JNU, DU professors booked for murder of tribal who opposed Maoists in Sukma

Raipur: Bastar police have booked a professor each from from Delhi University and Jawarharlal Nehru University along with Maoists and others for the murder of a tribal villager in insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. ”An FIR was lodged against Prof Nandini Sundar, Prof Archana Prasad, Vineet Tiwari, Sanjay Parate and others along with Maoists for the murder of Shamnath Baghel based on the complaint of his wife on Saturday,” Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) S.R.P Kalluri told PTI on Monday night. Professor Nandini Sundar teaches at Delhi University and Professor Archana Prasad at JNU. Vineet Tiwari is associated with Delhi's Joshi Adhikar Sansthan, while Sanjay Parate is a leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The first information report was filed under charges relating to criminal conspiracy, murder and rioting,  at Tongpal Police Station, the IG said. "Strongest possible action will be taken against those guilty after the investigation," he said. Though the case was registered on Saturday, the matter came to light on Monday night. Armed Naxals had allegedly killed Baghel with sharp weapons on Friday night at his residence in Nama village under Kumakoleng gram panchayat in Tongpal area, around 450km away from here. Baghel and some of his associates were spearheading the protest against Naxal activities in their village since April this year. Kalluri said the victim's wife has said Baghel had been getting threats from Maoists ever since he and other villagers had complained against Prof Sundar in May this year. "Even armed ultras were referring to that complaint and anti-Maoist demonstrations while attacking Baghel on Friday,” the IG said. The complaint also mentioned that during the attack on him, Maoists kept telling Baghel that he was being punished because he did not listen to Prof Sundar and others, and continued opposing them. Baghel's wife has sought action against Sundar and others accusing them of murdering her husband, Kalluri said. Baghel and other villagers of the region had earlier given a complaint to Tongpal police in May this year against Sundar, Prasad, Tiwari, Parate and an unidentified woman activist from Sukma for allegedly inciting tribals against the government and seeking their support for Maoists. Villagers of Nama and the neighbouring Kumakoleng village (both under Kumakoleng village panchayat) had started a self-motivated protest against Maoist activities in their villages after forming its own security group named “Tangiya (axe) group” in April this year. ”Following the development, according to villagers, Sundar and others went in the village to allegedly threaten them not to oppose the Maoists,” the IG said. Prof Sundar had gone to the village with assumed name of Richa Keshav, he said. He said the Vice-Chancellors of both DU and JNU had been informed that Bastar police was conducting an inquiry against the professors.