Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that there was no violation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by security forces providing cover to a convoy of Congress leaders ambushed by Naxals in May last year in Chhattisgarh killing 27 people including veteran leader VC Shukla. The Home Minister also said the Congress leaders were asked to avoid the route where the attack took place.
Giving this information during when Congress leader Digvijay Singh sought to know from him during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha if the SOP were not adhered to, the Minister denied it and said there was no violation of security procedures. He also refuted Digvijay’s allegation that proper security was not provided on the route and said as per information available with the Minister Congress leaders were cautioned not to use the particular road in Sukma.
In the attack 27 people, including former State Minister Mahendra Karma and Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel were killed. Shulka, who was injured in the attack, later succumbed to his injuries.Fielding questions on security forces following SOP in Naxal-hit areas, the Minister said these were flexible depending on the situation on the ground and the commanding officer was the best judge to take a decision. However, six complaints of SOP violations by security forces were received in various Naxal violence related cases, he said.
“Government is committed to effectively tackle the left Wing Extremism problem. The standard operating procedures for security forces during the operations are dynamic in nature and revised regularly, based on changing tactics adopted by extremists,” he said.D Raja (CPI) raised the issue of arrest of wheelchair- bound Professor GN Saibaba in the middle of the night from Delhi University some months back for allegedly supporting left Wing Extremism and asked what operating procedures are followed in such cases.
Singh replied, “No SOP is required in (carrying out) arrests. No violation of SOP happened here (in case of Saibaba),” and assured Raja that security forces are sensitized about human rights of tribals living in Naxal areas.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju informed Rajya Sabha over 130 civilians and 61 security force were killed by Naxals in the current year. He said in a written reply while a total of 131 civilians were killed in violence carried out by left wing extremists between January and July 15, 2014, a total of 61 security forces personnel were killed in similar instances.
Thirty-eight Naxals were also killed during the same period, while a total of 630 Maoist-related violent incidents were reported across the affected States, he said adding 809 Maoists were also arrested during the same period.