Over three years ago, the authorities of the state of Chhattisgarh helped form an organisation known as ‘Salwa Judum’ touted as a ‘peace campaign’ and a “peoples’ movement” against the Maoists of the area. Far from becoming more peaceful, the lives of the tribal people of the area has become much more dangerous and filled with violence as a result of the activities of this outfit propped up by the state government with the tacit approval of the central government. Only recently, several tribals who deposed against these activities before the official National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) were harassed and some even had their houses burnt down! The policy of the state and central governments in propping up vigilante groups needs to be understood and exposed.

Chhattisgarh state is one which is very rich in natural resources such as minerals and forests, at the same time has a large percentage of people living in poverty. Many of its toiling people depend on forests for their livelihood. Its land and resources are coveted by mining and steel monopolies and other powerful interests. Its valiant people have fought many a battle against colonial invaders and present day marauders. ‘Salwa Judum’ was ostensibly started with the aim of “organising the people” to fight against the threat and attacks by Maoists. Though it was reportedly an initiative of a Congress party MLA, this outfit has received complete support and even encouragement from the state government headed by the BJP. This no longer sounds paradoxical when one is told that it is the same MLA who, together with his sons has acted as the agent of the Tatas and Essar to force villagers of the Lohzndiguda and Bhansi/Dhurli areas to vacate their villages so that the land could be acquired for the projects of these companies!

Far from being a “peaceful peoples’ campaign”, the Salwa Judum has armed its members with guns, lathis, axes, bows and arrows. Its existence and activities were legalised through a special legislation of the state government, and buttressed by the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act. Exploiting the poverty prevalent in the area, thousands of young men have been recruited as ‘special police officers’ to participate in the activities of the Salwa Judum. There are also several reports of young people being forced to join the outfit or face persecution and even death. Many of its members have been forcibly brought into camps by the local armed police, the Central Reserve Police  Force (CRPF) and India Reserve Battalions. Once in camp, they are forced to act as the front line foot soldiers by the state forces in ‘anti-insurgency’ activities which include burning and looting of villages suspected to be supporting Maoists, rape of women and torture. They are often the first to be killed in retaliatory action taken by the Maoists or villagers whose houses have been burnt! Thus a vicious cycle of killing and retaliatory killing has been set in motion by the armed forces of the state, whose victims are either poor people forced to join Salwa Judum or the targets of the Salwa Judum! Meanwhile, the monopolies wanting to exploit the mineral wealth of the area have a field day!

Activists of mass organisations who have opposed this reign of terror have been attacked and arrested. Dr. Binayak Sen, a leading doctor and human rights activist of the PUCL has been held in captivity for over a year now, despite world-wide protests. T. Ajay, a filmmaker and activist of PUCL has been jailed for more than two months now. Several other activists are also in jail. They have all been arrested under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, for speaking up against the atrocities of the Salwa Judum and the state forces.

The activities of the state and its murderous attacks on the people through the Salwa Judum have become so blatant that even some of the government’s own agencies such as the Planning Commission, the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Child Rights among others, have been forced to oppose its ‘counter insurgency’ activities. These repressive activities over the past few years have had very adverse effects on the lives of people of the area, health care and education have suffered since teachers and health workers cannot visit the villages any more and since school buildings have either been destroyed or occupied by police forces. Young men are unable to venture out of their villages for fear of being forcibly recruited into the Salwa Judum. Women who go to shop for food have been prevented from buying more than a few days’ supplies, ostensibly to prevent food supplies from being made available to insurgents! People who had gone to testify at a hearing organised by the NHRC were harassed at Konta police station on the way back, while Nendra village in Dantewada was burnt down because its inhabitants had deposed before the NHRC!

People's Voice condemns the unbridled repression of the toiling people of Chhattisgarh by the armed forces of the state and vigilante outfits propped up by it.