Activist fights for rights of Dantewada tribals

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Final Two Parts Of The Interview With SP Dantewada, Amresh Mishra on the 4th of Jan regarding the whereabouts of Sodi Sambo.

The tribal ‘Ruchikas’ of Dantewada

Operation Green Hunt to flush out the Maoist rebels from central India may have begun only last November, but the hapless tribals of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region have been at the receiving end of official hostility for years before that.

Police State, Visitors, Anthropology

Ujjwal Kumar Singh, Professor of Political Science, Delhi University and I have just returned (January 1st) from a visit to the police state of Chhattisgarh.

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Activist fights for rights of Dantewada tribals

Deshdeep Saxena

20 Dec 2009

http://newsx.com/story/68787

The central government has launched Operation Greenhunt against the Naxals in Chhattisgarh, even as human rights activists in the region step up their campaign against it.

Human rights activist Himanshu Kumar has been weaving khadi thread, the symbol of peace, in Dantewada a naxal affected district in Chhattisgarh. As the region prepares for a fierce fight between the Maoists and security forces, there has been an uneasy calm in these jungles.

Himanshu Kumar's Vanvasi Chetna Aashram accuses both the forces and the state sponsored Salwa Judum of perpetrating atrocities on the tribals. Salwa Judum, a section of the tribals in Bastar, see Himanshu as a Naxal supporter.

“That may be because the forces have committed so many crimes against the tribals. They killed innocent people, raped women and burnt houses. we will be bringing out such incidents and expose such cases, and perhaps the government is scared of that," said Himanshu Kumar, vanvasi Chetana Ashram.

Recently Himanshu got marching orders from the government, asking him to vacate the ashram. He alleges that the authorities did not allow him to hold a padyatra in the naxal affected forests.

The police meanwhile justify doing so, saying that it would have been difficult to provide security cover to him and his colleagues.

Himanshu, however, is supported by the likes of Sandeep Pandey who was awarded the Magsaysay Award for social work.

"It is very clear that because Himanshu Kumar is questioning the actions of security forces and the SPOs, he is being branded as a naxalite,” said Sandeep Pandey, social worker.

Himanshu also says that his colleague Kopa Kunjam was recently arrested by the police, when he raised voice against the atrocities. Kopa’s wife wants her husband back.

"I want my husband back, my family wants him back. My children remember him and want me to bring him back home," bemoaned Rita Kunjam.

But, Salwa Judum is vehemently opposing Himanshu as he opposes the proposed Operation Greenhunt. "What has he done for Bastar? For its development? We don’t want such exploiters. He should run his ashram in his own region,” quips Chetraam Atta, a Salwa Judum activist.

Dantewada Police also deny the allegations of human rights violation levied by Himanshu Kumar.

"I think they should all visit this place and see how difficult the life of police officials here is. Regarding the allegations of human rights violation, most of them are baseless,” said Amresh Mishra, SP Dantewada.

Himashu Kumar now seems to be uprooted from Dantewada, and the lone voice that has been raising the issue of human rights violation might be gagged forever.

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