Dimapur March 11 (MExN): Terming as ‘suicidal’ the continued deployment of Nagaland’s 9th IRB in Chhattisgarh, the wives and families of the battalion’s personnel have forwarded a memorandum to Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland demanding withdrawal of the force immediately. The memorandum was highlighted by the IRB families at a press conference held at the office of the Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU) where Naga Students Federation (NSF) and DNSU functionaries were present.
Taking cognizance at recent incidents of conflict in Chhattisgarh, the memo expressed apprehension that the remaining personnel stationed there would also meet a similar fate as the nine slain personnel.
The families questioned the wisdom of the Government to deploy the force to Chhattisgarh: “While we understand that the IRB personnel have obediently answered to the call of duty at Chhattisgarh we would also like to remind the Government of Nagaland whether such deployment is in the general interest of (Nagaland) or that of the IRB personnel in particular. Accordingly we are of the view that the government hastily acted to deploy the IRB personnel at Chhattisgarh without first assessing the ground realities and due to which the deployment is beginning to have a negative impact with far-reaching consequences.”
The memo further stated that their deployment for internal law and order problems in containing the activities of the Naxalites does not at all merit any justification on the part of the government. “Needless to mention that Chhattisgarh has its own elite forces and other paramilitary agencies to counter the activities of Naxalites, you are well aware, sir, that the Naxalites do not engage in conventional warfare but are expert hands in landmines and our IRB personnel have no special training to counter such system of conflict thereby making them easy prey for the Naxalites”. The wives and families while venting their ire on the government warned that they would intensify their stand in the event the demand is not met.
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