Death threats to disarmed tribals
JAGDALPUR: Three days after the Supreme Court directed that tribal SPOs be disarmed and withdrawn from anti-Maoist operations, pamphlets surfaced in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, naming a dozen SPOs as "enemies" of the people, and threatening that People's Liberation Guerilla Army of CPI (Maoist) will get them.
The SPOs have been at the forefront of the battle against the insurgents with their inputs about the terrain, as well as other information, helping security forces in tracking the rebels' and their movements.
The pamphlets in broken Hindi, scribbled in blue and red ink, were found three km from Dornapal, an area where the Maoists are known to be active. The writing had smudged in the rain, and some lines were illegible. Concerns have been aired about the safety and security of SPOs, who can no longer carry weapons. Although they have abided by the court's order, a section of SPOs, especially their leaders, have protested against the disarming of the militia in media interviews.
"Perhaps these pamphlets could have been planted by them to heighten concerns over their safety, and arm-twist authorities into allowing them to keep weapons," said a local journalist.
"These are routine pamphlets. The Maoists regularly threaten to kill SPOs," said Ankit Garg, Dantewada SP. He said the pamphlets should not be connected to the SC order. While the pamphlets had been signed off as a note from South Bastar Divisional Committee, their authorship could not be authenticated.
The SPOs have been at the forefront of the battle against the insurgents with their inputs about the terrain, as well as other information, helping security forces in tracking the rebels' and their movements.
The pamphlets in broken Hindi, scribbled in blue and red ink, were found three km from Dornapal, an area where the Maoists are known to be active. The writing had smudged in the rain, and some lines were illegible. Concerns have been aired about the safety and security of SPOs, who can no longer carry weapons. Although they have abided by the court's order, a section of SPOs, especially their leaders, have protested against the disarming of the militia in media interviews.
"Perhaps these pamphlets could have been planted by them to heighten concerns over their safety, and arm-twist authorities into allowing them to keep weapons," said a local journalist.
"These are routine pamphlets. The Maoists regularly threaten to kill SPOs," said Ankit Garg, Dantewada SP. He said the pamphlets should not be connected to the SC order. While the pamphlets had been signed off as a note from South Bastar Divisional Committee, their authorship could not be authenticated.
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