News Analysis India

Tag: Chhattisgarh police

  • Chhattisgarh: Nine Naxalites Arrested In Bijapur District |

    New Delhi: Nine Naxalites, one of them carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, were arrested from separate places in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, police said.

    Five of them were held from the forest near Pusbaka village under Basaguda police station limits during an anti-Maoist operation, an official said.

    Among them, Raju Oyam, who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, was a member of the Usur Local Organisation Squad of the outlawed Maoist outfit while Bhima Madvi was vice president of Gaganpalli RPC (Revolutionary Party Committee) Jantana Sarkar, he added.

    The other three were lower-rung cadres, the police official said.

    A cache of explosives, a `tiffin’ bomb, a battery, spikes, splinters, gelatin sticks, cordex and electric wires as well as anti- government Maoist pamphlets were recovered from their possession, he said.

    Three more lower-rung cadres were arrested from Usur and one person from Tarrem police station station limits, the official said.

    The Maoist held from Tarrem was involved in an incident of firing on a police team at a newly set up security camp, he said.

  • Hate speech: Chhattisgarh Police arrest Hindu seer Kalicharan Maharaj from MP

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Police on Thursday arrested Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh in connection with his alleged derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, an official said.

    Acting on a specific input, the Raipur police apprehended the seer from a rented room near Bageshwar Dham, located around 25 km from Khajuraho town in MP, Raipur Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal told PTI.

    He will be brought here via road route by Thursday evening, the official said.

    On Sunday, an FIR was registered against Kalicharan Maharaj in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur for allegedly using derogatory words against Mahatma Gandhi.

    A case was also registered against him at Akola in Maharashtra on Monday in this connection.

    During the conclusion of the two-day ‘dharma sansad’ (religious parliament) in Raipur on Sunday evening, the seer had allegedly used abusive words against the Father of the Nation, and asked people to elect a staunch Hindu leader as the head of the government in order to protect the religion.

  • Drug smuggling: Coordinate with Odisha to end menace, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel tells cops

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday directed police officials of the state to hold a high level meeting with their counterparts in Odisha to check the smuggling of ganja through inter-state borders, an official said.

    The directive was issued two days after an SUV, allegedly transporting ganja from Odisha to Madhya Pradesh, sped through a religious procession in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh, killing one person and injuring 17.

    “The chief minister has directed senior police officials to hold a high level joint meeting with Odisha police to prevent ganja smuggling from the neighbouring state (into Chhattisgarh)”, a statement issued by the state’s public relations department said.

    He has directed that a strong action plan be drafted to prevent ganja smuggling and ensure 24-hour monitoring at checkposts on the state’s borders by installing CCTV cameras, the release added.

    “Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of those districts which share a border with Odisha have been asked to set up permanent infrastructure and check posts in for the purpose. The Director General of Police and Additional DGP (Anti-Naxal Operations) have been told to take immediate action in this regard by coordinating with the neighbouring state’s police,” the release informed.

  • INTERVIEW| COVID pandemic hit anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh: DGP DM Awasthi

    Express News Service

    DM Awasthi, the Chhattisgarh Police head, who is considered to be an expert on Left Wing Extremism, has seen  LWE from close quarters for years as the Special Director General for anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

    In an interview to The New Indian Express’s Sana Shakil, Awasthi said that COVID-19 did affect operations against the Naxals. He defended his force against the charges of going slow on Naxals and expressed hope that several successful operations against the extremists will be carried out in the near future.

    Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel has talked about the possibility of talking to Maoists, if they surrender their weapons. Do you see any progress on that front?

    The governments at the Centre and at the state have always expressed willingness to talk to the Naxals if they give up arms. The Naxals put up various conditions like imposition of ceasefire, and release of their cadre from jails.

    Those conditions are not acceptable. One has to work within the ambit of the Constitution as the chief minister himself recently stated. Not just the governments but civil society members have also been trying to engage with the Naxals. The purpose is to ensure peace in the state. Nothing like it, if we achieve peace through non-violent means.

    Official data show that the number of operations has gone down. According to the CRPF, the police have gone slow on operations. Your response.

    There is no lack of coordination and cooperation between the police and the central forces. Local police cannot be accused of going slow on Naxal operations. There are reasons why fewer operations were carried out over the last two years.

    We have to take into account the effects of the pandemic, which affected our force. COVID has been a major challenge. I do not believe in conducting operations for the sake of numbers. Operations should result in success, and we have maintained a great success rate. We are confident of more successful operations in the near future.

    Is the government planning to introduce any new initiative to encourage more surrender?

