Bastar Top Cop Runs Amok

This is a new low even for Bastar Inspector General of Police S.R.P. Kalluri who has become infamous for his partisanship and unprofessional use of derogatory langauge. For this cop, the world is divided between Maoists and non-Maoists with human rights activists feeling the end of a stick that he wields indiscriminately, using words that discredit the uniform. 

Activist and human rights crusader Bela Bhatia who has been facing sustained attack in the district for her remarkable and courageous work, was surrounded by a mob that gave her a day to leave her house. This mob barged into the house she was living in, threatened her and the terrified landlady, said they would burn down the house, abused the women and left with the 24 hour notice hanging over their heads. It was a ‘get out, or else…’ 

The cop, Kalluri charged with protecting the people was later approached by many to intervene and ensure that the law was enforced, and Bhatia was not hounded out of Bastar by sheer muscle power for doing little more than working for the rights of the poorest in the land. 

The cover photograph with this article is reportedly messages sent by Supreme court advocate Pyoli Swatija wrote to Kalluri on the issue, saying “Mr Kalluri please ensure that Bala Bhatia is not hounded out of her residence. The law of the land applies to Chhatisgarh too, Pyoli, Advocate”. To this he responded, “Naxals will be kicked out of Bastar.” BBC Hindi reported that the advocate wrote back, “What has your answer to do with my querry (query). Please stop persecuting advisasis, activists, academicins and journalists.” To which the top cop responded with a “F u”. 

Kalluri’s choice of language has worsened with his promotion. He is reported to be terrorising those working with the poor tribals for justice, for their development. He has hounded our reporters, many of whom have had to leave Bastar altogether with threats. As the scribes said when mobs are set after them they can turn only to the police for protection. But this protection comes with a ‘get out’ sub text as it is made clear to them that they cannot look for any help from those who are supposed in position to implement the law. 

Bastar is becoming a district where Kalluri is calling the shots. He is the all powerful personality targeting activists per se, even as the Chhatisgarh government protects and applauds him. 

Some of the messages to and from Kalluri to respectable members of society:

The Editors Guild had sent a fact finding team and submitted a report on the difficulties that several journalists had faced. No remedial action was taken and Kalluri remains more powerful than ever. As the scribes and activists being hounded out of Bastar said, this top cop clearly gets his authority from the state government and the top politicians of the ruling dispensation. No one is willing to touch him despite the number of complaints against him, his threats, and the “terror” that he has unleashed in the area. He is now becoming openly abusive to even those who write to him as the messages show.