Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 30
In what is viewed as an apparent sign of conflict-induced psychological pressure taking a toll among the Naga 9 IRB personnel battling Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, one jawan reportedly attempted suicide and is under intensive medical scrutiny while another jawan, said to be from the Yimchunger community, succumbed to complications from food poisoning. Four more 9th IRB jawans are reported to be under intensive treatment for food poisoning, an official from the IRB unit said on condition of anonymity.
The deceased IRB jawan has been identified as Tamukam Yimchunger and permanently settled in Showba village under Dimapur. His body was brought from Chhattisgarh this morning and a funeral service held. According to an official he is about 37-39 years of age and leaves behind his wife and four children – two daughters and two sons. When contacted no state officials were willing to divulge any details regarding the matter. However one IRB official, on condition of anonymity, said that “it was due to some stomach pain” which “others are also experiencing in Chhattisgarh.” Further details however confirmed that the death was due to food poisoning.
Additional sources from the IRB in Chhattisgarh, said that the non-conflict fatalities took place during the span of the last two weeks with the food poisoning casualty taking place Friday last (May 26). Curiously, when contacted State Police administration “don’t have any knowledge so far but we will check the facts”, according to a top state police official. It was implied that due to the sensitive nature of the IRB issue, details were being withheld and concealed by the State government.
An IRB officer attached in Chhattisgarh, informing over telephone, said one jawan attempted to commit suicide and is currently under intensive medical treatment. Regarding the jawans who fell ill from food poisoning, it was informed that five jawans had gathered some leaves in the forest and proceeded to consume it after preparation. One of them, identified only as a member of the Yimchunger community succumbed a few minutes later on the spot while the other four fell ill after consuming the leaves. The four ill personnel were admitted in a hospital in Raipur city. “In forests during operations, due to huger and other pressure they are forced to eat anything,” the source said.
No officials from the state police department or from the general headquarters took cognizance of the reports and only said that the “facts” would be checked. However it is learnt that information relevant to the matter is being subdued due to the “sensitivity of the IRB deployment issue.”
Meanwhile the IRB in Chhattisgarh are said to be going through “some difficulties” particularly in communication. An officer from the deployment disclosed that the Battalion deployed one telephone in the barrack and that too, one which has not been working for quite sometime. It was informed that although BSNL officials there had assured of restoring the line no actions has been taken so far for which many of the personnel are compelled to leave for the city to make a call.