    We recently reviewed our state surrender policy under which we have provided jobs to many Naxals. We are going to strictly monitor the implementation of the policy. When more people get rehabilitated, more get encouraged to surrender. Chhattisgarh has a very attractive policy. We will ensure better enforcement of the policy.  

    Have drone sightings increased in Naxal areas?

    We have not noticed anything alarming on that front.

  • Want promotion? Run 800 metres to prove your eligibility, says Chhattisgarh Police circular

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: The lower-rung police personnel of Chhattisgarh, who are seeking promotion as they are stated to have become entitled to it, had to run 800 metres within the given time limit to prove their fitness.

    The police issued a circular that asked the personnel to qualify for the promotion by running 800 metres. Those who fail to meet the permitted criterion will not be considered and have to wait further for their elevation in ranks.

    According to one estimate, around 40,000 constables and head constables are to be upgraded to the next level.

    According to the given rules, a policeman aged 30 has to complete 800 metres in six minutes, those in between 30 to 45 years need to attain it in seven minutes and over 45 years there is a small relaxation to manage in eight minutes. The female personnel, however, gets an additional one minute in the respective age categories.

    The process mentioned in the order has led to some resentment among some personnel who had already completed their two decades of service in the department. Some are apprehensive that they might also be asked to appear for a written test, which the state police headquarters spokesperson denies.

    Those raising objection against the rules asked, “What if the personnel in 45-plus age category or the pregnant owing to health reasons encounter adverse situations while racing against time in the 800-meter run”.

    DGP DM Awasthi said the relief would be extended to only those who are pregnant, ailing or unfit for some medical reasons. “But these relaxations would be strict as per the prescribed rules. The Inspectors General of Police in their respective range can decide on it,” the DGP added.

  • Chhattisgarh BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal’s PSO kills self with service weapon in Raipur

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: A personal security officer of former Chhattisgarh’s minister and BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service pistol here on Thursday, police said. Constable Vishambhar Rathore (36) shot himself with his service pistol in the morning, Civil Lines station house officer (SHO) RK Mishra said.

    A native of Madhya Pradesh, Rathore had been deployed as the PSO for Agrawal since the last eight years, and was living in the city’s Shanti Nagar area, the official said.

    A police team, along with personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory and ballistic experts rushed to the spot for the probe, he said, adding that investigators have recovered a suicide note from the constable’s house and further investigations are underway.

  • Sukma SP orders surveillance of Christian missionaries’ activities in tribal areas

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: In an official circular that may possibly ignite controversy, the Sukma SP has instructed his subordinates and officers in charge of all the police stations in the district to maintain strict surveillance over the activities of the Christian missionaries and the converted tribals.

    “The Christian missionaries and the tribal Christians are routinely venturing in internal areas of the district and persuading the non-Christian tribals to get converted by enticing and offering them allurement. Owing to this, the situation resulting into a conflict between the local tribals and those converted (to Christianity) can’t be ruled out”, said the official letter issued by Sukma SP Sunil Sharma.

    The SP issued a directive to the district police to keep the intelligence network on alert. “Maintain a consistent watch over the activities of Christian missionaries and converted tribals residing in the district and report if any of their acts perceived as suspicious”, stated the circular.

    The Sukma SP admitted to The New Indian Express of having sent out the letter to the district police officers.

    “The circular is more as preventive in nature rather than prohibitory. Keeping in view some nearby districts where conflicts were reported owing to religious conversions, I intended such a situation shouldn’t arise in Sukma and the social harmony prevails. The police have been asked to gather its own information through their network on religious conversion activities by enticement”, said Sharma and added that all have the right to follow their faiths.

    However, the Christian community felt offended by the internal official communication.

    “This is totally pre-meditated. The district officials are supposed to protect the Constitutional rights of citizens and not trample them. How could the IPS officer conclude that Christian missionaries are involved in religious conversion without any investigation? Every Indian has the right to move to any place and practise his/her faith. The officer should say if he has the figures on how many tribals been lured to convert, what temptations given, and if any case registered during the past two decades in that area? This is an attempt to create animosity against our religion”, asserted Arun Pannalal, president of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum.

    The Christians alleged that the people of their community are repeatedly harassed in the tribal-dominated Bastar.

  • Chhattisgarh Police file FIR against Baba Ramdev for ‘misleading’ remarks on allopathy

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: An FIR has been registered against Baba Ramdev on a complaint filed by the state unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA), the police said on Thursday. 

