No AFSPA in Naxal areas as rebels are Hindus, says dad of dead trooper
The father of a paramilitary Indian trooper from Kashmir who was killed during a daring attack by Maoist rebels Wednesday said New Delhi was not enforcing the law that provides unbridled powers to the armed forces as the rebels were Hindus.
Muhammad Shafi, 28, was among the fourteen Central Reserve Police Force troopers killed in a deadly ambush in India’s Chattisgrah, had joined the force in 2006. Many troopers were wounded and their guns snatched during an ambush in which reportedly 200 rebels took part on Monday.
The slain trooper’s father, Mehraj-ud-Din Bhat, blamed Indian government for not being able to crush the Left insurgency that has been running in over 150 districts of the country since 1970s. “I request government to take over Naxal militants like they did in Kashmir and Punjab,” Bhat said at his house in north Kashmir’s Pattan.
In reply to a question, he said: “I think the reason behind government not launching a major operation to flush out Naxals is because they are Hindus. They are their own. But, in Kashmir, the militants are Kashmiris and that is why they are killing them. It doesn’t bother them when a Kashmiri dies whether here or there (in Chattisgarh). They are of thinking that a Kashmiri has to die in both the ways whether here or there.”
Naxalites are far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Initially the movement had its centre in West Bengal but in later years, it spread into less developed areas of rural southern and eastern India, such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh through the activities of underground groups.
“In Kashmir they have imposed Armed Force Special Powers Act but why don’t they impose the law there? Why don’t they send army there?” he asked.
AFSPA is a law granting special powers to the Indian armed forces in what the act terms as “disturbed areas”. The act has received criticism from several sections for alleged concerns about human rights violations in the regions of its enforcement, where arbitrary killings, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and enforced disappearances have alleged to have happened.
He slammed the local Chattisgarh government and accused it of “not caring for soldiers’ lives”. “They don’t think about soldiers. They think if a soldier dies today, we will recruit new ones. But, they don’t’ know about those whose son dies. They don’t think what would happen to his family,” he said.
The family received Shafi’s body today.
He requested the Chief Minister of Chattisgarh to take solid steps in order to stop Naxals from killing soldiers. “Why don’t you (Government) take on terrorists? I have heard that since last year, 1500 troopers have been killed. This means1500 lives have been wasted and 1500 houses have been destroyed,” he said, adding: “in future it should not happen.”
He also appealed Indian government to ensure safety of Kashmiri soldiers in paramilitary and army. The Indian government has launched several programmes to encourage Kashmir youth to join its armed forces.
Meanwhile, the body of slain trooper was brought to his house and was buried amidst sobs and tears. Hundreds of people attended his funeral.
