The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) admitting an application of an Odia lawyer has issued notices to the Union Government and the Government of Chhattisgarh on the May 25 Maoist attacks in Bastar district in which at least 30 persons, including some local Congress leaders, died.
The commission has asked the Union Home Secretary, Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary and the Chhattisgarh DGP to file reports on the issue within four weeks.
Advocate Nishikanta Mishra in his application to the NHRC Chairman has alleged that the Maoist ambush on a Congress convoy on May 25 at Darba Ghati happened due to failure of the intelligence apparatuses of both Union and Chhattisgarh Governments.
“No comprehensive security plan was prepared for the State-wide Parivartan Yatra launched by the Congress. No police security was provided (by the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh Government) for top Congress leaders and party workers who were travelling in a Maoists-dominated area,” Mishra has alleged in his application.
The lawyer too has questioned about the Chhattisgarh Government’s effort to contain the Maoist menace in the State as it did not initiate social, economical and political measures to uplift the livings of the tribal people who are joining the Maoist cadres in large numbers.
Urging the NHRC to send a fact-finding team to the affected areas, the advocate has prayed the commission to order an inquiry on the allegations he had raised by issuing notices to the respondents.
He also said that at least two innocent Odia labourers, who were not party to the Congress convoy and were returning to their homes, died on the spot due to the Maoist attacks.