‘Sukma attack in response to rapes, murders by army’
SUKMA: 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 Burkapal-Chintagufa 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.
VARANASI: Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Yadav on Friday said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav should give the party president’s post back to party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in order to unite the Samajwadi Parivar and strengthen the organisation. Yadav made the comment in Jaunpur where he attended a wedding on Friday.
Yadav told journalists, “Before the assembly polls, Akhilesh said that he needed three months’ time and will hand over the post of the SP chief to Netaji (Mulayam). Akhilesh should keep his word. I request him (Akhilesh) to transfer responsibility of the party’s national president to Netaji to save the Samajwadi Pariwar, which is now scattered.” Asked what he would do if Akhilesh didn’t hand over the post to Mulayam, he said: “Tab khud hi dekh lena kya karunga (Then, you will see what I will do).” On the controversy over electronic voting machines, he said an investigation was underway and everything would come to the fore soon.
He said that he would not comment on the new government for six months. Paying tribute to the CRPF jawans killed in the Sukma Maoist attack, he said terrorism should come to an end.