U.P. encounter deaths spark controversy

By J. P. Shukla

LUCKNOW, MARCH 14. An encounter with the UP police in which 15 alleged naxalites were killed at a village in Mirzapur district on March 9 has been snowballing into an unsavoury controversy with leftist parties and human rights activists contesting the police version. Even the authorities have expressed doubts over the claim that all those killed were hard-core political activists. The left parties have threatened an agitation to expose the police action in which ``innocent tribals were killed in cold blood''.

According to police, the encounter took place when, acting on a tip off, a force surrounded Bhiti village at a time when the Naxalites were planning a major offensive. On being challenged they opened fire. In the ensuing gun battle, 15 Naxalites were killed and three policemen received bullet injuries.

Those killed allegedly belonged to a Naxal gang headed by Devnath Kol and Lalvrat, the police said. Three rifles, three guns and a cache of ammunition was also recovered from them.

The immediate reaction of the State Government was that the police had done a commendable job. The Chief Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, announced out-of-turn promotions to the policemen involved in the encounter. He also declared that a long term plan to contain the menace of Naxalism would be chalked out.

The report of the encounter sent shock waves in political circles. Leaders of left parties alleged that in all 26 persons were killed by the police though only 15 were officially acknowledged. The bodies of others had been disposed off surreptitiously.

In a memorandum submitted to the President, the CPI demanded that criminal records of those killed be made public.

The Chief Minister later accepted that there was possibility of some innocent persons having been killed in the crossfire.

What came as a shock was that a 14-year-old boy was among those killed in the encounter. Including him the number of those killed went up to 16. The authorities have failed to convince the public about the circumstances under which this boy was killed. Police records have also failed to provide proof of criminal background of all victims. The Chief Minister's statement that the Government could order an enquiry if it was found that those killed were innocent has only fuelled the controversy.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) has meanwhile, announced a week-long protest against the killings. After an extensive public campaign a strike would be called in the districts of Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonebhadra on March 21, the party announced.

The CPI(ML) has described the incident as a ``massacre by the police''. The party threatened to take the matter to the Human Rights Commission after collecting detailed information.

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