Chhattisgarh police denies villagers death in encounter

Raipur, June 12 (UNI) Chhattisgarh police today described as baseless and misleading the CPI's claim that a large number of innocent villagers were killed in a crossfire between police and naxals during an encounter at village Dewarpalli in South Bastar on June 8.

Director General of Police Om Prakash Rathor said no villager was killed in the encounter. In fact, police 'prevented' a massacre of innocent villagers by the naxals by raiding the village, where the Maoists were present.

Claiming that naxalite cadres were killed in the encounter and injured naxals were arrested after the police action at the village, he said the injured were later provided medical treatment.

Mr Rathor alleged that vested interests had unleashed a false propaganda about the deaths of villagers.

''They are worried over the police success. No villager was killed during the Dewarpalli encounter,'' he added.

The DGP's clarification came after CPI leaders alleged that about 100 villagers were killed in the crossfire when police and paramilitary forces raided the village, where the ultras were meeting with local tribals.

CPI South Bastar secretary Manish Kunjam, a former legislator of Vidhan Sabha of undivided Madhya Pradesh, had alleged that the villagers were killed during the encounter between the police and the Maoists, as the police stormed the Maoists meeting, which was being attended by the villagers.

Pointing out that he had brought the matter to the notice of CPI General secretary A B Bardhan, Mr Kunjam said police cordoned off the village and prevented people from reaching Dewarpalli.

He alleged that efforts were being made to cover up the civilian deaths during the police action.

UNI JJ MSJ ND2004