CPI ( ML) Red Star Condemns the “Encounter Killings” at Kankar in Chhattisgarh !
The “encounter killings” of 29 Maoists at Kanker on 16 April claimed by police as the “biggest encounter ever” in Chattisgarh calls for condemnation by all democratic forces. Though the details of the “encounter”, where no casualties are there on the part of security forces, are yet to come, unilateral use of force is self-evident from the reports and more so in the context of the latest claim of authorities that Maoist “cadre base is dying down and their area of influence is shrinking”. Therefore, other than the exigencies of Election, there is no compelling need for unleashing such a horror on a force that is “dying down”, as claimed by BJP regime. And, since the BJP’s coming to power, encounter killings are on the rise. On 2 April, 14 people including innocent villagers were killed in Bijapur. And, according to information, in the latest killings, along with Maoists, even Adivasis and children are also killed, as reported.
The CPI (ML) Red Star is consistent in exposing the ideological-political bankruptcy of CPI (Maoist) and we are of the firm position that both the strategy and tactics of Maoism are far removed from concrete national and international reality today. And we earnestly appeal to the Maoist cadres to rethink on their line in view of the overall qualitative transformations in the neoliberal-neofascist context.
However, differing positions should not be a justification for unleashing fascist state horror and cold-blooded killings of political opponents in gross disregard of accepted human rights and in violation of rule of law. We appeal to all concerned people to be beware of the fascist tactic of using such state horrors for disorienting people and diverting their attention from the core issues they are confronting on account of the corporate-saffron fascist policies in the context of the General Election.
We resolutely condemn this massive “encounter killings” and appeal to all democratic forces and well-meaning people to come forward strongly opposing it.
P J James
General Secretary
CPI (ML) Red Star
New Delhi
17th April 2024
