People's Democracy

Cold-Blooded Murder of Adivasis

THROUGH a statement issued from New Delhi on May 20, by its chairman, Bajuban Riyan, a member of parliament, the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM) has strongly condemned the brutal killing of eight adivasis, including three children, in Arasmetta village of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh. The AARM said it was nothing but “cold-blooded murder” by a joint team of the CRPF, the armed force of Chhattisgarh and the district level forces. Saying that nothing could justify these killings, and least of all the bogus theories that these villagers were killed in the crossfire between the Maoists and the security forces, the AARM described as “shocking” the fact that the administration permitted some officials to be present at the time of the post mortem. This was clearly meant to influence the post mortem report and conceal the truth that the said adivasis were shot at close range. 

The AARM has demanded immediate action against the security force officials involved, and their prosecution on criminal charges of murder. It also demanded a high level impartial probe with a time bound mandate. The compensation announced by the government is highly inadequate and must be increased. The BJP controlled state government would be held responsible and accountable for these killings, the AARM stressed.

The organisation has called upon all its units to organise protest actions against these killings.