Cong demands probe under HC judge in Pidia ‘fake encounter’

Raipur: Citing the allegations of villagers, that of Pidia encounter being ‘fake’, the opposition Congress on Saturday demanded that a high court judge should monitor the judicial probe into the killlings. The Pidia encounter in Bijapur district killed 12 on May 10 and is in controversy as it is being alleged to be a ‘fake encounter of innocent villagers, tagged as Maoists.’On May 10, police claimed that 12 Naxalites were killed in forests near Pidia village in Gangaloor region of Bijapur district during an encounter. Police also identified the dead Naxalites, stating that they all carried cash rewards, and besides, a few people that were apprehended for questioning. In a press conference in Raipur, state Congress chief Deepak Baij said that Congress had constituted a fact-finding team headed by former MLA Santram Netam and the team visited Pidia village on May 16. “In the probe, we found that the villagers have levelled serious allegations on police in relation with the encounter and the matter needs a high level investigation. The family members of the deceased and human rights activists both have accused the police of a fake encounter and that those who were killed were not Maoists,” Baij said. Police have rejected the allegations stating that the cadres who surrendered during the event and few others who were arrested have admitted they were all Naxalites including those killed.Baij said that the family member of deceased told the fact-finding team that two of the Moaists that were killed, Budhu Oyam of Mallepalli village and Kallu Punem of Palnar village, were active ‘sangham’ members of the Maoists while remaining others— Lakhe Kujam, Unda Chhotu, Ursa Chhotu, Sukku Tati, Chaitu Kunjam, Sunita Kujam, Jago Barsi— were natives of Ittawar village, and Sannu Avalam, Bhima Oyam, Dula Tamo, were residents of Pidia and weren’t Maoists.Kunjam Gulli, Lekha Devi, Kunjam Jila, Kunjam Badru, who hail from Ittawar village, and Poyam Nandu of Pidia village, who was injured in the shootout, were also not linked with the Maoists, he added.“Police executed the incident by branding innocent tribals as Naxalites for reward and probe. A judicial enquiry should be ordered into the incident,” he added.According to villagers, police opened fire on villagers on May 10 morning at 6 am when they had gone to pluck tendu leaves in the forest, he said. Considering the seriousness of the allegations, it is necessary that a high-level impartial investigation should be conducted into this matter, Baij said.Congress party demands that the encounter be investigated under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge, Baij added, saying that Congress stands with the state government in all constitutional and legal efforts to restore peace in the state. “It should be ensured that no innocent person is killed in the action of security forces. Any compromise or action at the cost of life and property of the tribals of Bastar is not acceptable to the Congress,” Baij said at the press conference.
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