Suspended official defends FB post on Bastar police atrocities

A Chhattisgarh woman jail official suspended last Saturday for an “objectionable” Facebook post that spoke of rights violations and rapes in Maoist hotbed Bastar by police has defended her action in another post.

Suspended assistant jail superintendent Varsha Dongre’s Facebook post on Tuesday is likely to earn her the displeasure of seniors who had asked her to explain her earlier post, which she has since deleted.

The post which led to her suspension was put up after the Sukma Maoist attack on April 24 in which 25 CRPF troopers were killed.

Dongre’s post urged officials to “introspect” on the situation in Bastar, while citing instances of rights violations she had seen by the police during her posting in the region.

Dongre, a Dalit, stated in Tuesday’s Facebook post she had said nothing “unconstitutional” in the earlier one and would fight her suspension in a constitutional way.

She expressed surprise that her first Facebook post was regarded as spreading wrong and misleading facts in media. She also claimed she was suspended without being given a fair chance to respond.

Dongre has given authorities the explanation sought and it runs into 376 pages. She has attached various government reports and judicial decisions which note state police atrocities in Bastar.

Dongre’s combative second Facebook post has annoyed senior officials.

“I heard she alleged in her Facebook post that she was not given enough time. It is not true. She has again posted something on Facebook even after warning and inquiry, and again committed the same mistake. We will look into the issue and take strict action,” said Girdhari Nayak, director general (jail).

She (suspended officer Varsha Dongre) alleged in her post that she was not given enough time. It is not true. She has again posted something (on Facebook) even after a warning. GIRDHARI NAYAK, director general (Jail)