The long dark tea time of the soul

Tragedy of the Tribal’s of Bastar.

By

J.P.Rao

The people of Bastar are resisting the atrocities of Maoists voluntarily.

Government of Chhattisghar.

I would not like to leave my village and its forest, neither I would like to join Salva Judum. The police burnt houses in my village and hung us upside down from the trees. They threatened us that we would be branded as Naxalites if we do not join Salva Judum.

Marvinda a tribal from an affected village

Between May and November 2005 around 90 tribals were killed by Salva Judum workers and the police. Among those killed 5 were women who were gang raped before being killed. Maoist Dhandakaranya Zonal Committee.

In the early hours of 17^th July 2006, armed Maoists numbering around 100 attacked the police station of Erraboru 25Km from Konta in Datewada district of Chhattisghar. While the Maoists engaged the police around 2000 Bhoomkal militia armed with guns, knifes and axes attacked the relief camp. They torched 300 huts of tribals housed in the relief camp and 30 persons were hacked to death. . Around 4,500 people are living in the relief camp. More then 250 people are missing.

Thirty persons were killed and hundreds were injured. Among the killed are a 1 year old girl and an eighty year old women.

Thirty seven people were kidnapped and six of them were burnt alive and their bodies were thrown on the Konta Jadalpur road near Barremogga village.

Around 200 goats, and cattle died in the fire.

Dance of death unleashed by BJP and Congress parties.

To counter the parallel administration of Maoists in several districts of Chhattisghar BJP leader and former home minister Mr. Brijmohan Agarwal suggested to mobilise people against the Maoists. Chief minister Raman Singh and Mahendra Karma leader of the opposition concurred with Agarwal and Salva Judum came into existence on the May day of 2005. Maoists first attacked the villagers participating in salva judum on 19^th June 2005. Since then death is dancing in Bastar. Police have recruited 5 youth from each village as special police officers (SPO) and gave them the power to detain and search any one who is suspected of being a maoist. These youth are paid Rs. 1500 per month. Villagers are forced by the police to participate in the marches against the Maoists .

The villagers are caught between the police (during the day time) and the Maoists during the night. To escape death and beatings by the Maoists and police villagers have migrated to adjoining villages of AP and Orissa. Those who could not migrate from 700 villages were relocated by the government into base camps. Erraboru is one such camp. Unfortunately the salva judum has turned into inter tribal rivalry. Madias are with Maoists and other tribes are forced into salva judum. Every day people are killed either by the Maoists or police.

Some Major incidents since the formation of Salva Judum.

1. May 3, 2005: Land mine blasted in Janga village 5 police personal killed

2. July 16, 2005: Maoists raided Kutru, Ambeli, Fars Gao, Vuskapatnam, Bade Karkeli, Chota Karkeli villages. & villagers and 2 maoists killed.

3. July 19, 2005: First attack by Maoists on salva judum meeting

4. July 28, 2005: Maoists raided Karke Marka and Madar villages and killed 7 persons.

5. September 3, 2005: Land mine blasted 22 CRPF and 2 civil police killed.

6. December 3, 2005: Around 50 maoists raided Gorne village and killed 2 tribals.

7. January 30, 2006: Maoists raided a relif camp and killed 9 tribals.

8. February 6, 2006: Land mine blasted between Erraboru and Konta 10 Naga police personals killed

9. February 9, 2006 Maoists kill 12 CRPF constables

10. February 27, 2006 Land mine blasted near Konta 32 tribals returning from Salva Judum meeting held at Dornapal were killed. ( I escaped death as I left Dornapal for Bhadrachalm 15 minutes before the trucks carrying the tribals left).

11. April 16, 2006 Maoists kill 12 police men.

12. April 29, 2006 Maoists kidnap 15 tribals and kill them.

Since the formation of Chhattisghar state the number of incidents and deaths have been increasing.

Year Incidents Deaths

1. 2001 105 37

2. 2002 304 55

3. 2003 256 74

4. 2004 352 83

5. 2005 380 163

6. 2006 Up to march 162 105

What is to be done to stop this dance of death.

Pressure has to be mounted on BJP and Congress parties both at Raipur and Delhi.