A Chhattisgarh cabinet minister has written to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, alleging that the death of a woman and injury to another, who according to police were caught in “crossfire” during an encounter between Maoists and security forces in Sukma district, was actually the result of a “fake encounter”.
Minister for Excise and Industry and five-time MLA from Konta in Sukma, Kawasi Lakhma, has written in his letter that the victims were “innocent adivasi women” and has demanded strict action in the matter. He has also asked the state government to announce compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the woman who was killed, and Rs 5 lakh for the family of the injured woman.
Lakhma, incidentally, is the only survivor of the Maoist attack in Jhiram on May 25, 2013, which left 29 people dead and wiped out the entire top brass of the Congress in Chhattisgarh.
In a letter to the Chief Minister dated February 8, Lakhma wrote that it has been said that there was an encounter between a team of CRPF and district police, and Maoists on February 2, where one woman was killed and another injured in firing by the CRPF. “But the real situation is that the CRPF and district police teams had left from the Puswada camp towards Rangaiguda for an operation. Near Godelguda, two women, Podiyam Sukki and Kalmu Deve, had gone out to cut wood. During their return on the Godelguda road, the CRPF and…