SPOs fight Maoists for just Rs 1,500

Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, Mar 16 (UNI) For the 4,000 tribal youth in this naxal dominated district, the designation of SPO means a meagre honorarium of Rs 1500 per month and the constant threat to life from the extremists each day.

The 39 SPOs, killed in the pre-dawn raid by Naxalites at Ranibodli near Dantewada district's Bijapur yesterday, were among more than 4,000 tribal youth, in the age group of 18-25 years, who had been appointed SPOs under the Police Act to scout the security forces in the sprawling shrub forests and hilly terrain of southern Bastar.

Police have announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the 39 deceased SPOs who were working as tribal youth on an honorarium of a mere Rs 1,500 per month.

Possessing knowledge of the terrain and local dialects, these youth guide and assist personnel during operations in Dantewada infested with the Communist Party of India (Maoist) activists.

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 the majority of youth appointed as SPOs were earlier 'sangam members' -- local sympathisers of Maoists -- and they were aware ofpossible 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