Police shying away from fighting Naxals

Kolkata: Authorities have sacked 29 policemen and suspended dozens of others who have refused to fight Naxals in the restive state of Chhattisgarh, officials said on Wednesday.

The disciplinary action underline how many policemen are unwilling to fight armed Naxals in the dense jungles of central and eastern India, where hundreds of people - including scores of security personnel - have been killed in the past two years.

The sacking of 29 policemen this month took place after they left a jungle warfare training camp in Mizoram without authorisation.

"They were supposed to take up assignments in Chhattisgarh and they should have known a policeman is supposed to go anywhere he is asked to go," Inspector General of Police Zorammawi said.

"They seemed reluctant to go and were making up excuses like non-payment of advance travel allowance and daily allowance," Zorammawi, whose goes by one name, added.

Naxals, who claim to fight for millions of impoverished peasants and landless labourers, operate in at least nine of India's 29 states and regularly set off landmines under vehicles, killing dozens of policemen and anti-Naxal vigilantes, especially in Chhattisgarh.

Analysts say policemen often do not have proper training or modern weapons to tackle the Naxals who use guerrilla tactics. Some police still use antiquated single shot .303 rifles.

"You cannot send policemen to a war zone when they are not equipped to withstand the surprise attacks of the Naxals," Ajai Sahni of the Institute for Conflict Management said. "They also seem to lack the mental strength to take huge personal risks."

In Chhattisgarh, a police superintendent was suspended recently after he refused to operate from an area under Naxalite influence.

The Home Minister Ramvichar Netam said his government has suspended dozens of policemen who refused to take up new assignments.

"It seems to be a huge problem for policemen to accept postings in Naxal dens," said Ramvichar Netam in Raipur.

At least 250 people have been killed in Chhattisgarh this year in stepped up Naxal violence, sparking national concern.