Dimapur, August 22 (MExN): Following the protest by jawans of the 10th (NAP) IR Battalion who are bound for ‘naxal’ infested Midnapore district of West Bengal, the Opposition Congress today asked the Nagaland Home Minister to explain as to where all the money received for Modernization of Police Force (MPF) had ‘disappeared’. It may be mentioned that emotions ran high at the NAPTC Complex Chumukedima Saturday as frustrated ‘jawans’ of the 10th (NAP) IR Battalion let loose pent up anger over their superiors. The protest, which almost turned violent, was over a number of demands put forth by the ‘jawans’ to their superiors.
Chief among them were: Proper transport amenities, replacing unusable age-old weaponry, ‘under strength deployment’ and prior assurance of ex-gratia and other allowances.
According to a press note issued by Leader of Opposition Tokheho Yepthomi, it was informed that Nagaland State, being under “A” category of threat perception is entitled 100% Central assistance for implementation of MPF. Major items under the scheme included construction of secure police stations, outposts, police lines, mobility, modern weaponry security, surveillance, communication, forensic equipments, up-gradation of training infrastructure, police housing, computerization, etc. According to the Congress leader, the Centre had already released Rs. 123.32 crores to the State Govt. for the periods from 2006 - 07 to 2009 - 10. That comes to Rs. 30 crores per financial year for the last four financial years, he stated.
Reminding that the issue of procurement of arms and ammunition was also raised during the July 2009 Assembly Session; the Opposition Leader stated that the department had replied at the time that enough money had been deposited to the government armory for procurement of arms and ammunition. “But when arms and ammunition are not visible till today, it appears that money meant for Modernization of Police Force (MPF) was misused”, it alleged.
The Leader of Opposition has also pointed out that the CAG in its report of 2008 - 09 had earlier indicted that the DAN government had not procured modern weaponry to face the maximum security threat and that modern facilities like satellite based integrated Police Communication Network, Common integrated Police Application System and Forensic Science Laboratory were not functioning in the State and the department lacks monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
Stating that despite having received the second highest fund allocation (next to Assam), the Opposition Leader claimed that the Nagaland State Police department was one of the most ill-equipped force in the whole of Northeast. As he ahs called for a thorough probe into the utilization of funds released by the Centre. “Just because of few corrupt people in high places our jawans could not be treated as sacrificial lambs on the altar of Naxalites”. The Congress leader even suggested that if the State government was not in a position to provide all necessary modern arms and ammunition with other modern facilities, “it should have a second thought in sending the 10th IRB to outside Nagaland”.
The Opposition Congress also observed that the resentment of West Bengal bound 10th I.R Jawans that erupted into open revolt against the apathy of the State government was well-placed taking into account the uncertainty of life and death that awaits them. “The 10th IR jawans had devoutly responded to the call of the duty. But the indifference shown by the DAN Govt. on the brave jawans is humanly unacceptable. The attitude of the Govt. clearly showed what scant regard they have for our ill-equipped jawans”, the Congress leader stated.
Stating that the Naga jawans have the courage and spirit to fight, however they they cannot be expected to fight the ultra-modern Naxals with scant, outdated weapons, the press note stated. “Nothing could be demoralizing to the jawans than the whole state of affairs that erupted on yesterday”. It also described as “horrifying to note that besides modern weapons, sufficient man-power like platoon commanders, drivers, etc were not provided”. “How could the State Govt. expect the battalion to carry on the long-arduous journey from Chumukedima to Midnapore in West Bengal with a single driver per vehicle? To fight the Naxalites, the most organized terror group of modern India without platoon commanders is more or less like sending our jawans to abyss of sure death”.
