Jawans misconduct attempt to defame Mizo IRB forces

Mizoram’s 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion commandant strongly refuted the alleged misconduct by his men, deployed in Naxals-dominated Chhattisgarh, and termed it as an attempt by Naxals to tarnish their image.

Commandant PC Lalchhuanawma has counter-alleged that defaming paramilitary forces, through the media, is one of the many tactics of the Naxals.

It has been reported in some national papers that “an official fact-finding report pointed at Mizo jawans’ repeated involvement in excessive drinking, misbehaving with women and terrorising the local people”.

Refuting these reports, the commandant said, ‘’as this is a very sensitive place, exaggerating things is a common practice. In their attempt to win the confidence of the local people, the Naxals were propagating baseless allegations to defame us,’’ and added that the Naga battalion has also been subjected to the same.

The commandant admitted that a few jawans had initially been flamboyant, but said the problem no longer exists. Newspaper reports had stated that there were several charges against the paramilitary forces but this was the first official revelation about the involvement of these forces in frequent violation of human rights of the tribals in hyper-sensitive areas.

A police investigation report in Konta(Dantewada) also confirmed that there were several complaints against the Mizo forces of looting local liquor shops and outraging the modesty of women, while another report alleged Mizo jawans of killing domestic animals of the locals for their consumption and resorting to unnecessary firing to terrorise the rural folk.

In perhaps the first official revelations on the unethical conduct by the paramilitary forces in the Naxal-dominated Chhattisgarh, jawans of a Mizo battalion were found to be involved in outraging the modesty of women and terrorising people.

Earlier one of the leading dailies of the country published a report about Mizo jawans’ repeated involvement in excessive drinking, misbehaving with women and terrorising locals. IG (Special Intelligence Branch) Girdhari Nayak refused to comment on what action the state police would initiate to restore the confidence of the people, who besides facing the Naxal menace, have been encountering paramilitary forces’ misbehaviour. “Being in a sensitive post, I am not in a position to reveal anything or share an opinion with the media,” the IG said. He said that a battalion usually consists of 1,000 personnel. Only one Mizo battalion has been posted in Chhattisgarh in the insurgency-hit Dantewada district in south Bastar.

The report produced by the Kirandul police in the district stated that the complaints against the Mizo jawans were found to be correct. The Superintendent of Police (Dantewada) reported that the issue had been taken up with senior officials of the Mizo battalion, with strict instructions to keep the forces disciplined and within limits. The report also said that on the basis of repeated complaints about the misconduct of the Mizo forces in Kuwakonda, they were replaced by the CRPF in April 2007.

Subash Mohapatra, director of the Forum of Fact Finding Documentation & Advocacy (FFDA) alleged that there were several charges against the paramilitary forces but this is the first official revelation about the involvement of these forces in frequent violation of human rights of the tribals in hyper-sensitive areas. “We hope the Chhattisgarh State Human Rights Commission would take serious cognizance of such blatant human rights violations by the security forces,” Mohapatra said.

Another probe report by the police official in Konta (Dantewada) stated that there were several complaints against the Mizo forces looting the local liquor shop and outraging the modesty of women.

In yet another report, the Mizo forces were involved in killing domestic animals belonging to the villagers for their consumption and resorting to unnecessary firing to create terror among the rural folk.

In perhaps the first official revelations on the unethical conduct by the paramilitary forces in the Naxal-dominated Chhattisgarh, jawans of a Mizo battalion were found to be involved in outraging the modesty of women and terrorising people.

The official fact-finding reports the newspaper claimed that point to Mizo jawans’ repeated involvement in excessive drinking, misbehaving with women and terrorising locals.

IG (Special Intelligence Branch) Girdhari Nayak refused to comment on what action the state police would initiate to restore the confidence of the people, who besides facing the Naxal menace, have been encountering paramilitary forces’ misbehaviour. “Being in a sensitive post, I am not in a position to reveal anything or share an opinion with the media,” the IG said. He said that a battalion usually consists of 1,000 personnel. Only one Mizo battalion has been posted in Chhattisgarh in the insurgency-hit Dantewada district in south Bastar.

The report produced by the Kirandul police in the district stated that the complaints against the Mizo jawans were found to be correct. The Superintendent of Police (Dantewada) reported that the issue had been taken up with senior officials of the Mizo battalion, with strict instructions to keep the forces disciplined and within limits. The report also said that on the basis of repeated complaints about the misconduct of the Mizo forces in Kuwakonda, they were replaced by the CRPF in April 2007.

Subash Mohapatra, director of the Forum of Fact Finding Documentation & Advocacy (FFDA) more alleged that there were several charges against the paramilitary forces but this is the first official revelation about the involvement of these forces in frequent violation of human rights of the tribals in hyper-sensitive areas. “We hope the Chhattisgarh State Human Rights Commission would take serious cognizance of such blatant human rights violations by the security forces,” Mohapatra said.

Another probe report by the police official in Konta (Dantewada) stated that there were several complaints against the Mizo forces looting the local liquor shop and outraging the modesty of women.

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