Defying Maoists threat youth turning up to participate in ‘Bastar Fighters’ recruitment process

Raipur: Defying the Maoist threat, the youth hailing
from interiors of Bastar region, a Naxal hotbed, are turning out in large
numbers to participate in ‘Bastar Fighters’ recruitment which started from May
9.

The youth said that we have come to join the force. If
the Naxalites get to know about this, they will torture the family members too.
Many youth are also victims of Naxal violence. Few applicants even asked not to
take their photo as the Maoists will kill them if they see their photos. They
have reached secretly to participate in recruitment drive. Some even refused to
write their names due to Maoist threat.

Meanwhile, a few months ago, the local youth of
Dantewada were trained by the police to join Bastar Fighters. The police had
also made arrangements for their food and accommodation. The process of
recruitment was to start a few days after the training was over. However, due
to some reason the dates could not be announced. Due to which many youths did
not return to their homes after the end of the training.

Some youth told that the Naxalites harassed and threatened
their family members when they came to know that they have come to join the
force. If we went home, they would have killed us. Due to this fear, they were
waiting for the announcement of the date of recruitment by staying at the place
of their relatives or any acquaintance in the city. If selected, then you will
do a job and otherwise, you will do some other work by staying in the city only.

Chhattisgarh Police has started the recruitment
process for vacant posts of constable for Bastar Fighters and sub-inspector,
Platoon Commander and Subedar for Chhattisgarh Police. During the Legislative
Assembly session, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel announced to complete the
process of recruitment of Bastar Fighters with the aim of providing
opportunities to the Bastar’s youth. According to the announcement, the process
has been started for the recruitment for the vacancies of constable posts in
Bastar Fighters and sub-inspector, Platoon Commander and Subedar posts in
Chhattisgarh Police.

The scrutiny of the candidate’s certificate of Bastar
Fighters started from May 09 in all the seven districts of the Bastar division.
For this, the candidates have to visit the centre according to their roll
number and allotted date. Similarly, for recruitment in the post of Subedar,
Sub-Inspector and Platoon Commander, candidates will be able to download their
admit card from the Chhattisgarh Police website cgpolice.gov.in from May 14
onwards.