The CBI has filed an affidavit before Supreme Court, alleging that Chhattisgarh police was thwarting its probe into key cases in Maoist-hit areas. It has cited instances when state police personnel assaulted its team. The state, in its reply, has refuted the allegations. In March 2011, security forces allegedly burned down some villages in Sukma and assaulted villagers. When activists led by Swami Agnivesh tried to reach the spot, they were allegedly heckled by forces. Police claimed Maoists were behind the incidents. In July 2011, the SC slammed the Chhattisgarh government for its failure to probe the case and asked CBI to probe it. CBI then took over the five cases lodged in connection with the incident. The agency is yet to submit its final report. On October 1, CBI filed a reply in the court detailing the status of the cases and the reasons behind the delay. Notably, the matter was heard in Supreme Court Tuesday. Pointing at the CBI affidavit that mentions some offences like rapes of villagers, the court told CBI that it was not ordered to probe these offences. Let the police investigate rapes and murders, it said. The next hearing is on January 8. In its affidavit, CBI had cited a 2012 incident when its team “was attacked by SPOs with firearms”. “It is really worrisome that some personnel from the security force.attacked CBI and this is the main reason for which investigation. got delayed”. Pointing at a possible conflict of interest, it said Bastar IG SRP Kalluri was DIG Dantewada when the incidents being probed took place. It noted that all communication related to the cases is forwarded to Kalluri. “.Kalluri has an occasion at his disposal to monitor the information sought by CBI from local police and the information furnished by local police to CBI,” the affidavit said. In its November 25 reply, Chhattisgarh refuted the charges. “.there was no attack on the CBI team,” it said and added that Kalluri was posted as Bastar IG in June 2001 and said the probe was unaffected by his influence. CBI also filed a complaint with Kanker police in November regarding a separate incident. When its team was camping in Kanker during a visit for the probe, the complaint said, some guards provided by state police were drunk on duty. ADG (Naxal Ops) RK Vij said: “The DGP has asked DIG CID to probe the incident.”
