To counter the Supreme Court ban on using tribals as special police officers (SPOs) in Naxali-hit areas, the Chhattisgarh government has decided to form a Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Force. It has issued an ordinance to employ 6,000 tribals who were part of the erstwhile ‘Salwa Judum’ and ‘Koya Commandos’ funded by the state government.
Chief minister Raman Singh said the Naxal problem could only be solved through discussion and by developing those areas but there was a need to seal the jungles in inter-state areas and deploying special forces that are properly armed.
“We fully respect the judgement of the Supreme Court. The state government has issued an ordinance to form the Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Force and over 6,000 tribals will be part of this force,” said the CM. He said governments should be prepared for a long battle with Naxalites and there was no way to go backwards on the issue.
The Supreme Court had recently banned the Chhattisgarh government from using tribals as SPOs to fight Maoists and both the Union government and the state government have decided to file a review petition against the judgement.
“If we disarm the SPOs, who will protect them and their families, who have already seen the deaths of family members? The state has now provided these SPOs with a uniform, better pay scales and insurance to live a life of dignity,” argued Singh. He said there was only one Veerappan who managed to evade arrest for 12 years but Chhattisgarh had thousands of Veerappans, armed with dangerous weapons.
The government has also asked the Union government for a Rs 125 crore package to help tackle the Naxalite menace by upgrading technology to detect improvised explosive devices, a favoured strategy of the latter.