The Coordination Committee for Peace (CCP), an initiative comprising academics, human rights advocates, and social activists, has demanded that the Chhattisgarh government immediately release the bodies of Maoists killed in Narayanpur’s Abujhmarh forest.
The CCP accused the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government of violating the "right to dignity in death." Expressing alarm over allegations that the bodies have not been preserved in cold storage and have been left exposed, the CCP stated this amounts to a "gross violation of medico-legal protocols, dehumanisation of the deceased, and the infliction of further psychological trauma upon grieving families."
In a recent operation against naxalism, security forces killed 27 Maoists, including Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, the general secretary of the CPI (Maoist). Reports indicate the Chhattisgarh government is reluctant to release Basavaraju's body, fearing a public funeral could glorify him as a "Maoist hero." Basavaraju was a native of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.
An official was quoted by The Times of India saying, "We may find a middle ground and allow relatives claiming Basavaraju’s body to attend the funeral to be conducted by police at a secure location, away from the public eye. This would avoid a ‘law and order’ situation, and ensure the funeral is not mischievously converted into ‘hero’s farewell’."
The CCP highlighted that despite assurances given by the Advocate General of Chhattisgarh to the Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 24 that post-mortems would be completed and bodies handed over to families, the remains continue to be withheld. This prolonged delay is causing immense anguish to bereaved families who have traveled long distances to claim their loved ones' bodies.
"We are particularly disturbed that, during court proceedings, the Deputy Solicitor General—appearing for the Union of India—opposed handing over at least two bodies, citing a potential 'law and order' issue arising from funeral processions. This justification, which effectively criminalises mourning, is both callous and constitutionally untenable," the CCP stated. They added that the refusal to release the bodies "reflects a contempt for both human grief and fundamental rights."
The CCP argued that the delay and alleged desecration are not merely administrative lapses but blatant violations of constitutional and legal obligations. They cited the Parmanand Katara v. Union of India case, where Article 21 of the Constitution (right to life) was interpreted to include the right to dignity in death. The ruling stated that a dead person's body must be treated with respect, according to their traditions, culture, and religion.
Clifton D Rozario, a member of the CPI (Marxist-Leninist), also condemned the Chhattisgarh government, noting that "courts have repeatedly held that even a dead person has the right of treatment to his body with respect/dignity and family members have a right to perform the last rites."
The CCP further referenced international humanitarian laws, including Article 130 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which mandates honourable burial according to religious rites, and Article 16 of Geneva Convention I (1949), requiring protection for the killed from ill-treatment. The 2005 UN Human Rights Commission Resolution also affirms the obligation for dignified handling, proper disposal, and respect for families of the deceased, even in conflict zones.
The CCP’s demands are as follows:
Immediate release of all bodies to their respective families without further delay.
Cessation of all forms of harassment directed at family members, ambulance drivers, and support personnel.
Full implementation of constitutional, judicial, and international obligations relating to the dignity of the dead.
Adherence to legal protocols for handling the bodies of those killed in counterinsurgency operations, in accordance with domestic and international law.