The CPI on Saturday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take steps to end the "vicious excesses" of police and security forces against the people of Bastar in Chhattisgarh "in the name of fighting Maoists". Police forces in the name of fighting Maoists are playing havoc in the Bastar region," party General Secretary A B Bardhan said in a letter to the Prime Minister. Charging Dantewada SSP S R P Kalluri with targeting leaders and cadres of CPI and various mass organisations,he said "this notorious police officer is intimidating and torturing innocent tribals and ultimately pushing them to the fold of the Maoists. The cruelties of the security forces are forcing the tribals to take up arms". Maintaining that Kalluri had ordered withdrawal of security provided to CPI leader and All India Adivasi Mahasabha President Manish Kunjam,he said the officer had also got several CPI leaders and cadres arrested,accusing them of eliminating the influence of BJP and Congress and spreading the Communist party's influence in Bastar. "He (Kalluri) considers this as his mission. How is this police officer called upon to decide the relative influence of political parties in the region," Bardhan asked. The top CPI leader said "we sincerely hope that you,as the Prime Minister,will understand the ground reality and put an end to the vicious excesses of such police and other security forces".
