Adivasi leader and human rights defender Soni Sori who was attacked with grease-like chemical in Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh on Saturday night was flown to Delhi on Sunday evening for further treatment.
Speaking to the media at Raipur, Sori said: “I will speak in detail after I reach New Delhi. What is happening is not good. Now, I fear for my life and my children’s safety.”
The attack on Sori came days after her failed attempt to lodge a complaint against the controversial inspector general of police (IGP), Bastar range, SRP Kalluri for instigating the trader community of Dantewada against her. The Dantewada SP, Kamlochan Kashyap meanwhile sought to dismiss the attack on Sori. “There was no attack on her. Wrong vocabulary is being used for the incident”.
Asked if she knew the identity of her attackers, she said, “I received a call at 6.12 p.m. on Saturday that some people were conspiring to attack me. I told the person that I would meet him today. I was getting constant reminders from the people that the police want to eliminate me. Most of my fight has been against the police department in Chattisgarh”.
Sori is a member of the Aam Aaadmi Party (AAP). A statement issued by AAP said, “Soni Sori’s attackers directly threatened her to stop raising her voice and to give up the Mardoom case. She has been warned that they would attack her daughter too if she does not stop”.
Sori was attacked by few men in Geedam as she was travelling back to her village from Jagdalpur after discussions with her legal team late in the night on Saturday, February 20. A blackish chemical substance was thrown on her face which has since been causing intense burning and pain. She was first hospitalised at Geedam and then moved to Jagdalpur.
Earlier too she had expressed fears of an attack due to open threats being made against her by the police. These police threats have intensified over past months since Sori has been leading campaigns and demonstrations against the atrocities committed by the police against Adivasis.
On December 18,2015, Sabrangindia had carried a detailed interview of Soni Sori conducted for us by Isha Khandelwal: https://www.sabrangindia.in/interview/adivasis-not-naxalites-are-target-…
https://www.sabrangindia.in/interview/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%…
We appeal to our readers to contact the authorities to ensure that the administration takes effective steps to ensure her safety.
Dantewada SP – 07856 – 252224; 9479194300
Dantewada DM – 07856-252455; 7587700111; 9479194313/07856 244437 –
Amit Kataria , Bastar collector, 094 25 580306
RN Dash, SP, Bastar, +91 94 79 194003