Meanwhile as Kuki-Zo and Tribal groups responded to the CRPF killings expressing regrets and giving their version, the Meitis have retorted with sharp disclaimers and their own version about the causes behind the attack on CRPF personnel.

The two deceased CRPF men killed in last night’s blast have been identified by the police as Sub-Inspector N Sarkar and Head Constable Arup Saini. The incident took place at around 12:45 am in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. According to the police, as reported by The Indian Express, the gunmen opened fire at Narainsena village in Meitei-majority Bishnupur district. The police informed that the miscreants also fired a bomb which exploded inside a CRPF outpost there. “Security forces have cordoned off the area and further investigation will be carried out by the police,” a security official told the media.

Speaking to the media, Security Advisor, CRPF DG, Kuldeep Singh spoke in a measured tone saying that immediate investigations are on and the guilty militant groups would be brought to justice in a court of law. When questioned as to “which” group was responsible for the attack on the CRPF camp, he stated very clearly that only a complete investigation would reveal all details. “Everyone is aware of which groups operate here in the area. Both the Meiti and Kuki militant groups know that the Central forces have been brought in to fostrer peace, we are stationed between both communities,” he replied.

The Video can be watched here:

#Manipur

The Security Advisor of Manipur, Mr. Kuldiep Singh, who is also a former CRPF officer, has refused to confirm allegations that Kuki militants were involved in today’s killing of CRPF Jawans. So, where is Manipur Police getting their information that Kuki militants are… https://t.co/5qXczUUuzN pic.twitter.com/5I55V9w2YH

— Min (Kuki ka parivar) (@ngulminthang) April 27, 2024

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a person was also killed in a village in Imphal East district after heavy exchange of fire in the area last night. The person hailed from the Meitei community and was killed at Sinam village in Imphal East district, at the border of Kangpokpi.

Even as news of the tragic killing of two CRPF men made news, the Kuki Inpi Manipur, that calls itself the apex body of the Kuki tribes with its centre at Lamka, issued a press release on Saturday. “The ruthless attack on IRB (India Reserve Battalion) comp at Naranseina, Bishnupur District, by the Valley Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs) resulting in the death of two CRPF personnel and the injury of several others is terrorising and deeply unfortunate.”

“The Central Security Forces have been in the forefront in protecting the lives of innocent civilians on both sides of the Buffer Zones. The Security Forces have been instrumental in ensuring public security, establishing social order, and providing hope for restoration and normalcy amidst the ruins of the brutal ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the majority Meiteis against the minority Kukis. Therefore, the Kuki Inpi Manipur vehemently condemns such act of terrorism against the Central Security Forces who are providing safety and security for the people. Such mindless activity is indicative of a total disregard for law and order and the impunity that the Valley-based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs) enjoy under the Manipur State Government.”

Further the statement also recorded that “the Kuki Inpi Manipur is appalled by the swift finger-pointing against the Kuki Village Volunteers for the merciless attack against the Central Security Forces, as highlighted by a few media establishments. It is highly suspicious that this is a propaganda effort of the VBIGs to mislead the people and cast the Kukis in a negative light as a cover for their numerous anti-national activities.”

Urging media organizations to uphold journalistic ethics by refraining from speculative reporting and instead focusing on through investigation and verification of facts. Rushing to assign blame without substantiated evidence not only risks misinforming the public but perpetuates discord and mistrust within communities, the Kuki Inpi Manipur has stated that “as responsible stewards of information, journalists must prioritize accuracy and integrity in their reporting to ensure a more informed and nuanced understanding of complex situations like this.” Apart from the condemnation of the blast, the  Kuki Inpi Manipur has said that it stands in solidarity with the family of the bereaved CRPF personnel, and prays that such act of terrorism do not have a place in modern India.

Meanwhile the MEITEI response countered the factual implications stating that, ““Yes it’s true that Narayansena village is in Bishenpur district. It’s on the way to Moirang. There are many hills nearby .Many Kuki villages are there in this hills. Mary Kom’s original home is also from one of these villages. The Koms have maintained that they are not part of the Kuki-Zos but the Kuki militants have controlled these villages. There have been shootings between Kukis and Meiteis in the area in the past. So, “their” statement is an utter lie.”

The statement being referred to is a statement issued by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF)—a Conglomerate of Recognised Tribes in Lamka, Outer Manipur The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) while vehemently condemning the attack on Kuki-Zo areas near Khoirentak in Manipur’s Bishnupur district just after midnight on Saturday (April 27, 2024), which resulted in the deaths of two CRPF personnel who were guarding the buffer zone also condoled the deaths of the two CRPF jawans and prayed for their families.

