Rights bodies question Jharkhand Police’s factual basis for preparing ‘list of 64 outfits’ to probe CPI(Maoist) links

Some of the signatories of the letter include Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, which has development economist Jean Dreze as its member, NREGA Watch, Adivasi Women’s Network and People’s Union for Civil Liberties.

The letter said that a report was published in a local newspaper and an online portal which stated that a list has been prepared and an inquiry will be conducted by the state police on ‘64 organisations on suspicion of their links to CPI(Maoist) group’.

The letter added that the Jharkhand Police’s Special Branch has ordered an inquiry even though the news reports have not given the source of the material. However, parts of the letter – sent by the Special Branch – have been circulating on social media.

“We all signatories, who are part of the list, are shocked by the news. The organisations have been continuously fighting for the constitutional rights of the tribals, Dalits, backward classes, minorities and the deprived people of the state…At the same time, we have been at the forefront in organising the victims, tribals and deprived people for their rights and providing administrative and legal support. For this, organizations have been continuously doing work like making the issues public, issuing statements, meeting administrative and police officials, establishing talks with the Chief Minister and other ministers,” the letter added.

It may be noted that the organisations have spearheaded various movements and causes including the rights for water, forest, and land, rights of migrant labourers, and farmers, against displacement and human rights violations. They have also stood for communal harmony, socio-economic rights such as employment under MNREGA, food security, pension etc., and tribal self-governance system.

The organisations also questioned the latest move of the police when had always they expressed their stand on incidents of lynching, registration of fake cases, fake encounters etc. reported in the state.

The outfits said that have been at the forefront in mobilising tribals and the deprived people to fight for their rights, providing them administrative and legal support and meeting administrative and police officials to give them justice.

“In this context, accusing these organisations of being associated with CPI (Maoist) is equivalent to questioning the very concept of rights of tribals, Dalits, backward classes, minorities and the deprived in the state. It seems that the state police do not want the people to fight for constitutional rights…. The intention to create an atmosphere of oppression is visible in the people and organisations who are continuously struggling for democratic rights. This appears to be a step towards limiting democracy. This raises serious questions on the intentions of the police. Suspecting all such organisations as front organisations of the CPI (Maoist) without any evidence is extremely worrying. The basic question is what is the factual basis for making this list?” stated the letter.

When asked about the purported list of the organisations that are to under scrutiny, Principal Secretary (Home) Avinash Kumar told The Indian Express: “I have no idea about this.”

DGP Ajay Singh, however, not respond to The Indian Express despite multiple requests.