Release of fact-finding report, War and the Lightness
of Being Adivasi: Security
camps and villages in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh
of Being Adivasi: Security
camps and villages in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh
18th February, 2015
Between
December 26th and 31st 2014, a PUDR fact-finding team visited 9
villages of Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh to ascertain reports of
arrests, intimidation and harassment, including sexual abuse by
security forces who are stationed there to fight the Maoists.
Predominantly Adivasi villages, the residents of Basaguda, Kottaguda,
Pusbaka, Lingagiri, Rajpeta, Timmapur, Kottagudem, Korsaguda and
Sarkeguda, narrated the daily acts of violence and violations
committed by armed personnel residing in security camps. Apart from
documenting the continuance
of ‘area domination’ by the security forces, the report draws
particular attention to:
of ‘area domination’ by the security forces, the report draws
particular attention to:
1. The large number of ‘permanent
warrants’ issued against the populace, of which a significant
number is declared as ‘absconders’. A rough estimate indicates
that as many as 15-35,000 people live under the threat and fear of
these warrants in Bijapur alone.
2. The lawless conduct of the armed
personnel and Special Police Officers (SPOs) who routinely raid,
beat, loot, detain and compel the Adivasi villagers to perform
‘begar’ (free labour) at the security camps. Instances of sexual
torture were also noted.
3. The impossibility of lodging FIRs
against the security forces as against the rising number of arrests
of villagers who languish in jails.
4. The intensification of armed
presence on account of increased road building activity by the army
for securing supply lines to the camps. Roads are opened only after
road opening exercises by the forces followed by routine interception
of passengers at frequent check-posts and road barriers.
5. The further harassment faced by
villagers during travel on account of armed personnel in civilian
buses plying between Bijapur and Basaguda. In flagrant disregard of
international covenants, the security forces deliberately regard
passengers as ‘human shields’ against possible encounters.
6. The impact of camps on the living
conditions of the Adivasi villagers which have been severely
affected. The decrease in agricultural activity is a definite
consequence of harassment as is the fall in family income and wages.
Besides poor health facilities, the existing school system which
utilized local village helpers is being intentionally replaced by
‘ashram schools’ which aim to wrench the Adivasi children from
their homes and village environment.
7. The
intensity of the present situation is comparable to and a
continuance
of the Salwa Judum activities—eviction and mass displacement of
villagers between 2005 and 2009. The present brutality has only
underlined the earlier misery of displacement and attempted
rehabilitation which the villagers were compelled to undergo.
of the Salwa Judum activities—eviction and mass displacement of
villagers between 2005 and 2009. The present brutality has only
underlined the earlier misery of displacement and attempted
rehabilitation which the villagers were compelled to undergo.
8. Despite
recurrent incidences of bomb explosions and targeting of the roads by
the Maoists, the villagers fear the security
camps as it is the armed personnel who punish and brutalize them.
camps as it is the armed personnel who punish and brutalize them.
9. In tandem with periodic massacres,
the daily harassment is part of the dual strategy of the State’s
war in the region.
10. The intention behind the present
military initiative is to cleanse the area for redoubled mining
activity. The effort is directed towards eroding the Adivasi will in
resisting the State and in compelling them to be receptive towards
official overtures.
The fact-finding report can be accessed
at the following link.
Sharmila Purkayastha and Megha
Bahl
(Secretaries)
(Secretaries)
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