The CPI has sought the intervention of the Union home ministry alleging that its party cadres and supporters are being “harassed, tortured, brutally assaulted and arrested” by the Chhattisgarh police and CRPF who are branding them as “Maoists’’. The CPI on Sunday demanded the home ministry to “question the Chhattisgarh government’s role in targeting the party and arresting its elected leaders and cadres.”
CPI national secretary D. Raja has sought action against SSP Dantewada S.R.P. Kalluri, alleging that hundreds of CPI supporters were attacked by the “administration” on November 25 while taking out a rally to register their protest against police atrocities. He alleged that 12 of its prominent leaders in the state have also been subjected to attacks on various occasions both by the state and the Central police. Urging the Centre to initiate action against guilty people, Mr Raja said the state government and the Centre had failed to understand the differences between the political workers of CPI and the Maoists. “In a way, the state administration and the security forces are using the Maoist cover to attack a genuine recognised political party like CPI which has been working among tribal people for long protecting their interest and welfare,” he said. “CPI strongly condemns the brutal attacks. The way the state and the Central security forces act against the legitimate function of party like CPI poses a grave threat to the democratic polity of the country,” he said.
Mr Raja also demanded that arrested leaders and cadres of the party be released immediately and cases registered against them be withdrawn.