Constitute panel to initiate talks with naxals: Rights activists

Bangalore, July 12 (UNI) Human rights activists in Karnataka today welcomed the government's willingness to hold talks with the naxal groups but said it should constitute a panel of known civil society leaders to undertake this task.

"Mere offer of talks without working out a mechanism and creating a conducive atmosphere will not bring any desired results," SICHREM, the South India Cell for HR Education and Monitoring said today.

In a statement issued here it said it would be too much to expect that the naxalites would come forward to talk to the government basing on the newspaper statements. The state would also assure them that they would not be arrested once they come for talks, the organisation said.

Never in the past such protests, which was witnessed after police killed five persons in Chikmagalur district in an encounter on Tuesday, by local people had happened against encounter killings of people 'accused' as naxalites. The government should bring out the truth and punish the guilty police officials, it said.

The organisation also urged the state government to be honest in their offer of talks and create mechanisms so that all efforts were made to prevent Karnataka from 'encounter raj', as it happened in some of the neighbouring states, which was a threat to democracy and human rights, the organisation said.

UNI