Rebutting the unsubstantiated local media reports “blaming Kuki militants for launching the attack”, the ITLF has condemned this one-sided interpretation and claimed that this “information is based on a report by Manipur Police, should be taken with a pinch of salt as it is controlled by the Meitei government.” This body has also appealed to the media to play a responsible role. Finally, the ITLF has also made a bald statement saying it was “Meitei militants who launched the attack on tribal areas.”

“Kuki-Zo tribals have always appreciated the presence of central security forces and we have lauded their efforts in protecting the lives of civilians. Just yesterday, tribal residents of Gamgiphai in Kangpokpi district held a protest asking central security forces not to leave the area.” Finally this press note states that it is the Meitei population which has repeatedly stopped central forces from conducting their peace keeping duty by blocking their movement while Meitei militants attack tribal villages.

Related:

Just days before polling, two killed in fresh violence in Manipur

Back & Forth, Manipur govt’s decision to declare Easter Sunday a working day sparks outrage, govt backs down

Manipur conflict continues as two killed and many injured after protest

Moreh, Manipur: CCTV footage supports claims of locals, show men in uniform indulging in arson, Assam Rifles personnel standing as mute spectators

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The Adivasi residents of Edesmetta have been protesting in the jungles of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region since October 9, demanding action in the Edesmetta encounter case and seeking 1 crore compensation to each family of the victims, reported Hindustan Times. No action has yet been taken against the CRPF personnel who reportedly shot at a group of 30 tribals, unprovoked, while claiming that they busted a Maoist hideout.

In May 2013, some 30 people had gathered to celebrate the annual Beej Pandum festival, a tribal festival to worship new life in the form of seeds; however, this occasion of joy turned into a bloodbath as a 1,000 CRPF strong force shot “in panic” at the tribals, leaving two dead and injuring five which also included minors. A judicial Commission led by Justice VK Agrawal, former judge of Madhya Pradesh High Court, reportedly concluded in September this year, that the forces seemed to have fired in panic and the incident could have been avoided had the field intelligence been clear, reported The Times of India. The CRPF had, however, claimed that they had busted a Maoist hideout and retaliated after they were shot at.

Calling the incident “a mistake” thrice in the report, Justice Agarwal said the tribals killed were unarmed and died in gunfire of 44 rounds, 18 of which were fired by a single constable of the CoBRA unit of the CRPF, reported Indian Express. The CBI is also conducting an inquiry into the incident following the Supreme Court order of May 2019.

“There was no strong intelligence behind the operation. None of the gathered people had weapons, nor were they members of the Maoist organisation,” the report stated.

“A judicial inquiry has little meaning if there is no follow up. The report has not yet been tabled in the Assembly, as is the official procedure. The government is duty-bound to act on the findings of the report: punish the guilty policemen including the officials in command and compensate victim families. The government cannot go in hiding like any ordinary murderer,” Bela Bhatia, a human rights activist who works in the Bastar region told HT.

This is not the first time that an inquiry commission has found that the CRPF fired without provocation at innocent tribals, in Bastar region alone. A probe into the Sarkegouda encounter of 2012, revealed that civilian lives were lost in CRPF firing.

Related:

Bhopal jailbreak encounters: 5 years on, families of 8 victims await justice
Supreme Court raps UP, says ‘laxity’ in action against policemen: 2002 encounter killing
Assam Police Firing: Who are “encroachers” and who are “indigenous”?

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In an eerie order, the Home Ministry has empowered the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) high-ranking officers to procure a large quantity of non-lethal crowd-control munitions to tackle protestors. The government issued this command anticipating long-drawn protests and demonstrations in the coming days, The Telegraph has reported.

Sources from the Union Ministry say that this decision of the government was also aimed at ‘neutralising allegations of human rights violations’. The CRPF had earlier faced criticism for using pellets as a non-lethal alternative to bullets during the 2016 protests in the valley. The pellets had blinded at least 300 people in one eye and left a dozen dead.

“Disillusionment is in the air in the Valley, so is the growing alienation. The home ministry has empowered the CRPF top brass to procure a large quantity of non-lethal munitions to tackle protesters,” a ministry official told The Telegraph.

