Raghvendra Rao
New Delhi : The release of photographs showing bodies of Naxals, including women, being carried by securitymen, their hands and feet tied to bamboo poles, following an anti-Naxal operation in West Midnapore, West Bengal, came in for sharp criticism on Thursday with even the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) expressing disapproval over the “animal-like” manner in which the bodies were carried.
“We understand that deep inside forest areas, the security forces, at times, do not have any other option of carrying back bodies than the one that has been shown in the pictures. But once they come out of the forest area and are closer to habitation, they should use stretchers to carry bodies,” said a senior official in the MHA.
“The way those bodies were being carried was simply inhuman. A few years ago, we had expressed outrage over the undignified treatment of dead bodies when similar pictures of Bangladesh Rifles carrying dead BSF men had appeared,” another MHA official said.
The MHA, sources said, had already communicated its displeasure to the CRPF and the West Bengal police for both the inhuman treatment of the bodies and for allowing the release of these photographs. “There is still some doubt on whether the CRPF men were carrying those bodies or the Bengal police and on whether an official photographer took these pictures or many photographers were allowed. While those details are being ascertained, the forces concerned have been told to be more careful in such matters,” sources said.
CRPF Special DG Vijay Raman, who is heads the anti-Naxal operations, called the photographs “gruesome”. “I was very unhappy after seeing those photos. I feel ashamed about what has happened and whoever has done it. I need to cross-check whether our boys were involved,” Raman said.
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