Chhattisgarh police targeting party cadre in name of Maoists: CPI

NEW DELHI: The CPI is claiming that police in Chhattisgarh is targeting its leaders and cadres in the name of fighting Maoists. The party, which is planning to petition Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue, is also alleging that a police officer is on a political mission in Dantewada district.

Citing a statement made by senior superintendent of police S R P Kalluri to the media on June 10, the CPI said he had alleged that certain persons intended to eliminate the influence of the BJP and the Congress and spread the influence of the CPI in Bastar. “He considers this his mission. How is the police officer called upon to decide the relative influences of political parties in the region?” CPI general secretary A B Bardhan asked.

According to the CPI, among the persons named by him and arrested were known leaders and elected representatives of the party. It said that on July 10, security forces picked up party leader Sudru Ram Kunjam, the CPI’s elected member of the district panchayat.

CPI’s D Raja had taken up the matter with home secretary G K Pillai. On getting to know this, Mr Kalluri “threatened our leaders of dire consequences”, Mr Bardhan said. He has filed an FIR against Sudru Ram Kunjum containing “false and trumped up charges” and arrested others, including party leader Lala Ram Kunjum, the CPI said. The party also said that it was under Mr Kalluri’s instructions that a vehicle of the food security yatra led by Aruna Roy, Jean Dreze and CPI’s Annie Raja was attacked to prevent them from holding a street corner meeting.

Further, the CPI alleged that he has also threatened activists like Arundhati Roy, Nandini Sundar and others accusing them of having links with Maoists and arrested social activist Linga Ram. The CPI will seek the Prime Minister’s intervention for release of its cadres and putting an end to police “excesses”.