Following a high-level meeting of the Unified Command in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Singh Baghel has directed that the tribal families affected by the Salwa Judum should be safely rehabilitated in their villages.
According to a report on the news portal CGBasket, the police and the administration were instructed to work in tandem to help ‘create a safe environment’ for those being rehabilitated, for their homes and lands to be returned to them. The returning tribals would have to be ensured about their safety the Congress chief minister reportedly said. The government is determined, Baghel reportedly said, adding that the police and administration ought to put in efforts for the successful completion of this process.
Per a News18 report, more than three lakh tribal folks from almost 600 villages in Bastar were forced to leave their homes and flee to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during 2006-2011, when the Salwa Judum militia was most active. Salwa Judum — “Purification Hunt” in Gondi language — was a militia that was mobilised and deployed as part of anti-insurgency operations in Chhattisgarh, aimed at countering Naxalite violence in the region.
The militia, that consisted mostly of local tribal youth, received support and training from the Chhattisgarh state government at the time. In 2011, following a petition by activist Nandini Sundar, EAS Sharma and Ramachandra Guha, the militia was declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court court.
Also read: Imprisoned Innocent Tribals Will be Released: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel
The high-level meeting was also attended by Home Minister of Chhattisgarh Tamradhwaj Sahu, Chief Secretary, Additional Secretary, Private Secretary to the CM, Special DG Naxal Operations and officers of the central security forces, reported CGBasket.
Earlier this month, state Minister for Industry, Commerce and Excise Kawasi Lakhma had said that he had visited families of the distressed tribals and that the Congress government in the state would work towards their safe repatriation.
Also Read: Chhattisgarh Govt to Bring Back Tribals Who Had Fled Bastar in Fear of Salwa Judum