Ashikho Pfuzhe
DIMAPUR | JUNE 20
Five years after the “Daring Ninth” blazed a trail in the heart of the Naxal-infested jungles of Chhattisgarh, the central and Chhattisgarh police forces continue to stick to the operational strategies of the Naga IRB to combat the elusive Naxals. Recent reports said that even police academies have included a couple of the strategies in their training course.
“I am told that the Chhattisgarh police is strictly enforcing the SOP, which we modified during our stint in Bastar region, in the battle against the Maoists. They have even given the name “Naga SOP” to our modified SOP,” said Liremo Lotha, the first commandant to lead the “Daring Ninth” in Chattisgarh and present SP Dimapur.
Liremo said that the 9 IRB had modified certain procedures in the SOP to suit the “local conditions.”
“Situation during that time was such that any operational duty was dangerous as we were operating in a hostile terrain and topography.
Sometimes in the thick forests, it becomes difficult to find our way back to camp. Added to these was the ever-present danger of landmines,” the then 9 IRB commandant said.
He said that the revised SOP, especially the Self-Road Opening Task (SROT) and the “Y” formation, proved very effective during their operations in landmine areas.
Principal, PTC Chumukedima, VZ Angami, who was one of the battalion’s deputy commandants in Chhattisgarh, also said that after the battalion started using the “Y” formation, the number of casualty due to landmine blasts came down.
The operational advantage of the “Y” formation of the Naga jawans in landmine areas has not gone unnoticed.
“One of my colleagues in a police academy informed me that the academy is now advocating the “Y” formation (also called “Naga formation”) instead of the conventional “Spearhead” formation, in operations against Maoists and Naxals,” Angami said.
It was on June 20, 2005, that the first batch of the 9 IRB left Nagaland for Chhattisgarh and during their 2-year duty in the state, the Naxalites were put on the back foot after many of them were killed, hundreds arrested and scores of their camps were busted by the Naga jawans.
Despite reports and allegations of excesses committed by the Naga jawans including abuse and violation of human rights, the jawans earned accolades for their efficiency and capability, both within and outside the conflict zone.
Citing an instance, Liremo said that the “Daring Ninth” had gradually converted their camp, earlier an abandoned hydro project in the thick forest into a virtual fortress.
“Besides the bunkers and trenches, we even constructed Naga “morungs” and kitchens. The then Chhattisgarh DGP, late OP Rathore, was impressed by our camp that he instructed his officers to learn from the Naga jawans on how to develop their police camps,” he said.
In 2006, the “Daring Ninth” also participated in the Republic Day parade at Raipur as was adjudged the best contingent.
On the Chhattisgarh experience, Liremo said, “I am sure that every one of us, irrespective of rank, has gained from the exposure and professional inputs. With the level of confidence our boys have acquired, they will be able to undertake any operation anywhere,” he said.
“Of course, looking back, we also remember some of our brave comrades who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty,” Liremo added.
