India to investigate alleged police rampage in Maoist villages

India to investigate alleged police rampage in Maoist villages

2011-03-23 22:01:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

DANTEWADA, INDIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indian authorities are investigating allegations that security personnel fighting Maoist rebels went on a rampage in the remote area of Dantewada in Chhattisgargh state, the Indian Express reported Wednesday.

Security personnel allegedly burned 200 houses and even molested tribal women in several villages, days after clashing with Maoists in which 30 rebels and three policemen died on March 14. Hundreds of Maoists are thought to be hiding in the area, where 76 policemen were killed in a single attack last year.

"We have not received complaints from anyone so far. Almost a week after the encounter, there are some media reports about burning of houses and alleged brutalities by the security forces. We are setting up a committee to verify these charges," Dantewada's top government official R Prasanna told the Indian Express.

"It's a very remote location in Konta block. We don't know whether any houses were burnt and if so, who set them ablaze—the security forces as is being alleged or the Maoists themselves," he added.

Dantewada district senior superintendent of police S R P Kalluri dismissed the charges as "usual propaganda by Maoists and their sympathizers." Meanwhile, senior police official TJ Longkumer said the Maoists normally use grassroots level supporters of the Maoists to unleash propaganda, portraying them as "civilians."

"It's all propaganda. Every time whenever the Maoists suffer losses in any police action, they unleash such propaganda. It's their tactics," Longkumer added, as cited by the Indian Express.

The Chhattisgarh government is setting up a joint committee of elected representatives, civilians and officials to investigate the allegations.

More than one-third of India's 626 administrative districts are affected by the Maoist insurgency. At least 1,170 rebels, troops and civilians were killed in insurgency-related incidents in 2010.

The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of tribal, landless and poor people in the country's poorest regions.

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