All those killed in Pedia encounter were not Naxalites: Deepak Baij

Raipur. On May 10, the police had claimed to have killed 12 Naxalites in the Pedia encounter. Calling it a fake encounter, the villagers had accused the police of killing villagers who had gone to pluck tendu leaves. In this case, the leaders of the Congress investigation team had met the victims of Pedia in Mutavendi of Gangalur police station area of Bijapur. An 8 member team under the chairmanship of Santram Netam had investigated this matter.

Now Congress leaders have held a press conference regarding this matter. PCC Chief Deepak Baij, Phoolodevi Netam, Shiv Dahria and two dozen officials were present in this press conference. During this, Deepak Baij gave a big statement and said that all the people killed in the Pedia encounter were not Naxalites. He said that we have prepared the report after talking to the villagers. Only two people were Sangham members, the rest were innocent villagers. Deepak Baij further said that Congress does not accept any compromise on the life and property of tribals.

PCC Chief Deepak Baij further said in the press conference that, we demand a judicial inquiry into the encounter that took place in Pedia and this investigation should be done under the supervision of a High Court judge. This is because out of the 12 people killed, 10 were villagers. Everyone had gone to pluck tendu leaves. During this time, the police chased everyone and did an encounter.