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India: A Citizens March for Peace is Blocked by the Chhattisgarh Government

Roads blocked, Activists Detained

by Sandeep Pandey, 14 December 2009

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From: Sandeep Pandey, National Alliance of People’s Movements
Dec 14th, 2009

A Padayatra planned by Himanshu Kumar of the Vanavasi Chetna Ashram was due to start today from Nendra village in Dantewada district. The objective of the padyatra was to resotre peace and create an atmosphere where justice can be ensured by instilling confidence among the people to stop migrating from the area in the face of atrocities being committed on them by security forces, SPOs and anti-constitutional forces like Salwa Judum.

The local administration has taken several steps to prevent the Padayatra. Roads leading to Nendra have been blocked by felling trees and VCA workers are being prevented from leaving their homes by the government backed armed Salwa Judum and its latest incarnation Danteshwari Swabhiman Manch goons. A group of 40 women activists from all over the country on their way to Danteawada from Raipur last night were stopped, their vehicles were seized and the women themselves were detained by the Police first in Charama and then in Kondagaon. They were subsequently released but were told that a mob of 4000 with the objective of confronting them was waiting for them enroute to Dantewada. The police threatened the local bus operators not to take the women to Dantewada.

Even the journalists are being threatened not to go to Himanshu’s Ashram.

Meanwhile the Home Minister Shri Chidambram has expressed his willingness to visit Dantewada and listen to the grievances of tribals in an informal public hearing to be organized by Vanvasi Chetna Ashram on 7th January, 2010. We appeal to all NAPM members and supporters and even other friends to come here for the public hearing on 6-7 January.

For more information contact Himanshu Kumar at 09425260031.

Sandeep Pandey, National Alliance of People’s Movements
Contact Mobile Number (of Amit Basole) 09559374152

Please sign petition to government of Chhattisgarh: Walk the talk - Allow Padyatra in Chhattisgarh

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