Kumar Bahukhandi
Around 144 Naxalites, including at least 51 young women cadres, were killed during anti-Naxal operations by security forces in Bastar over the past six months, Chhattisgarh home minister Vijay Sharma revealed in an exclusive interaction with News18 on the sidelines of an event organised by RSS-linked Panchajanya magazine in Delhi.
Dismissing the Opposition’s allegations of encounter deaths in the tribal-dominated Bastar region, he emphasised that the ongoing flush-out operations in Bastar are based on verified Intelligence inputs to avoid any misunderstandings or confusions.
Sharma further said the state government is ready to initiate “unconditional” dialogue with the Naxalites. He asserted that poor tribal villagers are coerced or enticed into taking up arms, resisting development, and remaining isolated from the mainstream by “urban Naxals” residing in cities like Delhi.
“I will one day bring at least 50 villagers and security personnel to Delhi. They lost their legs to IEDs planted by the Naxals, who were funded by these individuals. Educated city dwellers need to witness the harsh reality. While our security forces struggle to enter certain villages, groups from Delhi are entering and facilitating terrorism,” he said.
The state government is working on better surrender policies to bring the Naxalites to the mainstream population. “I have been appealing to the Naxalites that they can reach out to me or to our officers anytime with the intent of surrender. We will ensure their safety and security. If they cannot come in person, they can call, text or WhatsApp me,” he said, addressing the event in Delhi.
The home minister said his department has issued Google forms in Bastar region for the villagers to fill in with their suggestions or information about the Naxalites. “In some forms, the villagers have written how they are being extorted by Naxals. The teachers need to hand over a cut from their salary, the ‘tendu’ leaves sellers are unable to take the full earnings home as Naxals take commission from them as well,” he said in his address.
“For whom do they work? What is their agenda? I don’t think they have any, they just spread violence to terrorise people. They, along with the urban Naxals, are planting IEDs on the path of Vikas (development) in Chhattisgarh,” he added.
