Round table meet condemns ‘encounter killings’

The participants at a round table meeting on ‘encounter killings’ demanded that cases be booked against police personnel, who are involved in ‘killing of Maoists’, and a comprehensive probe under the purview of the Supreme Court, apart from holding of ‘peace talks’ by the Central government with the Maoist party.

The participants at a round table meeting on ‘encounter killings’ demanded that cases be booked against police personnel, who are involved in ‘killing of Maoists’, and a comprehensive probe under the purview of the Supreme Court, apart from holding of ‘peace talks’ by the Central government with the Maoist party.

The meeting, organised by the Left parties at the CPI-M office at Jagadamba junction here on Sunday, witnessed the participation of leaders of civil rights organisations, people’s organisations, human rights and women’s organisations.

The speakers demanded probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court into the ‘encounter killings’ in the name of ‘Operation Kagar’. They call for a ceasefire and handing over of bodies of Namballa Kesava Rao and 27 others, who were killed in the alleged encounter with the police, to their family members.

CPI-ML (New Democracy) official representative P. Prasad said that the Centre should order a ceasefire and call the Maoists, who are ready, for peace talks. He said that it was wrong to indulge in ‘one-sided’ encounters while adding that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure safety of the tribal people. He alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre was carrying out Operation Kagar to evict the tribal people along with Maoists, and hand over the lands to corporate groups.

CPI-ML New Democracy Area Committee secretary M. Venkateswarlu presided over the meeting and the speakers included, POW State president M. Lakshmi, CPI-M leader P. Mani, Bharata Nastika Samajam, State president T. Srirama Murthy, HRF convener for AP and TS V.S. Krishna, Mahila Chetana secretary K. Padma, Chaitanya Mahila Samakhya secretary D. Lalitha, CPI district assistant secretary Chandrasekhar, and CPI-ML (Liberation) leader Ramachandra Rao.

POW State secretary Padma, Abhyudaya Rachayathula Sangham (Arasam) leader Kshetrapal, and advocate Ch. Ganapathi were among those who attended.