Nagaland’s 9th IRB remains under scanner
DIMAPUR, DEC 4 (MExN): In what can be termed as a sensational revelation, a fourteen member fact finding team of the Chhattisgarh/Jharkhand unit of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) disclosed in its report that the Salwa Judum more popularly known as a people led peace mission was actually an ‘organized, state managed enterprise’ and that the main cadre of Salwa Judum comprised of Special Police Officers being paid and armed by the State.
According to information available with The Morung Express, in the course of investigation conducted in Dantewada district between November 28 and December 1, the 14 member team reportedly met local people in camps as well as in their villages, people arrested during the operation, leaders of Salwa Judum, Police and Civil Administration officials.
The findings allege that the Collector himself has been part of 75% of the Salwa Judum meetings and security forces have been backing the Judum’s meetings.
“When Salwa Judum meetings are called it is accompanied by heavy security forces. Villages which refuse to participate face repeated attacks by the combined forces of Salwa Judum, the district force and the Naga battalion. In addition, there are separate raids by the Naga Battalion. These raids result in looting, arson and killings in many instances”, the report of the fact finding team states.
FIRs registering the looting, burning, beatings/torture by Salwa Judum mobs and the security forces are reportedly not recorded. The report states that rather than being a “peace mission” as is claimed, the Salwa Judum has created a situation where violence has escalated.
The report also points to the heavy presence of the paramilitary forces behaving like an occupation army. “We ourselves saw a number of cattle and people being herded by the Naga Battalion after a raid. They slaughtered one cow on the main road in full view of all present”, the report alleges.
The Salwa Judum is said to be strongly supported by certain sections of non-adivasi immigrant settlers from other parts of India, sarpanches and traditional leaders whose power has been threatened by the Maoists. Both local Congress and the BJP are supporting the Salwa Judum, it is learnt.
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