ is a blatant violation of constitutional principles, rights and a grave affront to social justice.
The Bastar region has become one of the most heavily militarized areas globally, with the establishment of security camps at distressingly frequent intervals. These camps often function as hubs of violence against local residents, mostly forest-dwelling adivasi communities. Under the guise of ‘combating the Naxalite insurgency’, the State has imposed a regime of unchecked repression. The imposition of deadlines for “wiping out Maoists” by the Govt of India exacerbates the risk of civilian casualties, with innocent individuals increasingly misrepresented as ‘Maoist cadres’ to justify aggressive security operations.
In 2024, Chhattisgarh witnessed an alarming rise in violence, with over 235 reported killings by security forces since December 2023. Many of these ‘deaths’ have been contested by villagers as extra-judicial executions, claiming that unarmed civilians were targeted under the pretense of ‘counter-insurgency’. The District Reserve Guard (DRG) has been implicated in numerous such incidents, including extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses. The DRG’s recruitment of surrendered Naxalites and local adivasi youth violates the Supreme Court’s 2011 ruling prohibiting such practices and further jeopardizes the safety and dignity of the adivasi communities.
The growing violence in Chhattisgarh is further compounded by troubling reports of the State distributing ‘rewards for encounter killings’. This practice of rewarding officers based on unverified claims of valor exacerbates the problem, even more. Such rewards incentivize the excessive use of force and dehumanize victims. Celebrating these actions without thorough and independent investigations erodes public trust in state institutions and perpetuates a culture that normalizes excessive and unjust violence. These practices undermine accountability, reinforce impunity, and further alienate marginalized communities, deepening the divide between the state and its people.
The Abujhmad Encounter:
On 11th December, 2024, an alleged encounter in Kummam and Lekawada villages resulted in the deaths of five villagers from a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). Witnesses reported that security forces fired indiscriminately at unarmed individuals engaged in routine agricultural activities. Several villagers, including children, were injured in the firing. Fear of reprisal prevented immediate medical care, prolonging their suffering. Security forces abandoned the injured in the village. 4 injured children received treatment only after activist Soni Sori intervened.
Rather than acknowledging these grave lapses and violations, the State attempted to justify the incident by accusing Maoist insurgents of using the children as “human shields.” This narrative, vehemently denied by the villagers, raises significant questions about the credibility of official accounts and the conduct of the security forces. Even assuming arguendo that the State’s version holds, it still reflects a glaring failure to prioritize civilian safety, especially that of children, during operations.
Further compounding the trauma, police forcibly removed the injured children from Ms. Sori’s brother’s residence, gagging and mishandling them during transport. Among them was eight-year-old Sonu, who had sustained a head injury during the initial violence; he reportedly fell from the vehicle and was thrown back inside without care or concern for his injuries. The children, along with their families, were later confined in a locked room under police custody. Reports revealed that the police had falsely labeled them as ‘malaria patients’ and forcibly administered intravenous drips under the pretense of providing medical care.
Execution of Pandu Madvi:
On the same day, in Bijapur district, security forces extra-judicially killed 18-year-old Pandu Madvi. Unarmed and seeking refuge at his aunt’s house, Pandu was chased and shot dead. Evidence provided by his family contradicts the police’s claims that he was a Maoist commander. Adding to the tragedy, seven villagers were illegally detained, beaten, and coerced into carrying Pandu’s body. Women protesting these detentions were also subjected to brutal assault. All these violations shouldn’t go unchecked and accountability must be fixed.
Arbitrary Ban on Moolvasi Bachao Manch:
We also express our deep dismay at the recent arbitrary notification of the state government declaring Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM), a peaceful youth-led adivasi organization as ‘unlawful’ for raising crucial issues of ecological justice, human rights violations and democratic development in the region. This ban blatantly violates the constitutional right of adivasi youth to self-organize to raise vital concerns affecting their lives. Starting from the Silger movement of 2021, MBM has played an important and independent role in the region, following-up on rights violations, struggling for implementation of constitutional rights, FRA, PESA etc in the V Schedule area and seeking accountability of authorities. Silencing a democratic group like MBM only complicates the prospects of peace and justice in an already volatile region.