The procurement order placed by the CRPF with the BSF’s Tear Smoke Unit (TSU) includes plastic tear-gas shells which disintegrate quicker than metal tear-gas shells, stun grenades, chili grenades that contain a chemical called PAVA (pelargonic acid vanillyl amide), rubber bullets, dye-marker grenades that help identify protestors after being hit and multi-tier tear-gas launchers which simultaneously fire multiple tear-gas shells with different trajectories.

The order is placed with BSF’s TSU unit in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh, which manufactures all non-lethal, crowd-control ammunition for security forces except for pellets. A CRPF official admitted that though they frequently procured non-lethal munitions from the TSU, the current bulk order was of a higher quantity than any previous orders.

In 2018, the CRPF had procured 21,000 rounds of newly developed ‘less-lethal’ plastic bullets developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to tackle street protests and counter stone pelters in Kashmir.

The efficacy of these crowd-control measures being ‘less-lethal’ or ‘non-lethal’ is completely untrue. In a conversation with The Wire in January this year, a DRDO scientist, Dr. Prince Sharma, said, ““If a plastic bullet hits the face or any vital organ, it is very likely to prove fatal.”

Even PAVA shells, which are seen as the diluted form of pepper spray have come under flak from human rights activists because, as claimed, their effect may not always be short-term as expected. They can not only cause severe damage to the eyes, skin and lungs, but can even kill through respiratory arrests or a traumatic brain injury caused by flying canisters.

Stun grenades which create blinding flares of light and a loud sound are known to rupture eardrums and other delicate membranes in the lungs. Not only this, the shrapnel from such grenades can also be lethal.

While it is obvious that the government is trying to save face after the vehement protest by human rights activists against the use of pellet guns, it must be noted that any ‘non-lethal’ weapon does not guarantee to be so.

Instead of investing in a heavy defense, the government must, first and foremost recognize the right to protest as a fundamental right under the freedom of expression. It must train security personnel to follow strict protocol in terms of crowd management keeping the use of weapons as a last resort.

Related:
New Report Cites 432 Torture Cases In Kashmir From 1990-2017, 70% Victims Civilians
‘Non-Lethal’ Crowd-Control Methods Have Killed 24, Blinded 139 In Kashmir
Pellet guns return to Kashmir, baby girl shot in the eyes
 
 

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CRPF Inspector, Martyr Pintu Singh’s body at Patna Airport. Courtesy: Hindi.News18.com

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Image Courtesy Udaipur Kiran.

There is no denying that the ghastly attack was an act of cowardice and instigation by terrorists who have no respect for either human life or the complicated and blood stained history of the region. These terrorists are people who benefit from perpetuating fear and instability in one of the most politically volatile regions in the world! Every right thinking individual must therefore unequivocally condemn the attack.

We must also question their insiduous design in using incitement and a perverted version of faith to incite hate within us, against fellow Indians including Kashmiris. Fairly widespread reports of such attacks in north and western India, Kashmiris being hounded and even served termination notices for social media posts (within 48 hours, without notice or discussion) suggest there are parallel ‘gangs’ at work functioning through surveillance, threat and intimidation.

As India responds, once again to a brute act of instigation, we must not, cannot forget that revenge is not justice. Attacking innocents, peddling messages that cause fear and hate to rise achieves the ends they seek. Therefore making hateful comments about people who happen to, in this instance, share the same religion as the terrorists, inciting people to attack people from Kashmir or destroy their property and places of business in a misguided attempt at avenging our fallen heroes is equally condemn-able!

If we allow terrorists to divide us, we aid them in their quest to destroy the idea of India. India’s democratic principles and Constitutional values are their greatest fears. That is what they hope to destroy. So let’s not allow them to do that.

Let’s take a lesson or two from our Army and the CRPF, both institutions built on secular, Constitutional standards. A huge board in the Jaipur Cantonment reads, “Want to do something for a Soldier, Be an Indian Who is Worth Fighting For.”

While a section of Indians, empowered by the current political environment, on social media and on the streets are becoming the hate response that the JEM terrorist wants, India’s CRPF, the paramilitary force crippled by this attack, physically and emotionally, has been calmly issuing advisories:

 
There is more. The CRPF Madadgaar Twitter handle posted a tweet mentioning their toll free number 14411. They can also be reached via SMS on 7082814411.

