RAIPUR: Nandini Sundar – Professor at Delhi University and Archana Prasad of Jawaharlal Nehru University, are among 10 people who are accused in a police complaint in the murder of a villager in Chhattisgarh.
Ms Sundar, 48, has been named in a complaint by the wife of Shamnath Baghel. Last Friday, Shamnath Baghel was killed by Maoists. Activist Vineet Tiwari and CPI – Marxist leader Sanjay Parate are also accused in the complaint.
Sr. Police Officer -S R P Kalluri said that they all have been accused of conspiracy, rioting, and murder. He added that after the investigation, strongest action will be taken against those guilty. Kalluri said told media that we do not go by feelings, we go by facts, we will take action based on what facts we have.
Maoists killed Shamnath Baghel with sharp weapons at his village around 450 km from state capital Raipur on Friday night. In the state capital, Baghel and his associates had been leading a campaign against Maoist activities since April and had recently formed the ‘Tangiya (axe) group’ to take them on.
Police officer Kalluri said that the wife of the victim has alleged that Nandini and other workers held meetings in the area. There were threats received that Baghel will be eliminated if he does not mend his ways.
As per the report that victim Baghel and other villagers had complained in the month of May against Ms Sundar, Ms Prasad and others. They accused them of inciting tribals against the government and asking them to support Maoists.
Mr Kalluri alleged that DU Professor Ms Sundar went to the village in the month of June using a fake name – Richa Keshav. The officer said that she did accept it and said that she did not want to disclose her name.
The police issues a letter to the Vice Chancellor of DU and JNU informing them that their professors were being investigated, after the complaint.
An Activist – Ms Sundar heads the sociology department at the Delhi University. She has worked extensively in Maoist-hit regions like Bastar. It was on her petition that the Supreme Court banned the state-backed anti-Maoist militia Salwa Judum, calling the force illegal and unconstitutional.
