Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar and 10 others have been booked for the murder of a tribal villager in the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, the police said Tuesday, as reported by Hindustan Times. As per the police statement, a complaint was lodged against Sundar (48) on Saturday, by the wife of Shamnath Baghel, who was killed in Sukma district on November 4.
“We have registered a case against Nandini Sundar and others under sections 120B , 302 of IPC and 147, 148, 149 of the IPC at Tongpal police station based on the complaint of the wife of the victim,” said Sukma additional superintendent of police Jitendra Shukla.
Also Read: In Haryana: Women volunteers in villages to check crimes against women
Besides Sundar, the other accused are JNU professor Archana Prasad, Vineet Tiwari from Delhi’s Joshi Adhikar Sansthan, Chhattisgarh CPI(M) state secretary Sanjay Parate and an unidentified woman activist from Sukma.
Also read: 5 Young Activists Trying To Make A Better World
A resident of Nama village under Kumakoleng panchayat in Tongpal, Shamnath Baghel was killed by a team of armed Naxals at his residence.
Since April this year, the youths of Nama and the neighbouring Kumakoleng village have been protesting against Maoist activities. The villagers had even launched a local security group against the rebels. According to the police, Sundar and the others were asking the villagers to support the Maoists.
You May Also Like: Sisters are doin’ it for themselves: Meet India’s all-woman crews
“Following the development, according to villagers, Sundar and the others went to the village to allegedly threaten them not to oppose the Maoists,” the IG said. “Sundar had gone to the village with a fake name, Richa Keshav,” he added, as reported by Indian Express.
Sundar is the head of DU's sociology department and has worked extensively in Maoist-dominated regions, NDTV reported. The Supreme Court had banned the state-backed anti-Maoist militia Salwa Judum, calling the force unconstitutional, following a petition by Sundar.
Here's how the reactions are playing out on Twitter:
This vicious and vindictive FIR proves beyond doubt that Chattisgarh is a police state: https://t.co/RjEj1e4Q6r
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) November 8, 2016
How utterly atrocious this is. The credibility and integrity of Nandini Sundar is beyond doubt https://t.co/rogt3v6G8w
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) November 8, 2016
With Nandini Sundar news lets turn our focus away from Delhi and onto Chattisgarh. Take this a chance to put them back on road to normalcy.
— Richa Singh (@richa_singh) November 8, 2016
This is vendetta against Nandini Sundar. Shocking and absurd. She is one of the most nice, humble, intelligent human being I have met. https://t.co/iwLmaMlrDu
— Somya Saxena (@SomyaSaxena) November 8, 2016
Join Us on https://www.facebook.com/SheThePeoplePage
Follow Us on https://twitter.com/SheThePeopleTV