On 5th August 2021, the Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC) demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged fake encounter killing of Bheema Kunjam by the security forces at Paddigua village in Sukma.
The Tribal man identified as Bheema Kunjam about 25 years was allegedly killed in a fake encounter by the security forces at Paddigua village in Sukma in Chhattisgarh on 25 July 2021. The Sukma police claimed that the deceased Bheema Kunjam was an area commander of CPI (Maoist) who carried a reward of ₹1 lakh on his head and six cases were registered against him. The Sukma police further stated that Kunjam was killed in a gunfight in Paddigua village. They said personnel of the District Reserve Guard and Central Reserve Police Force were involved in the operation following a tip-off. But the villagers claimed that Kunjam was picked up from his house on the night of July 24 before being killed the next morning. They claimed that the deceased was not a Maoist, he was just a farmer living with his wife in his village.
In such a case it is essential to conduct judicial inquiry and held the accused accountable.