‘DU prof Sundar won’t be arrested till Nov 15’

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court asked the Centre and Chhattisgarh government to find a peaceful solution to the Maoist problem in the state and adopt a “pragmatic” approach towards life.

A bench of justice MB Lokur and justice Adarsh Goel said on Friday that there has to be some peaceful solution to the problem after the Chhattisgarh government gave an oral assurance that no coercive action would be taken against social activist Nandini Sundar and others till November 15.

OnNovember7,DelhiUniversity professor Sundar, JNU professor Archana Prasad and others were booked on charges of murder of a tribal villager in the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.

“We are trying to help you (Centre and Chhattisgarh), but you are not taking it seriously. You have to find a peaceful solution to the problem...,” the bench said.

Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta said there were “authentic and contemporaneous” records against all the accused, including Sundar.

Senior advocate Ashok Desai, appearing for Sundar and others, said after the last hearing, an FIR was lodged against the two professors and the activists. “This is the most astonishing thing, as the activists who went to the state in May were booked for the murder in November,” Desai said.