Update on the Padayatra in Dantewada, ChhattisgarhThank you all for signing the petition. Over 500 people have signed the petition which has been faxed to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and the Home Minister of India. Many people have called up the Superintendents of Police of Dantewada and Bijapur along with the Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh.
In spite of a lot of positive efforts, the administration has not allowed the padyatra, aimed at restoring peace and normalcy to take place. No media persons were present at the site. There have been reports from the ground that Salwa Judum activists and SPOs were patrolling areas where VCA volunteers were likely to join the padyatra.
A group of 39 women from across India had gathered in Raipur to campaign against sexual violence against women and state repression. They were headed towards Dantewada to join the padyatra but were stopped and their Jeeps confiscated. Eventually, they had to turn back [Click here to read the entire account]
On December 10th, Kopa Kunjum an activist with VCA was arrested along with his lawyer Alban Toppo from Human Rights Law Network without being presented the reasons for arrest. Both Kopa and Alban were severely beaten while in custody. Although Alban was later released, murder charges were later slapped on Kopa. [Click here to read Alban's own account of his experience in police custody]
Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Award Winner, Madhuri of Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, MP, Beena of Navsarjan, Gujarat, Zulekha Jabeen, Bhartiya Muslim Women's Organisation, Raipur, Vijay, Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights, Kolkata, Leena Ganesh, Research Scholar, Mumbai, Rinchin of MP Mahila Manch, Bhopal, Bhan Sahu, Jurmil Morcha, Ambagarh-chawki, Meera, Mahila Mukti Morcha, Arti Chaksi, PUCL-Bangalore were among the padyatris.
Soon after the padyatra was prevented from advancing, a mob of Salwa Judum activists gathered in front of the VCA ashram raising slogans for expulsion of Himanshu Kumar from Bastar. Himanshu Kumar, in turn, invited the Salwa Judum leaders for a dialogue. [Read Amit Basole's reporting from the ground]
Let us keep demanding justice for the survivors of violence, implementation of Supreme Court's order for rehabilitation of the displaced people and the release of Kopa Kunjum.
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Palash Biswas
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