Villagers and Family members of Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, the CRPF Commando adducted by the Maoists in Chhatishgarh staged a protest Dharna demanding early release of the CRPF Jawan though was a natural collective reaction but seems uncalled for keeping view the traditions of Bravehearts, their families and of course from the land of warriors. It is not understood against whom they protested for securing the release of their loved one who is also a proud soldier of his motherland. It is reported that they raised slogans against the ruling party at the Centre and also against the Lt. Governor of Jammu Kashmir and were demanding the same urgency in his release as the government showed in the case of wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was held hostage by Pakistan in 2019. It is fine to expect the urgency in securing early release of abducted commando but it would be inappropriate for us to draw comparisons between these two situations keeping in view the honour and valour of our security and armed forces alike.
Rakeshwar Manhas, hails from lower Barnai, Jammu and his wife learnt of his abduction from a local reporter in Chhattisgarh on the day of the ambush on April 02. The presence of the Congress party's student wing leader and a former minister's visit during the protest indicates that the protest may be a suggestive reaction by the family and villagers of the Jawan which even the brave soldier Rakeswar would not like to have happened. Such unfortunate incidents relating to the bravery and morale of the soldiers should not be subjected to petty politics, please. What the unwanted protesters ignored that the safe release of Rakeshwar is the foremost priority and the prestige of the government and the whole nation stands in solidarity with the captive jawan and his family.
The unfortunate loss of 24 CRPF Jawans after their contingent landed into a foxy trap laid by the Maoist ultras is nothing but a miserable Intelligence failure. It raises many embarrassing questions for the elite security force of mighty country that claims to take on the enemies and terrorist head-on.
It seems the banned outfit guerrillas got a wind of operation by the security forces on Saturday last and accordingly they laid their trap that ended into gruesome tragedy. 24 CRPF personnel of CoBRA unit, District Reserve Guard, and the Special Task Force lost their lives in a five-hour-long clash with Maoists, with reports suggesting that around 20 Maoists were also killed.
It is unbelievable that there was no ‘operational and intelligence failure', as claimed by the CRPF chief which went horribly wrong claiming the lives of 24 soldiers.
Paying rich tributes to the martyred jawans in the Sukma Naxal attack, the Union Home Minister has assured their families that their sacrifice will not go in vain. He has asserted that the government will not tolerate the loss of lives of security men in such attacks and a befitting reply will be given at an appropriate time.
While pains and agony of the kith and kin of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our security can be well understood and appreciated, it is the nation that felt huge shock and takes it as a challenge to the national security and pride.
