Action Alert- Villagers illegally detained by police in Sukma

Action Alert- Villagers illegally detained by police in Sukma

Families of the arrested villagers wait outside Dantewada Jail hoping to get some news of the three missing people.

On the afternoon of 15th May 2015, Bheema Kawasi (17 years old), s/o Kosa from Jongeyrak village and Ayyta Madkam s/o Hidma were picked up by Sukma police while they were waiting to catch a bus back to their village. Bheema was forced to misinform his family and friends by phone that he had had an accident and that he was being taken to Sukma hospital. Sukda Kunjam s/o Mukka, who had been with them earlier in the day, came back that evening and was also picked up by the police.

On 16th May, the next day, Bheema, Ayyta and Sukda were taken from to Kukanar and Tongpal police stations for interrogation and then to the Jeeram CRPF camp where they were severely beaten up. Bheema and Ayyta fell unconscious from the beatings.

The same morning of 16th May, two other men Kesha Barse, s/o Ganga Barse and Hemant Makdam who were bringing Bheema’s family to the hospital were picked up by police in a vehicle. Another villager Ramesh whose shop was on the road was also picked up by plainclothes policemen on a bike. Witnesses recognize the men as officers from the thana.

Somvati Baghel and 5-year-old Pratibha, family of Ramesh, one of the villagers picked up the police in Sukma. Four days later, Ramesh is still missing.

Kesha, Hemant and Ramesh were also taken to Jeeram CRPF camp and all five were beaten severely that evening. Ramesh fell unconscious from the beatings. Hemant, Bheema and Kesa were later taken to the government hospital. Three days later, on Sunday, 19th May, the three were produced in court and sent to Dantewada jail. This is already in violation of law which says that the accused have to produced in court within 24 hours. Sukda, Ayyta and Ramesh have till now not been produced in court and the police claims not to know of their whereabouts.

The last they were seen was in Jeeram CRPF camp by the three who are in jail. We urge you to call the police in order to pressurize them to produce the three men and demand their immediate release.

SP Sukma – D. Shrawan Kumar 09479190085
IG Bastar Range – SRP Kalluri 09479194000

https://updatesfrombastar.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/villagers-illegally-detained-by-police-in-sukma/