Naxal leaders responsible for the J'khand killings : ACHR

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today condemned the killing of eighteen people by Naxalites in Jharkhand's Giridih district last night and said the incident was a ''violation of all laws of war.'' The victims, including the son of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, were participating in a local tribal festival at Chilkhadi village of the Giridih district, said AHRC Director Suhas Chakma ''The killing of innocent civilians violates all laws of war, constitutes crimes against humanity as defined under the international humanitarian laws and the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court. No political ideology or demand can justify such acts of terrorism targetting the innocent civilians,'' Mr Chakma added.

He alleged that the Communist Party of India (Maoists) is an organisation having recognised command structure and its leadership must be held responsible for such premeditated killing of innocent civilians.

The State must take appropriate measures to bring the perpetrators to justice, the AHRC director said.

According to the ACHR estimates, at least 384 people, including 129 civilians, 162 security forces and 93 alleged Naxalites, have been killed in the Naxal conflict from January to September, 2007.

The states which have been worst affected by the naxalite conflict include Chhattisgarh where altogether 208 have been killed, followed by Andhra Pradesh (59), Jharkhand (44) and Bihar (28), the statement added.

UNI