ACHR deplores Maoists’ massacre in Jharkhand

New Delhi: Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in a press release today deplored the massacre of 15 civilians and injury of six others at Bhelbadari village under Giridih district of Jharkhand by the Naxalites as an act of gross violations of the right to life of the victims. Over 100 armed Naxalites reportedly raided the village near Bhinwaghati under Deuri police station on 11 September 2005 and indiscriminately attacked the villagers.

The failure to make distinction between combatants and non-combatants by the Naxalites constitute blatant violation of the Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute on International Criminal Court.

“Indiscriminate killings, torture, kidnapping and the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples by the Naxalites violate the basic principles of international humanitarian laws” – stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.

“At the same time, the government must also not increase the risks of the civilians by forming vigilante groups like the Village Protection Group. The government has its positive obligation to protect civilians at risk of attacks from the Maoists, rather than increasing the risk by encouraging formation of such vigilante groups.” – further stated Mr Suhas Chakma.

Asian Centre for Human Rights urged the authorities to bring the culprits to justice and urged to ensure that law-enforcement operations aimed at bringing those responsible for the killings to justice are conducted in full accordance with international human rights standards.

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