BJP moves Adjournment Motion on spurt in Maoist killings
   Date :16-Jul-2019

                    Tamradhawaj Sahu                        Brijmohan Agrawal                Dr Raman Singh
 
Hectic discussions between the opposition and treasury benches on the Adjournment Motion moved by principal opposition Bharatiya Janata Party demanding clear-cut policy on Left Wing Extremism and State Government’s stand on ongoing NIA investigation in the killing of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi, again failed to churn out any concrete strategy to contain Left Wing Extremism. The opposition BJP finally staged ‘Walk Out’ after reply given by Home Minister Tamradhawaj Sahu couldn’t satisfy them.
 
 
On Monday, the second day of Monsoon Session, opposition BJP members including Brijmohan Agarwal, Dr Raman Singh, Ajay Chandrakar, Shivratan Sharma, Narayan Chandel, Dharamlal Kaushik, etc moved 13 Adjournment Motion notices stating that after Congress took the reins of the state there has been spurt in Naxal violence and killing of BJP MLA from Dantewada and security personnel accompanying him by Maoists by triggering IED blast on April 9 is a blatant example.
 
 
BJP maintained that Mandavi was going to Shayamgiri from Bacheli and he had given information to Kuakonda police station, which is just 4km from the spot of IED blast. Despite giving information, police neither provided any security nor road opening party was sent. Soon after the incident DGP had remarked that Late Mandavi had proceeded despite police advice not to proceed, which shows lethargy on the part of state police chief. The BJP further alleged that killing of Bhima Mandavi was carried out to influence the on going Lok Sabha elections and it can be termed as political killing carried out with the assistance of Maoists. Brijmohan Agrawal during the discussions raised the issue of security to the family members of Bhima Mandavi. He said the House should take a resolution that in future no such incident will take place, he asked whether the House is ready to introduce this proposal.
 
 
Former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said the killing of Bhima Mandavi was well thought out strategy of the Maoists. In last 15 years, being a part of the government he had been aware of the Naxal movements and their strategies. He said his government had planned short term and long term policies in the direction of LWE eradication which should be followed and taken ahead. Coming down heavily on the state government Dr Singh said senior administrative and police shouldn’t be reshuffled like cards for political gains, on the contrary they should be given fixed term with proper guidelines. Earlier, Maoists used to boycott elections, then they started propagating in favour of NOTA but now they have directly issued diktat not to vote for BJP. Several issues like lack of intelligence, alleged phone calls to Late Mandavi’s family members related to his killing, etc. Several members including Shivratan Sharma, Mohan Markam, Satyanarayan Sharma, Dharamjit Singh, Keshav Chandra, Ajay Chandrakar, Brihaspati Singh, Narayan Chandel, Dharamlal Kaushik, etc spoke on the motion.
 
 
 
Answering to the discussions, Home Minister Tamradhawaj Sahu said his government has already prepared strategies towards countering Left Wing Extremism which come into force after Monsoons. He said the state government has requisitioned for seven more battalions of Central Armed Police Force and he’s confident that the state would get it. He said every demand put forth by those who spoke in the debate could be included in the investigation but presently NIA has moved court against the ongoing investigation being carried out in Chhattisgarh and on the order of the court, it has been stayed. Earlier, the Home Minister in his reply gave complete details of the Bhima Mandavi killing incident. He said adequate security was given to the Legislator but the Legislator had returned the security of 49 DRG force given to him once he had reached his residence after campaigning at 12 Noon. However, after having lunch, all of a sudden Mandavi left for Kirandul and after meeting with party workers proceeded for Kuakonda via Shyamgiri. At that moment Bacheli SHO warned Manadavi over mobile phone not to proceed on the said path as there is no Road Opening Party. Unfortunately Mandavi proceeded despite warning and the incident took place killing him and four police personnel.
 
 
The Home Minister said after registering offence, investigation on the incident has been initiated. While one Maoist indulged in the incident was arrested while five others were killed in encounter. The state government had also constituted a Judicial Commission to investigate the incident chaired by a retired High Court Justice. He also refuted the charges that the state government doesn’t have any clear cut policy to tackle LWE. On the contrary, the state government has carried out anti-Naxal operations continuously and in 63 encounters 36 Maoists were killed which included nine Maoists holding award of Rs 9 lakh on their head, five Maoists holding award of Rs 5 lakh, one Maoist of Rs 2 lakh award and five Maoists of Rs 1 lakh award. Also 273 Maoists were arrested while another 174 had surrendered.