‘Sukma attack in response to rapes, murders by army’

The attack should be seen as a response to the innumerable attacks, murders, sexual violence by paramilitary personnel and police, and to protect the honour of tribal women

An ambush that killed 25 soldiers in Chhattisgarh this week was in retaliation against incidents of rape and sexual violence against tribal women in the region, a statement purportedly released by Communist Party of India (Maoist) has said.

In an unverified audio clip, spokesperson of CPI (Maoist) Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, Vikalp, can be heard as saying that the attack on Central Reserve Police Force personnel on Monday was against the “brutal” attacks on tribal people by security forces.

“The attack should be seen as a response to the innumerable attacks, murders, sexual violence and gang-rapes by paramilitary personnel and police, and to protect the honour of tribal women,” the audio clip said. HT couldn’t independently verify the clip.

On Monday, suspected Maoist militants killed 25 paramilitary personnel and injured six in Chhattisgarh’s south Sukma region, police said, in an ambush possibly to thwart a crucial road link the government believes would break the back of the insurgent group.

The midday attack, which occurred between the BurkapalChintagufa area in the Maoist hotbed of Bastar, is the worst in seven years. In 2010, rebels killed 75 CRPF troopers in the same region.

In the clip, Vikalp is heard as condemning the government for creating a “fascist” atmosphere and saying that Monday’s strike was against growing violence against tribals, Dalits and minorities across the country.

He further added that false reports were being published by “corporate houses” about severing privates of the slain CRPF jawans.

“We are not extremists and are forced to commit violence by the standing with the people who are the victim of violence by the state and central government,” he said.