Representatives of many political parties and organisations in Chhattisgarh have demanded judicial inquiry into the alleged encounter of 10 tribal villagers in Pedia village of Bijapur. The incident took place on 17 May where security forces claimed to have killed 12 Maoists in an encounter. The family members of ten villagers who were killed protested before the Bijapur district magistrate office saying their family members had gone to the forest to collect tendu leaves but they were killed by the forces in the fake encounter. Many activists in the area have said to seek legal action against these fake encounters.
A delegation comprising of activists from CPIML, CPI, CPIM, AAP and AISA, AIUF, AITUC and AICCTU sent a memorandum to the Chhattisgarh government through the district administration in Drug demanding the judicial inquiry of this alleged fake encounter. CPIML leader Brijendra Tiwari has said that stern action should be taken against those responsible in the police and security forces who ordered these killings. One of those killed was a minor. Ten villagers were in forests for the seasonal tendu leaves collection. He said the killing and arrests of tribals in the name of Maoists must be stopped by the state government.
