Activist or Maoist? Conflicting claims over a woman’s arrest in Chhattisgarh

Tribal leader Soni Sori claimed that Hidme was a respected activist in the region, and her arrest on the Women's Day was a matter of shame for administration.

Updated on: Mar 10, 2021, 08:54:26 IST

By Ritesh Mishra | Edited by Abhinav Sahay, Raipur

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Arrest of a suspected Maoist, Madkam Hidme, in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada has led to a conflict, with some locals claiming she was an activist, who was booked in some old cases and arrested without any warrant. The police have refuted the allegations and said Hidme was involved in serious cases of Maoist violence in the recent past.

A campaign is being run by activists in Bastar alleging Hidme was forcibly picked up by the police. (Sourced Photo)

The activists in the Bastar region claimed that Hidme was president of 'Jail Bandi Rihai' (freedom from jail) committee and was framed by the police. They further allege that she was arrested on Tuesday during a protest seeking justice for surrendered woman Maoist, Pande Kawasi, who was found hanging in the last week of February.

A statement issued by tribal leader Soni Sori stated that Hidme was a respected activist in the region, and her arrest on Women's Day was a matter of shame.

“I demand her immediate release because she is not a Maoist and police have framed her,” said Sori in a press release.

The Chhattisgarh unit of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Chhattisgarh Mahila Adhikar Manch, in a joint statement, condemned the arrest and demanded Hidme's release.

However, Dantewada superintendent of police, Abhishek Pallava said Hidme had five offences pending against her under serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Arms act, Explosives Act and the UAPA.

Also Read: Two Chhattisgarh ministers test positive for Covid-19

“She has a reward of ₹1 lakh declared against her post (Range Jantana Sarkar Adhyaksh- a position in the Maoist organisation) by the government and ₹10,000 by the SP. She was instrumental in the killing of three villagers on pretext of them being police informers. Her name has been put in banners and posters pasted in PS Aranpur. Village Sarpanch was also counselled to get her to surrender,” said the SP.

He further said that necessary legal action was taken after her positive identification by the spotters. “Crimes (against her name) have been registered in as early as 2016, so she was active at least for past six years” the SP said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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