Nagaland Sends 'ill-Equipped' Men to Fight Naxals

Nagaland IRB Jawans boarding train

Kohima, Aug 25 : The Nagaland government is facing flak from the Opposition Congress, which held the Neiphiu Rio-led Nagaland People's Front government responsible for the virtual revolt by IRB jawans demanding better arms and logistic support before their departure for West Bengal to fight the "well-equipped" Maoists.

The 10th IRB of Nagaland has been requisitioned by the Centre to fight Maoists in Bengal's Midnapore and Purulia districts, but a section of jawans staged protest at the police training centre at Chumukedima, near Dimapur, on Saturday alleging they had inadequate logistic support and 'vintage' firearms were provided to them.

In a statement, CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi asked the state's home minister, Imkong Imchen, to disclose how the huge amount of funds received from the centre for police modernization was utilized by the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government.

He pointed out that the state had received Rs 123 crore in last four years for modernization of the police force, which means that the Centre allotted on an average Rs 30 crore annually to the state government.

He wondered how the state government was sending the 10th IRB jawans without modern weapons, required number of platoon commanders and without a single driver for a vehicle by road to fight the Naxals, which he claimed was "the most organized terror outfit of modern India."

"The situation demanded a thorough probe into how the funds released by the Centre were being utilized in the state," he said.

Senior police officials said the advance party of 'A' and 'F' Companies of the battalion, comprising around 230 personnel led by deputy commander of the force, finally left Dimapur by buses and trucks last Sunday.

The rest of the battalion would leave for Bengal within a day or two, DGP K Kire said.