Twelve civilians, including two minors, and five Naxals were killed in the controversial encounter with security forces at Sarkeguda in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on the intervening night of June 28-29, preliminary findings of a police probe into the incident have revealed, sources said on Wednesday.
A five-member probe committee headed by deputy inspector general (DIG) (Naxal operation), set up by Chhattisgarh police following a national outrage triggered by the killing of so many innocent civilians by the forces in the encounter, visited Sarkeguda village for on-the-spot inquiry into the incident recently.
The team had interacted with local villagers including several reported eyewitnesses during the period.
“Five local villagers have deposed before the committee saying that two minors, a 10-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, were among 12 civilians, who were gunned down by security forces on the fateful night. Five Naxals were also killed in the exchange of fire with security personnel,” a senior police officer disclosed to this newspaper here.
According to him, the villagers told the team that people of three villages- Sarkeguda, Basaguda and Rajapentha — had gathered at the encounter site following a directive by the rebels, who were to distribute cattle and farmlands of local tribals, who had fled the area, among them.
But, the troopers had opened indiscriminate fire on the gathering, suspecting them to be ultras, leading to the death of 17 people.
“The team is scheduled to visit the area once again to interact with other villagers and the local police officials before completing the probe,” he added.
A judicial probe has already been ordered into the incident.
The encounter had taken place when a Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) team of the Central Reserve Police Force, moved from their Basaguda base, were greeted with gun fire at Sarkeguda, around 3 km away, forcing them to return fire.