Probe rapes of Chhattisgarh tribal women by security forces: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday demanded an investigation into "horror stories of rapes and molestation" concerning tribal population in Chhattisgarh.

Congress general secretary B.K. Hariprasad, Chhattisgarh chief Bhupesh Baghel, leader of its legislative party T.S. Singhdeo and party spokesperson Ajoy Kumar alleged that the state government was indulging in "fake surrender" of Maoists and attempts were also being made to muzzle the voice of the media.

"What is shocking and terribly dreadful is the fact that under active watch of the Raman Singh-led BJP government, horrific incidents of rape of tribal women, fake killings and fake surrender of Naxals are openly used as instruments of state terror. Intimidation is used as a potent weapon to muzzle the voice of members of media exposing these crimes," Kumar said.

He said a tribal woman was killed in a shootout in 2011, and police dubbed her a Maoist. But the inquiry report was not made public.

Kumar said nearly 40 tribal women have complained of rapes and gang rapes by police between October 9-14 last year and January 11-14 this year.

He said a team of Congress MLAs had gone into the allegations of rapes in October last year and found the allegations to be true.

"The incidents bring out the alarming state of things on the ground. It establishes the anti-tribal and anti-poor mindset of the Chhattisgarh government. We demand a fair investigation into all these incidents," Kumar said.

Baghel demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state.