SPOs fight Maoists for just Rs 1,500!

Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, Mar 16 (UNI) Thirty-nine tribal youth, who were among those killed in yesterday's naxal attack on a police camp in Bastar region, were working as special police officers (SPOs) on a honorarium of a mere Rs 1,500 per month.

The SPOs receive no other benefits. Now, the police have announced solatium of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of SPOs who lost their lives in the pre-dawn raid at Ranibodli near Dantewada district's Bijapur.

They were among more than 4,000 tribal youth, in the 18-25 age-group, who have been appointed SPOs under the Police Act to scout the security forces in the sprawling shrub forests and hilly terrain of southern Bastar.

Possessing knowledge of the terrain and local dialects, these youth guide and assist personnel during operations in Dantewada where the Communist Party of India (Maoist) is a force to reckon with. A vast area of the region falls within the so-called ''liberated zone'' of Dandakaranya while the administration terms it an area ''dominated'' by the rebels.

Official sources said that the majority of youth appointed as SPOs were earlier 'sangam members' -- local sympathisers of Maoists -- and they were aware of possible hideouts and tactics of naxals. They are also offered moderate weapons training before being pressed into service to take on the dreaded guerillas.

Large-scale appointment of local youth as SPOs began after June 2005 when tribals launched an anti-naxal campaign, naming it Salwa Judum, which in local Gondi dialect means peace mission.

''SPOs are the backbone of anti-naxal operations. They mainly act as assistants to the main police force and also actively participate in anti-rebel operations in their respective areas,'' said a senior police officer engaged in anti-Maoist operations.

Several SPOs were deployed in 17 relief camps set up by the government in southern Bastar to accommodate more than 50,000 locals who deserted their villages following threat from naxals.

Rights groups' criticism is that even children have become SPOs and youth are being used as human shields in the armed conflict. But the government has been denying deployment of children saying that tribal youth looked much younger than their actual age.

Official sources said that the government is going ahead with plans to recruit more SPOs, including surrendered naxals and sangam members in order to further strengthen the security network in rebel areas.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh said in the Assembly today that his government would consider providing insurance cover to SPOs in the wake of attacks on them.

UNI