Controversial Bastar cop Kalluri in hospital, colleague gets charge

Three days after Bastar’s controversial inspector-general (IG) of police SRP Kalluri was admitted to hospital, the Chhattisgarh government on Sunday gave additional charge of the range to his Bilaspur counterpart Vivekanand.

Published on: Nov 27, 2016, 23:09:25 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Raipur

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Three days after Bastar’s controversial inspector-general (IG) of police SRP Kalluri was admitted to hospital, the Chhattisgarh government on Sunday gave additional charge of the range to his Bilaspur counterpart Vivekanand.

Kalluri (left) is reportedly suffering from problems of kidney and heart, and he is unlikely to appear before the rights body. (HT File Photo)

“IG Kalluri is suffering from problems of kidney and heart and undergoing dialysis in Visakhapatnam. He will take time to recover, so additional charge was given to IG Bilaspur,” said DM Awasthi, additional director general (Naxal).

On talk that Kalluri was being sidelined as part of a political move, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said, “As per my information, Kalluri is seriously ill and it should not be politicised.” The Congress leader, who had demanded Kalluri’s arrest a few days ago for alleged excesses, added, “My fight with him is ideological not personal.”

Incidentally, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had summoned Chhattisgarh chief secretary Vivek Dhand and Kalluri to appear before it on November 30 to explain the allegations of hostility and abuse of power against human rights defenders in the state.

The NHRC had taken suo motu cognizance of “the nationwide outcry and protest” following the registration of an FIR at Tongpal police station on November 5 against teachers, including Delhi University Professor Nandini Sundar, and activists for the murder of a tribal in insurgency-hit Sukma district.

It is unlikely that Kalluri would be able to appear before the rights body. Dhand has accompanied the chief minister on 10-day trip to the US and he too would not be able to appear before the NHRC on November 30, said sources.

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

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.