Chhattisgarh drops 594 cases against tribals in Maoist-hit areas

RAIPUR: As many as 594 cases have been withdrawn against members of tribal communities in Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh following the recommendation of a committee, an official said on Friday.
The move has brought relief to 726 persons who were named in these cases, a public relations department official said. After coming to power in December 2018, CM Bhupesh Baghel decided to review police cases against tribal people in insurgency-hit areas, particularly Bastar, so that innocent persons do not face harassment, he said.
A seven-member review committee headed by Justice (retd) A K Patnaik was constituted for this purpose in March 2019. District officials and the police were also asked to examine such cases against tribals, the official said. The review was part of the state’s three-pronged strategy of building ‘trust, development and security’ to bring development to tribal areas and free them of Leftwing extremism, he said.
The Patnaik committee recommended withdrawal of as many as 627 cases, of which 594 were withdrawn from courts as of May 31 this year, giving relief to 726 persons, the official said. Other cases are still pending in court for withdrawal.
The police department too identified 365 cases against tribals for speedy trial. As many as 124 such cases were disposed of by courts and 218 accused persons were acquitted, the official said.