 
The Jaish-e-Mohammed has taken responsibility for the attack. These terrorists use extreme acts of violence to manipulate our emotions and pit us against one another. What’s a more befitting reply to them than to rub it in their faces that no matter what they do, India will remain united?
This is the time for grieving. Then there will be time to begin the process of healing. Yes, the scars will remain and so will the grief. But we owe it to those who were slain to heal and fight back… not with violence… but fight back the urge to give in to our darker emotions, those that are born during our weakest moments. We owe it to them to regain our strength and remain resilient in face of this horrifying tragedy.

India is a proud and resilient democracy. And while we stand united in our grief and outrage, this is also the time to ask sober questions. Questions that do not deflect from the horror or condemnation of the attack, but seek to build our strengths in fighting terror of all kinds. Questions that seek answers from the government that rules today, its response and motives, especially in polarising mass sentiments following the attack. That is an inalienable right of all Indians which needs to and must be exercised.

This is also the time for all Indians, especially the vocal, urban-centric ones to reflect on the conditions and structures of our paramilitary forces (CRPF is one such force), police and military and those that make up these forces. It is from the vast strata of the socially and economically dis-empowered, that our jawans are drawn. Justice also means fair reparation (not just compensation) for the lives so violently lost. The families of such soldiers need to be reassured by India and Indians that they are central to the process of healing and justice.

Finally, we must press for substantive justice. There are procedures in both national and international law for bringing to justice perpetrators of terror attacks. Let the law take its course. Only then can justice prevail.
 
 First published on https://cjp.org.in/

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The forces said that miscreants are sharing the images to incite hatred.
While a section of Indians, empowered by the current political environment, on social media and on the streets are becoming the hate response that the JEM terrorist wants, India’s CRPF, the paramilitary force crippled by this attack, physically and emotionally, has been calmly issuing advisories:
 
The Central Reserved Paramilitary Forces (CRPF) on Sunday, February 17 said that fake pictures of the body parts of jawans who died in the Pulwama terror attack are being shared on social media to invoke hatred.
The security forces issued an advisory on Twitter and requested people to not circulate, share or like such pictures.
 
 
“ADVISORY: It has been noticed that on social media some miscreats are trying to circulate fake pictures of body parts of our Martyrs to invoke hatred while we stand united. Please DO NOT circulate/share/like such photographs or posts. Report such content at webpro@crpf.gov.in” (a tweet at 2.46 a.m. on 17th February)
 

 
There is more. The CRPF Madadgaar Twitter handle posted a tweet mentioning their toll free number 14411. They can also be reached via SMS on 7082814411. The tweet said, ” #Kashmiti students and the general public presently out of #Kashmir can contact @CRPFMadadgaar on 24X7 Toll Free number 14411 or SMS at 7082814411 for speedy assistance in case they face difficulties/harassment. @crpfindia @HMOIndia @JKZONECRPF @jammusector @crpf_srinagar
 

 

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In the brutal attack on a team of 90 CRPF personnel who were on duty, sanitising a stretch of the public road being constructed in the Burkapal-Chintagufa area of Sukma district, at least 25 CRPF personnel died in ambush, while scores of others were injured.

According to surviving CRPF jawans, an unspecified number of militants are also said to have been killed in the attack. Later, the media reported on the preliminary findings of an internal inquiry conducted by the CRPF to determine what went wrong that cost so many human lives.

Based on media reports on preliminary findings of an internal inquiry conducted by CRPF to determine what went wrong that cost so many human lives, well-known right to information (RTI) activist VenkateshNayakinvestigated, using the Right to Information (RTI) Act, from the CRPF whether it considers “unfortunate deaths of serving CRPF personnel” in the incident as a “prima facie” case of “violation of the human rights of the CRPF personnel”.

Nayak, who is with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi, also sought a photocopy of the report of the inquiry conducted by CRPF into the circumstances surrounding the attack.”

An official CRPF reply has denied that the murderous attack amounted to human rights violation, stating, “There appears to be no violations of human rights”. The reply received by Nayak under RTI can be read here.

It added, the inquiry report into the incident contained “various security and tactics related issues” and therefore “cannot be shared under RTI Act because it might adversely affect CRPF's strategic response.”

Explains Nayak in an email alert to Sabrangindia, “The Constitution of India guarantees several fundamental rights to all citizens. However, when a citizen enters any of the notified security forces, some of their fundamental rights are curtailed, so long as they are in service.”

“Article 33 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to restrict or abrogate any of these fundamental rights in the case of citizens joining the armed forces (army, navy, air force etc.) and forces involved in the maintenance of public order (such as the police)”, he adds.

