5 villages where atrocities occurred a no-go zone for most

RAIPUR: A day after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) found 16 women prima facie victims of rape and assault by police personnel in south Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur, little news emerged from the villages where the alleged atrocities occurred.

Chinnagelur, Peddagelur, Gundam, Burgicheru and Pegdapalli, the five villages about 70 km from Bijapur district headquarters, where security forces allegedly went on the rampage between October 19 and 24, 2015, largely remain out of bounds for even journalists.

“This area of Bastar is virtually a no-go zone for us. One has to cross 10 CRPF camps and three police stations to reach the villages,” said a local TV channel reporter who did not want to be named. “Police, usually, do not stop local journalists, but CRPF personnel treat everyone as Maoists. I will not to go there because anything can happen.”

Another Bijapur journalist claimed, “It is not advisable to go there now. There are still victims who are scared to record their statements. If we cover human rights lawyers and defenders for stories, they target us in subtle ways. It is very difficult to work here.”

On Sunday, the reactions came from rights activists and the opposition in state capital Raipur, even as the state government did not comment on the NHRC asking it why it should not recommend interim relief of `37 lakh to the victims — `3 lakh each to eight victims of rape, `2 lakh each to six victims of sexual assault, and `50,000 each to two victims of physical assault.

Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), the group that flagged the alleged atrocities in the villages, demanded that the government should ensure security of the victims and the villagers following the NHRC’s observations.

The WSS alleged in a statement that many women (victims) had not yet been able to file complaints and were “under pressure” to remain silent. “There has been a firm denial and also obstruction by the police and security forces to efforts by of women’s groups and human rights defenders. Also, many of the women and villagers coming out to testify in the case are harassed by the police for attending meeting and proceedings,” said Rinchin, a member of WSS.

The police stood their ground. “The complete order of the NHRC is yet to come and things will be clear only after we read the copy. As far as rights activists alleging that they are harassed by the police… why are they not complaining to higher authorities in Raipur. If they complain, then proper action can be taken,” special director general of police (Naxal) DM Awasthi told HT.

MANY VICTIMS HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILE COMPLAINTS AND ARE ‘UNDER PRESSURE’ TO REMAIN SILENT