People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) unequivocally and sternly condemns the raid by the Chhattisgarh Special Task Force and the Rajasthan Police on the house of Kavita Srivastava, a noted human rights activist and General Secretary of People’s Union for Civil Liberties in the morning hours of October 3, 2011.

As learnt until now, the Chhattisgarh police claimed to be looking for a ‘khatarnak (dreaded) naxalite’ landed with a search warrant on Kavita’s house. No written specification of the person that the police was looking for at Kavita’s house, was either given to her family or colleagues. This arbitrariness and mindless hounding of people and activists is quite consistent with the past practices of Chhattisgarh government and its police. Present incident underscores its territorial outreach and the larger connivance of the oppressive forces across the states.

Ironically, the Chhattisgarh police for years together now have failed to take any significant action against worst of the proven human rights offenders living in its jurisdiction and judicially culpable of heinous crimes. It has rather protected and patronized these groups and individuals under various versions of Salwa Judum in the impervious war against the Maoist. However, it often swiftly and imperiously jumps to intimidate activists and citizens speaking out to hold the government and the state accountable for its conduct.

PUDR stands in solidarity with Kavita Srivastava and PUCL in this moment of ghastly attack. We further demand that the Chhattisgarh government desist from such deplorable moves and rather dispense its constitutional obligation of upholding Supreme Court Order of July 2011 on Salwa Judum, which it clearly is in contempt with.

Paramjeet Singh and Harish Dhawan
(Secretaries)
pudr.pudr.org