On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden trip to Dantewada in Chhattisgarh’s tribal-dominated Bastar region on Saturday, expectations are rife.
While 51 deaths attributed to the Maoist insurgency have already occurred in 2015, some believe Modi may build upon his offer to Maoists to drop the gun and embrace the pen while others feel he may outline his government’s much-awaited line of action in tackling the Reds. Not too far from the Dantewada is the location of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) company in what used to be a government campus.
It is the Government of India’s chosen tool to counter the Maoists. It is a scenic location where birds chirp to provide a sense of normality, even as the marauding insurgency prevails outside the fence.
This is where three CRPF troopers (names changed on request) met us in an effort to bare their hearts so that words can reach where their voices can’t. Only recently have they seen an active operation but they don’t want to talk anything about that. “It will give out who we are,” said Ratnesh Kumar, a constable who recently joined the force. Avoiding direct eye contact, Ahmed, a head constable starts talking.
“I have seen J&K before coming here. The way we fight there, flush with funds and intelligence, it is almost a hunt. And here it is like being hunted every time we set out. The locals speak their (read Maoists) language, which we neither speak nor understand. The locals also support them despite the goodies we shower on them under our civic action programme,” he said.
He wants to go on but is suddenly conscious as Suresh, his colleague looks out of the window, nervously. Suresh opens up. “We are biding time. This is not our fight. The police consist of locals, know the language and should be taking the lead but they don’t,” he said.
“We go in hundreds, for any operation. This ensures that the element of surprise is lost. But, Maoists track us through informers. Secondly, since we seldom have any worthwhile intelligence, we aimlessly roam the jungle, exposing and tiring ourselves. On many occasions, we are briefed about a day-long operation and once we are out, it turns into two-three days of long operation, which results in ration and ammunition-related issues,” said Suresh.
Another point highlighted is lack of cohesion. “Look at the army. You see the Gorkha regiment, the Sikh LI among others. Regimentation provides cohesion, which makes your team unbeatable on the ground. Today, we have no regimentation and thus, no cohesion. You hardly know the man you are expected to fight,” said Ahmed. For a jawan who has his leave sanctioned, making it out of Bastar is an achievement.
Pointing at the manned gate, Ratnesh said, “I have been here for two years. If I am going on leave, the Government of India and CRPF disown me the moment I step out.” When asked to elaborate, Suresh said: “Basically, we have no means to go home. We board a local bus.
More often than not, the Maoists spot us and have in the past killed our colleagues even though they were unarmed and not in uniform,” he said. “People back home pray we make it out. If we do, we are lucky. If not, then well,” said Ahmed. Another common grouse is of helicopters.
Under Operation Triveni, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has dedicated six Mi17 V5 helicopters which are complimented by more copters from the home ministry’s own air wing. In addition, even the CRPF has hired services of a helicopter.
“We have seen our colleagues die waiting for copters to arrive,” says Ahmed. The men then list the number of occasions when sanitisation – an essential clearing of ground from the security point of view – is done and yet the choppers won’t land.
“Is it fear or is it that they do not feel one of us is something you should ask the pilots but our experience has been bad,” said Ratnesh. Another common grouse is of helicopters.
Under Operation Triveni, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has dedicated six Mi17 V5 helicopters which are complimented by more copters from the home ministry’s own air wing. In addition, even the CRPF has hired services of a helicopter. “We have seen our colleagues die waiting for copters to arrive,” says Ahmed. The men then list the number of occasions when sanitisation – an essential clearing of ground from the security point of view – is done and yet the choppers won’t land.
CRPF troopers open up, say government apathy sags fighting spirit of men | idrw.org
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