    “We have registered a case against Baba Ramdev under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Disaster Management Act invoked by the IMA and Dr Rakesh Gupta, chairman Chhattisgarh Hospital Board,” said Nasar Siddiqui, CSP, civil lines police station in Raipur. The case has been registered after verifying the complaint, the officer added.

    The FIR has been lodged under the IPC Sections 186 (voluntarily obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his duties), 188 (refusal to obey rules officially put into effect), 270 (malignantly doing act likely to spread the infection dangerous to life), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

    “The police complaint was earlier lodged at Raipur civil lines police station against the Yoga Guru for his ‘misleading’ remarks on allopathy,” said Dr Gupta.

  • Tribals call off protests against CRPF camp in Chhattisgarh’s Silger

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: The one-month-long protests by tribals against the setting up of a CRPF camp in Silger ended on Saturday with the authorities allaying some of their concerns. It comes a day after Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel agreed to meet the protestors.

    “We told them the camp is not a permanent structure like the police station and it is set up keeping in view the pressing demands of the existing situation in the area. On another demand for a judicial probe into the police firing, we assured them that all evidence and witnesses will be judiciously taken into account during the magisterial inquiry,” IG (Bastar Range) Sunderraj P told The New Indian Express.

    The rising COVID cases among tribals are also seen as the reason for the withdrawal of protests. More villagers have tested positive since the start of the protests. Silger, in an edgy district of Sukma, about 480 km south of Raipur, has been roiled by the massive protest for nearly a month against the setting up of the camp. 

    The district administration and the Bastar Police could not do much to quell the protests. 

    Since the protest site was located in a Maoist stronghold, the state government and the Bastar police administration believed that the rebels had instigated the local adivasi population to agitate against the camp.  Thousands of residents from more than two dozen villages took part in the protests held since May 13. They blocked the main pathway leading to Silger. 

    However, the government stayed firm, saying the camp cannot be shifted. With the tribals alleging high-handedness on the part of security forces and that their land was forcibly taken away to set up the camp, the human rights activists stepped up their campaign.

    The Bastar Police countered saying the land on which the camp was set up was encroached by the local villagers. “We told the chief minister during our meeting that the issue should be resolved democratically. There have been issues of fake encounters, controversial action by the district reserve guards (DRG – raised from local tribal youths and surrendered Maoists),” said Bela Bhatia, a human rights activist.

  • Raipur diary: All that is happening in the ‘Rice bowl of India’

    Express News Service
    Police launch campaign to spread COVID-19 awareness

    Chhattisgarh Police have launched a campaign to educate the public about the importance of wearing face masks, and how to wear them properly. The police are also distributing masks free of cost to those who don’t already have one. More than 5.12 lakh masks were distributed during the week-long

    #Mask_Up_Raipur campaign launched by Raipur SSP Ajay Yadav. The campaign is run across 32 police jurisdictions of Raipur. “Wearing a mask is a proven and simple step to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Mask wearing shows you are caring,” Yadav said.

    Free education for kids who lost parents to COVID-19

    The government of Chhattisgarh has launched a scheme to provide free school education as well as monthly scholarships to children who have lost their parents to COVID-19 and have no one to take care of them.

    Under the ‘Mahtari Dular Yojana’, a monthly stipend of Rs 500 has been stipulated for students of classes 1 to 8 and Rs 1000 for students of classes 9-12. The state will bear the tuition expenses of the eligible children, whether they are enrolled in government or private schools.

    These children will also get priority in admission to the state-run modern Swami Atmanand English Medium Schools. They will also be encouraged to pursue higher education. The scheme will be implemented by the state’s school education department.

    Panel to meet protesting tribals

    A nine-member committee of elected representatives, including eight MLAs and MPs from the Bastar zone, reached Silger on Thursday to interact with the tribal villagers who have been protesting against the setting up of a CRPF camp in south Bastar for the past 21 days.

    The committee, accompanied by the local administration will gather facts and assess the ground reality. The state government has rejected the demand of agitating villagers.

    Rather, the state government said it will construct six more camps in the region. Silger and adjoining areas have strong Maoist presence.

    Driving license, Registration certificate, RTO services linked to Aadhaar

    Chhattisgarh has become the only state in the country to integrate driving license (DL), registration certificate and 20 other services of the transport department with Aadhar card.

    Under the guidance of CM Bhupesh Baghel, the transport department has set up an advanced centralised system to facilitate the contactless procedures for issuing smart card-based certificates directly to the doorsteps of the people.

    “The new system will work under the government’s ‘Tuhar Sarkar, Tuhar Dwar’ scheme,” he said.