Villagers alleged high-handedness by cops after Pursalgondi blast

Nagpur: Unconfirmed reports of police high-handedness are pouring in from Pursalgondi village, near Hedari in Etapalli taluka of south Gadchiroli, on Friday. A day ago, two C-60 commandos were injured in a blast triggered by Maoists near the village, targeting the polling parties returning to base camp at Hedari. Following the incident, the villagers from Pursalgondi have attracted the wrath of the police personnel.
Sources from Etapalli said tribals were rounded up by the Hedari police and C-60 commandos on the pretext of questioning and thrashed. It’s also learnt that now tribals from five villages would be meeting to discuss the issue and also launch a protest demanding justice and boycott of police administration for their atrocities. On Monday, the villagers would be submitting a memorandum before the collector through the tehsildar.

Police believe one of the village sympathizers or part of rebel militia helped the Maoists keep tabs on police and polling party movements from close quarters before launching the IED attack.

Sources from Pursalgondi said cops take villagers along for help, and also to make them act as shields during Maoist attacks when polling parties are escorted back to the base camps. The villagers who had helped the cops are now viewed as suspects in the attack.

SP Shailesh Balkawade said it was routine propaganda by Maoists to avoid arrests by levelling baseless allegations. “We have just documented the occurrence report of the incidents at Gatta and Hedari, and are yet to lodge a FIR at Etapalli police station,” he said. “At this time, the first preference of police is to ensure the safe return of the rest of the polling parties from the interiors to base camps,” he said.

“We will take legal action against anyone whose involvement comes to fore through technical evidence, and not buckle under pressure,” he said. “Once the FIR is launched, our action would follow,” said the SP.