Our Heroes: The Men in Khaki

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April 06, 2010:

76 CRPF jawans massacred when a team walks into a well-planned Maoist ambush in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh.

May 17, 2010:

Over 40 CRPF jawans killed after a powerful bomb rips through a bus they were travelling in, again in Chhattisgarh.

June 17, 2010:

More than 26 CRPF jawans ambushed and brutally killed by Naxals. Once more in Chhattisgarh.

150 CRPF jawans dead in 90 days. I needn't write further, the numbers tell the story.

We can no longer push this aside and wait for the next ambush. Families cannot continue shedding tears over yet another wooden box delivered to them draped in our Tricolour. The reality is staring us in the face... waiting for us to act. If this cannot shake the men in charge, then I am afraid we are being led by a bunch of insensitive and heartless leaders who have lost the moral right to lead us. Limits are being crossed. Enough is enough. It is now time to act!

Spare a thought for those in uniform. Fighting a losing battle. Their morale at an all-time low since their brothers were massacred in Dantewada. As they don their khakis everyday, the one thought that goes through their minds is how THEY could be next. Yet they venture into Naxal-infested areas to take on an elusive enemy, who strikes at will.

It is all very well to loop visuals and repeatedly show the inhuman way the CRPF carried the bodies of Naxals on wooden poles. We in the media are guilty as well, but the larger guilt must be shared by the so-called advocates of human rights. It is very easy to come out and slap notices on pieces of paper saying there have been human-rights violations. Sitting in AC rooms, it is easy to pass judgement on the men in uniform who are fighting in the forests, living in tents year after year, away from friends and family. Let's stop, think and please put things in perspective.

Yes, it IS wrong that the bodies were carried in that manner, but we all miss the larger point. Did anybody compliment or acknowledge the CRPF for risking their lives by going into Naxal territory, engaging in a fierce gun battle, sustaining injuries and in the end eliminating the enemy? Even the Home Ministry couldn't because of pressure from human rights activists. So are we to then assume that all courage and effort put in by our jawans was in vain? Every mission counts and each one of them has its risks. No one got a pat on the back, instead, they were whipped in the name of human rights. Their bravery and efforts were lost in politics! Here's something to think about: Even the bodies of the 76 CRPF jawans who were butchered in Dantewada were carried in tractor trolleys. Why did these same voices fall silent then?

Now, I am not an expert; all I am doing is voicing my opinion as an average Indian. It is more than clear to me that the Naxals have deviated from their original ideologies. They are now youngsters armed with guns who are charged less by ideologies and more by the trigger. Why threaten the public when they want to vote? Why derail railway tracks and cause inconvenience to the common man? This is now a war-like situation and it must be handled on a war footing.

We must now understand that we are up against an extremely well-oiled Naxal network which is using all its power and cunning to wage an intelligent war. It is no longer a minor threat that we can ignore. It's a matter of national security. There is nothing stopping the Naxals from targeting other cities, in fact I fear they are just being generous to us by not doing so, yet. They have already proved beyond doubt that they have the capability to strike where they want, whenever they want. The time has come to act with an iron fist. I say, bring out the KPS Gills, Julio Ribeiros and Siddhartha Shankar Rays, because we need results.

The situation has clearly gone beyond talks. What we require is innovative thinking and a robust strategy to counter this sudden surge of attacks. It is not impossible. With the right attitude and a little support from civil society a magic formula can be worked out. Yes, I agree there are faults in the system and the CRPF must introspect as well, but let us be fair and a little sensitive to the situation. We may not be wearing uniforms, but we, too, have some responsibilities. Our forces need us. A few words of encouragement could do wonders.

And as for you Mr. Chidambaram, strong statements in crisp English will no longer do; strong actions are the need of the hour.