According to Nayak, the CRPF Act, 1949, including the Schedule of The Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966, validate restrictions on CRPF personnel.

However, insists Nayak, “They continue to have the fundamental right to life while in service. Clearly, the murderous attack in April by left-wing extremist groups amounts to violation of their human rights by non-state actors. By denying this reality, the CRPF may be doing injustice to its own personnel.”

Ironically, says Nayak, the CRPF reply comes in the face of attack occurs, at a time when “self-appointed conscience-keepers of the ‘nation’ and advocates of a belligerent brand of ‘nationalism’ operating through TV news channels (official spokespersons of ruling political parties and news-anchors alike) accuse human rights advocates of not raising their voice against the violation the human rights of security personnel.”

Suggesting the RTI reply make these “pontificators of nationalism” to question the government's attitude towards such incidents, Nayak wonders, “Why does the Government and in this case, the CRPF, fight shy of treating these attacks as ‘human rights violations’ of their personnel?”

What the CRPF treats as "human rights violations" under the RTI Act is one of the questions that will come up for examination next month in two of my Writ Petitions filed before the Delhi High Court.
 
 
This is how VenkateshNayak went about his investigation:
 
CRPF denies that the Sukma attack amounts to violation of the human rights of its personnel
 
A couple of weeks after the attack, I sought the following information from the CRPF, under The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act):
 
"Apropos of the enclosed news report, I would like to obtain the following information under the RTI Act, from your public authority, as prima facie,it pertains to allegations of violation of the right to life of the CRPF personnel who were killed in the attack that occurred on 24 April, 2017 in Sukma, Chhattisgarh:
 
1)    A clear photocopy of the report of the inquiry conducted by the CRPF into the circumstances surrounding the said attack on the CRPF personnel along with annexures, if any.
 
I am a citizen of India. I have attached an IPO (bearing #38F 122978) for Rs. 10/- towards payment of the prescribed application fee. The reports of the unfortunate deaths of serving CRPF personnel in the said incidents prima facie may constitute allegations of violation of the human rights of those CRPF personnel. Therefore I believe this is a fit case for disclosure of information under the second proviso of Section 24 of the RTI Act. Kindly obtain the approval of the Central Information Commission prior to disclosing the information described above as is the statutory requirement under the said proviso of the RTI Act." [emphasis supplied]
 
Recently, in June, taking refuge under Section 24 of the RTI Act, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), CRPF has sent a reply denying that the murderous attack amounted to human rights violation. 
 
Section 24 of the RTI Act exempts 26 intelligence and security organisations from ordinary obligations of transparency like other public authorities. However they are duty bound to give information pertaining to allegations of corruption and human rights violations. Information about allegations of human rights violations can be given only with the approval of the Central Information Commission. Exempt agencies like the CRPF simply do not provide any information at all even if it is related to allegations of corruption or human rights violation. Often they simply deny the existence of such allegations.
 
The CRPF CPIO's reply to my RTI application is reproduced below:
 
"b) In the instant matter, there appears to be no violations of Human Rights as well as facts of the case do not attract the allegations of corruption. Moreover your application does not make any reference to such allegations. Hence this department is not liable to provide any information in this regard to you under RTI Act-2005." [emphasis supplied]
 
The CPIO of CRPF also said that the inquiry report into the incident contains various security and tactics related issues and cannot be shared under RTI Act because it might adversely affect CRPF's strategic response. (The CPIO's reply, the RTI application, the attached news report of the deadly ambush are in the attachment.)
 
 
What is problematic with the CRPF's RTI reply?
The CRPF's CPIO has held that the deaths of the 25 personnel in the ambush do not amount to violation of their human rights by non-State actors even though I had specifically pointed out this connection in my RTI application. This reply is hugely problematic for the following reasons:
 
1) Part III of the Constitution of India guarantees several fundamental rights to all citizens. Some fundamental rights such as the rights to life and equality before the law, are guaranteed even for individuals who are not Indian citizens. However, when a citizen enters any of the notified security forces, some of their fundamental rights are curtailed, so long as they are in service. Article 33 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to restrict or abrogate any of these fundamental rights in the case of citizens joining the armed forces (army, navy, air force etc.) and forces involved in the maintenance of public order (such as the police).
 
The Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966enacted by Parliament, restricts three categories of fundamental rights of every member of a notified police force:
 
i) Personnel of police organisations notified in the Schedule of the Act cannot become a member of any trade union, labour union or political association or any other society, association, institution or organisation unless they are part of the force or have been set up for social, recreational or religious purposes [restriction on the fundamental right to form associations or unions guaranteed by Article 19(1)(c)];
 
ii) Police personnel are prohibited from communicating with the press or publishing a book, letter or document unless it is about the discharge of official duties and with proper authorisation or if it is purely artistic, literary or scientific in character [restriction on the fundamental right to freedom of speech guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a)]; and 
 
iii) Police personnel are prohibited from participating in any meeting or taking part in any demonstration organised by any body for political purposes [restriction on the fundamental right to freedom of assembly guaranteed by Article 19(1)(b)].
 
As the CRPF Act, 1949 is included in the Schedule of The Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966– all three restrictions apply to CRPF personnel as well. As this is a law duly enacted by Parliament, such restrictions are treated as being reasonable and have been upheld by Courts in umpteen cases.
 
However, nowhere in The Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966 is the right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution restricted for CRPF personnel or the members of other police forces listed in the Schedule. They continue to have the fundamental right to life while in service. Clearly, the murderous attack in April by LWE groups amounts to violation of their human rights by non-State actors. By denying this reality, the CRPF may be doing injustice to its own personnel.
 
2) There is another reason why this denial is problematic. Every time such an attack occurs, self-appointed conscience-keepers of the "nation" and advocates of a belligerent brand of "nationalism" operating through TV news channels (official spokespersons of ruling political parties and news-anchors alike) accuse human rights advocates of not raising their voice against the violation the human rights of security personnel. Instead of barking up the wrong tree, these pontificators of nationalism must question the Government's attitude towards such incidents. Why does the Government and in this case, the CRPF, fight shy of treating these attacks as "human rights violations" of  their personnel? Surely, there must be a reason for it. If such attacks causing the deaths of security personnel are not treated as "human rights violations" committed by non-State actors, why paint human rights advocates as villains even though they always condemn such incidents in unequivocal terms?
 
 
In response to another RTI application of mine, sent in May 2014, during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, the CRPF denied that there was any human rights violation when its personnel posted on election duty in Chhattisgarh and Bihar, died due to attacks launched by LWE groups. This policy of denial continues under the present National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime. It is high time the Government made a clean breast of its understanding of attacks on security personnel- as "human rights violations" or merely as "criminal offences". Surely, "the people" in the "times now", as citizens of the "Republic" have the right to know – what rationale determines the Government's attitude towards such murderous attacks? (pun intended)
 
 
 

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Image: PTI
 

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Image Courtesy: Times of India

1) The women's movement for long has been stressing that retaliation
and revenge, whether by the State or by non state actors, do not
constitute justice for victims of sexual violence. An organized
military 'retaliation' of this kind is very very different, also, from
any spontaneous resistance or self defence by a woman victim herself.
Such retaliation by the Maoists perpetuates the same macho masculinist
logic that the State also peddles when it upholds death penalty for
rape. Such retaliation says 'We're man enough to avenge our women.'
Like the State, the Maoists might argue that such retaliatory violence
will be a 'deterrent' and so on. Again, women's movements have long
argued against the so-called deterrent potential of draconian
punishments or retaliatory violence.

2) The Maoists' rationale smacks of the logic of collective punishment
– I. E it does not claim to bring individual perpetrators of rape to
justice, or even the individual commanders who encourage and enable
such rapes; instead it kills one lot of CRPF men in retaliation for
acts done by other CRPF men.

3) By claiming the Sukma attack to be retaliation by [read: "against]
sexual violence by CRPF men in Bastar, the Maoists have undermined the
painstaking work by women's groups to seek justice for those acts of
sexual violence. There are women's rights activists and human rights
defenders putting themselves in considerable peril to bring such
instances of sexual violence to light and helping the victims or
victims' families pursue the cases. The Maoists' rationale for the
Sukma action undermines this immensely courageous work.

Finally, some journalists have flagged the possibility that some of
the CRPF jawans' private parts were mutilated in the attack. The
police and CRPF officials have so far denied this. The Maoists have
also denied inflicting such mutilation. So, in this particular case
there is no confirmation yet that bodies were mutilated. But for the
record let us reiterate what we have said often before – that
mutilation of bodies whether by State or non State actors would be
nothing less than an atrocity. If the State forces – police or CRPF –
are covering up an atrocity of this kind anywhere please hold them to
account.
 

(The author is Secretary, AIPWA)
 

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