Alleged Naxal member Binayak Sen's supporters highlight atrocities against tribals, point to Naxal-police arms nexus
Alleged Naxal member Binayak Sen's supporters highlight atrocities against tribals, point to Naxal-police arms nexus
The committee for the release of Binayak Sen, who has been imprisoned in Raipur jail in Chattisgarh for his alleged Naxal association, held a press conference on Saturday, at the Mumbai Press Club.
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(from l-r) Sudha Bharadwaj, N Vasudevan of the Trade Union Solidarity Committee and Himanshu Kumar
PIC/ BIPIN KOKATE |
Mumbai Maoist Kobad Gandhy's hi-profile arrest was an eye-opener for Mumbaikars. On Saturday, Himanshu Kumar, a Gandhian working for the betterment of Adivasis and advocate Sudha Bhardwaj, spoke about atrocities inflicted on tribals in the Bastar area.
Kumar felt that the government's forces have unleashed a wave of brutality, in order to divest tribals of their land and use it for industrialisation. Kumar added, "The Indian state police are cold- blooded murderers. Union Home Minster P Chidambaram says he wants peace. That is a lie. The government wants the tribal land. First give justice, punish those who have brutalised the Adivasis and then you will have peace."
Their speeches were full of killings and rape by the government's forces. Bhardwaj added, "This is loot the government is glossingu00a0 it over as progress." The activists said that they were against violence and being pro-Adivasi does not mean being a Naxalite.
Yet, Kumar when asked about the arrest of Gandhy, said, "I cannot comment. I do not know the charges against him."
When a member of the audience in the packed room asked him, "Why do Naxals target innocent people? Why do they not kidnap ministers instead of innocent people?" Kumar answered, "I do not know any Naxals. Why don't you ask them?" Although to another question on how Naxals were obtaining arms Kumar replied, "They are buying them from the police." When Kumar was told that Naxals were too poor to buy arms he said, "Reports say it is money from extortion."
