Rathor orders probe into death of 5 tribals in alleged fake encounter

May. 6th, 2007
by Staff Reporter
RAIPUR, May 5 IN A MAJOR development, DGP O P Rathor has on Friday ordered a probe in the alleged fake encounter in which five tribals were killed at Ponjer village in Bijapur district in March and asked to exhume their bodies for post-mortem.

The DGP order comes close on the heels of the Chhattisgarh Human Rights Commission notice to Bijapur Superintendent of Police seeking explanation on the alleged fake encounter killings of five villagers at Ponjer in March this year. Talking to The Hitavada, IGP (Bastar Range) R K Vij said that a police team has been sent to the village to investigate the matter and they will talk to the family members of the victims. Meanwhile, sources said that the bodies of the five youths would be exhumed on Sunday for post-mortem in the presence of Executive Magistrate after completing the legal formalities. Vij said that a formal order is yet to be received but the investigation was started after the verbal order from the DGP adding that legal action would be taken against those involved if the charges against them was proved. Rathor ordered the enquiry based upon the newspaper reports regarding the alleged fake encounter killings of five youths after taking them to Santoshpur from Ponjer village in Bijapur district in March last. Kudiyam Vijja and Kudiyam Mora, the two former Maoists had joined as Special Police Officer (SPO) after their surrender. It was alleged that they again joined Naxal movement. Santoshpur village is situated eight kilometres from Bijapur police station. It has around 85 houses having population of around 540. As per the incident, on March 3, 2007, at the village, a marriage was scheduled between Paspul Chandu and a girl from Kotapal. Vijja and Mora had arrived to participate in the marriage ceremony. An informer intimated Salwa Judum activists and police about their arrival at the marriage party. The Salwa Judum activists and district police force arrived at the spot at around 5.00 pm and rounded up the complete house, where the ceremony was going on. Firing started in which Vijja was killed whereas Mora received bullet injury on leg but escaped. After the incident, another police party set out in search of Naxalites and reached village Ponjer, situated near Santoshpur.

(Source: The Hitvada, May 6 2007)