A Broader Pattern of Systemic Violence:
These cases expose significant systemic failures in ensuring justice for adivasi communities and accountability of authorities at all levels in ‘conflict zones’. They reveal a troubling disregard for constitutional protections and the inherent dignity of indigenous peoples lives. The repeated targeting of unarmed civilians severely undermines trust between the state and its citizens. To rebuild this trust, the government must acknowledge its shortcomings, hold violators accountable, and establish effective safeguards to prevent future violations. These incidents are not isolated occurrences but indicative of a broader pattern of systemic repression in the region.
KEY DEMANDS:
To address the systemic violence, repression, and impunity, ALIYSA demands the following immediate and decisive actions from the Government of Chhattisgarh:
1. Impartial, time-bound and thorough investigations must be conducted into all reported extra-judicial killings, including the Abujhmad ‘encounter’ and the execution of Pandu Madvi. Findings of these investigations must be made public, and all implicated security personnel must be prosecuted under the law without delay.
2. All individuals detained arbitrarily, without legal justification, must be released immediately.
3. Comprehensive and accessible medical care must be provided to injured victims without harassment or fear of reprisal.
4. Families of all victims of extra-judicial killings and injuries must receive adequate compensation, immediately.
5. The unjust ban on the Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM) must be lifted immediately, to restore constitutional right to democratic participation and freedom of association. Authorities must refrain from arresting or harassing MBM members or its supporters.
6. Recruitment of surrendered Naxalites and tribal youth into counter-insurgency operations, in violation of the Supreme Court’s 2011 directive, must cease immediately.
7. Excessive security camps must be dismantled, and the region’s militarization de-escalated to ensure the safety, dignity, and livelihoods of adivasi communities.
8. The Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA), a tool of suppression, must be repealed.
9. Government restrictions on free speech and peaceful people’s movements, solidarity initiatives must be revoked.
10. An independent oversight body, comprising members from human rights organizations, adivasi representatives and legal experts, must be established to monitor ongoing operations in Bastar. Regular reports on human rights conditions in the region must be made publicly accessible.
Conclusion:
The ongoing violations in Chhattisgarh are a profound affront to the democratic and constitutional values that define our nation. The rights of adivasi communities to live with dignity, safety, and freedom must not be compromised under any pretext. The government’s inaction in the face of such grave violations risks further alienating marginalized populations and eroding public confidence in state institutions.
ALIYSA reiterates our unwavering commitment to standing with the oppressed and amplifying their voices. ALIYSA calls upon the Government of Chhattisgarh and the State Human Rights Commission to act decisively and urgently to end the violence, hold perpetrators accountable, and create an environment where the voices and aspirations of adivasi and marginalized communities are respected and upheld. Justice, reconciliation, and the restoration of constitutional rights are not just obligations – they are the foundation for peace and progress in the region.
Yours sincerely,
For ALIYSA (All India Inquilabi Youth and Students Alliance)
1. Heman Oza, ALIYSA, Gujarat
2. John Michael, NAPM, Telangana
3. Maanasee Hatkar, Law Student, NAPM, Haryana
4. Rahee S G, ALIYSA, ALIFA
5. Tapojay Mukherjee, Right to Food and Work Network, West Bengal
6. Piyush Kumar, IIT Delhi
7. Ritika, ALIYSA
8. Usman Jawed, Mumbai
9. Shiva, NAPM, Delhi
10. Laya, ALIYSA
11. Ruchith Asha Kamal, Social and Ecological Justice, Activist
12. Harpuneet Kaur, ALIFA, ALIYSA
13. Karthik, Tamil Nadu
14. Raksha Awasya, ALIYSA
15. Adarsh Shahi, NAPM
16. Nitin, Madhya Pradesh
17. Isha, NAPM
18. Reshma Beeram, Human Rights Forum, Telangana
19. Meera Sanghamitra, Activist, NAPM, Telangana
20. Paran, Researcher and Activist, Jharkhand21. Tejasvita, Social Activist, New Delhi
Copy to:
Chief Secretary, Govt of Chhattisgarh
