Congress walkout over 'fake' naxalite surrender

Raipur, Feb 20 (UNI) Opposition Congress today staged a walkout in the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha, demanding a probe by a legislators' committee into the surrender of 79 'naxalites', alleging that the event was stage-managed by forcing political workers and farmers to surrender as Maoists.

Raising the issue of 'fake surrender', through a call attention notice, Dr Shakrajit Nayak, Mrs Renu Jogi and Mr Ravindra Choubey (all Congress) alleged that 79 people from Bastar had 'surrendered' as Maoists before Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh at a function held at the police headquarters in the state capital on January 3.

Describing it as a 'fake surrender', the opposition members said even leaders of the ruling BJP had also went public, pointing out that many of them, who were brought by the police for surrender, were BJP workers and local farmers of Bastar.

However, Revenue Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, who was replying in the absence of Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam, denied the opposition charge of 'fake surrender' saying that 62 of them had warrants pending against them while 17 others were let off as there were no cases against them.

''They were either sangam members or naxal sympathisers, who wanted to return to the national mainstream'', he said, adding that such allegations would only demoralise the security forces engaged in a battle against the rebels in Bastar region.

Dr Shakrajit Nayak (Congress) sought to know whether the police had brought 79 people to state capital to surrender before Chief Minister, in the presence of Home Minister and Director General of state police without verifying their credentials. ''How 17 of them had 'surrendered' when no cases were pending against them?'', he asked.

Mrs Renu Jogi (Congress) asked whether all those who had surrendered on January 3 would get the benefits under the state government's policy for the rehabilitation of surrendered naxalites while her party colleague Mr Ravindra Choubey pointed out that Parliamentary Secretary Mahesh Baghel and BJP MP Sohan Potai have also termed it as a fake surrender.

Mr Mohammad Akbar and other opposition members demanded action against the police officers, pointing out that those who had 'surrendered' were kept in police custody for three days without producing them before the court.

Opposition Congress members also demanded a probe by a house committee saying that an inquiry by an Inspector General of Police would not help bring out the truth as the 'fake surrender' took place in the presence of Chief Minister, Home Minister and top police officials.

Rejecting the demand for an inquiry by a legislators' committee, Revenue Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said 62 persons, against whom warrants were pending, have been remanded to judicial custody. He said the other 17 naxal sympathisers themselves had come forward expressing their willingness to return to the political mainstream.

About the opposition mention that even ruling party leaders had termed it as fake surrender, the minister said none of them had made any written complaint in this regard.

''We are not aware about any such complaints'', he said amid protests from opposition members, who pointed out that BJP leaders went public by giving media statements complaining that party workers and farmers were forced to surrender.

He also denied the opposition charge of killing of two tribals in 'fake encounter' saying that the naxalites were killed in an encounter that took place at Gadchiroli in neighbouring Maharashtra.''The Naxalites were killed during an encounter with Maharashtra police, who in turn informed their counterparts in Chhattisgarh'', he added.

However, the opposition members raised slogans and later staged a walkout demanding an inquiry into the surrender of rebels on January 3.

UNI