13 Cops Refusing to Fight Maoists Dismissed in Chha’garh

For a denial to fight Maoists rebels, the Chhattisgarh government has dismissed 13 policemen. The cops had refused to move to Rajnandgaon district where rebels killed 29 people last month.

“We can’t tolerate indiscipline, the 13 cops had openly refused to go to Madanwara in Rajnandgaon district where Maoists killed 29 policemen in coordinated attacks on July 12 in which we lost a brave SP (superintendent of police) VKChoubey as well,” inspector general of police RK Vij said.

“More policemen are on our firing line, we will deal strongly with those not ready to join postings in battle zone,” he added.

It may be mentioned that earlier in July, 29 constables, who refused to go for a 15-day orientation course at the Counter-Insurgency Training and Jungle Warfare College (CTJWC), were placed under suspension in Janjgir-Champa disctrict.

Since June 2005, the state has been witnessing a spate of attacks on policemen and civilians when a civil militia movement, Salwa Judum, was launched in Bastar to flush out the rebels.

Over 1,500 people have been killed in Maoist-related violence in Chhattisgarh since November 2000, when the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh.