Historian and social activist Ramchandra Guha today approached the Supreme Court challenging the Salwa Judum movement, which was launched in June 2005 to combat Naxalism in Dantewara district of Chhattisgarh. Following brief arguments, the apex court issued notice to the Chhattisgarh Government on the petition which seeks direction to the state to refrain from supporting and encouraging the movement. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran issued notice to the state and directed it to file a reply before the next date of hearing.It was contended by the petitioner that the movement had intensified violence. Senior Counsel T Andhirijuna, appearing for the petitioner, said: “Far from being a peaceful campaign, Salwa Judum activists are armed with guns, lathis, axes, bows and arrows.”“As of January 2007, more than 47,000 people were living in relief camps. The condition of these camps are deplorable. Nutrition, especially child nutrition, has been badly affected with inmates of these camps receiving scant rations,” he said. He submitted that the residents of the district were forced by the security forces and activists of the movement to leave their villages and live in these camps. The petitioner also sought an independent inquiry into the alleged human rights violations.
