State Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra was caught in a tight spot over the issue of alleged encounter of two tribal youths in Bastar district on the third day of the ongoing winter session of Chhattisgarh legislative Assembly here on Thursday.
The Opposition Congress members turned the heat over the Treasury bench during discussion held over killing of two tribal youths in an encounter which, according to the Home Minister had happened in the jungles near Sangvel village coming under the limits of Burgum police station of restive Bastar district on September 24, 2016.
The issue was raised through call attention motion in the zero hour by Congress member Bhupesh Baghel.
Thirty five Congress members along with member Amit Jogi while alleging that innocent tribal people were being killed in Bastar region while shouting slogans trooped into the well of House thereby invoking automatic suspension. The suspension was later on revoked by Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal.
Starting the discussion, Baghel said “two young boys Sonaku Ram who was a school student, and his friend Bijlu Ram Kashyap were murdered by Bastar police who branded them as ‘Maoists’.
“Sonku was a regular student of Hitameta pota cabin under Barsoor developmental block of Dantewda district and the duo had gone to their relative’s place to inform about the demise of a six-year-old child in their family,” Baghel said.
They decided to spend the night at Sangvel village. While they were sleeping, in the wee hours, around 4 am, security forces entered the house and dragged out the two youth to a secluded place and shot them, he alleged.
Refuting the charges, Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra informed that the bodies of two Maoists, one muzzle loading gun, one 12 bore gun, explosives, Naxal literature and items of daily use were recovered from the Sangvel forests under Burgum police station limits of Bastar district on October 24, 2016 after an encounter between police and security forces.
Those killed were identified as Bijlu (22) and Sonku (16), both natives of Gadada village under Barsoor police station of Dantewada, he added.
While Sonku had left the school a year ago and no documents to prove Bijlu as student was found, he mentioned.
Baghel further asked the Home Minister to confirm whether on October 24 this year the Additional Advocate General has informed the high court that a case of murder against unknown persons has been registered in connection with killing of two persons in this case; to which the Home Minister denied allegations.
Baghel charged that the government was taking ‘U’ turn over the incident.
Congress member Deepak Baij questioned about the encounter spot, whether it was in jungle or not, to which Paikra said that it was in the jungle. Objecting over the reply Congress members started creating ruckus.
Congress member Bhupesh Baghel then demanded probe in to the encounter by a judge of high court. The Home Minister while rejecting the demand replied that case was already in the high court and a magisterial probe was also announced by the State government.
Congress alleged that their MlA Devti Karma and other local public representatives of the opposition parties were being threatened for supporting the family of the victims.
They also demanded to terminate services of ‘controversial’ Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) SRP Kalluri while accusing him of staging a series of alleged fake encounter in Bastar.
Congress legislators dissatisfied with government’s reply later came out of the House and staged a sit-in before the idol of Mahatma Gandhi in the Assembly premises.