Exercise utmost caution

Whether it is the issue of fighting naxalism or terrorism by the CRPF personnel or any other security agencies, utmost caution must be taken while launching operation against it. They must not launch any operation without being certain about the identity of their target. Discretion is the better of valor. The security personnel must not carried away by the rumour. They first ascertain themselves about the purpose of any village gathering and then act accordingly. The role of CRPF in last week’s anti-national operation in which 19 people were killed has come under severe criticism. The local people allege that the innocent people were mistaken for naxals by the CRPF. The operation against naxals and terrorist by the security personnel must be based on the principle of law according to which the guilty may be exonerated but the innocent must not be punished at any cost. So, the innocent anywhere in the country must not be made prey to the security forces in the name of either fighting naxalism of terrorism. There is allegation against the CRPF by the villagers is that in the name of operation against naxals, they gunned down the two teen aged boys who were known for brilliance and high intelligence in the village among 19 killed. The killing of the innocent gives birth to an idea of a sense of revenge and an atmosphere against the government and security forces among the people is created itself. And amidst this type of atmosphere, naxalism flourishes easily. As per the newspaper reports, it is tribal village gathering which the CRPF misjudged the assembly of naxals to attack. Now, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram defends the CRPF’s role in last week’s anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh by saying deeply sorry if any innocent villagers were among the victims. Merely saying deeply sorry by the Home Minister, the parents who have lost their brilliant sons would not get them. It would only aggravate grudge against the government. It is a serious mistake on the part of CRPF in launching operation against Maoists. They must be judicious in dealing with such situation in the tribal villages. It is correct that Maoism has flourished in tribal dominated population. But this has happened because of poverty. There is abject poverty in tribal villages all over the nation. They have been exploited by the government, landlord, contractors and dealers since Independence. Jungle has been their place of habitation. Deforestation and cutting of jungles to set up industries and factories have displaced the tribal population on large scale. The security and development measures must start side by side with utmost seriousness and sincerity by the government to deal with the problem of naxal violence confronting most of the states of the country.