Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

CRPF JAWAN WHO LOST KIN ATTACKS RAJNATH ON FB LIVE

- Vijay Swaroop vswaroop@hindustant­imes.com

A CRPF man gave vent to his frustratio­n by ranting against Union home minister Rajnath Singh in a Facebook live video, hours after he lost a relative in Monday’s Maoist attack in Chhattisga­rh’s Sukma district.

HE ‘ADVISES’ HOME MINISTER TO VISIT HOMES OF SLAIN JAWAN IF HE WANTS TO SYMPATHISE

PATNA: A CRPF man vented out his bottled-up frustratio­n ranting against home minister Rajnath Singh in a Facebook live video, hours after he lost a relative in Maoist attack in Chhattisga­rh’s Sukma on Monday.

The video posted by Pankaj Mishra of the paramilita­ry force’s 221 battalion stationed at Durgapur in West Bengal is the latest outburst by the men in uniform against the alleged government’s apathy.

In January BSF trooper Tej Bahadur Yadav’s video went viral on social media wherein he had alleged that they were served bad quality food and at times even forced to go to the bed hungry. In another video, CRPF constable Jeet Singh asked why the para-military force personnel are not provided facilities at par with their counterpar­ts from army when they are also performing similar tasks.

Lance Naik Yagya Pratap Singh of the army in yet another video surfaced on social media earlier this year alleged harassment by superiors for writing to PM over their problems.

Mishra’s relative Abhay Kumar was among the 25 CRPF personnel killed in the Maoist attack.

A native of Bihar’s Shahpur in Ara, about 50 km west of Patna, Mishra told HT over phone on Wednesday, “The entire system is bad. There is nobody to listen to us.” Undaunted by the likely outcome of his live video, Mishra was critical of the home minister. “They should not forget that these CRPF jawans provide security to leaders like (BJP president) Amit Shah. Leaders like Rajnath Singh are misleading Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he went on to add, urging the home minister to visit the homes of slain soldiers.

“He should do it if he really wants to sympathise with them. That will be the biggest healing balm,” he said. Incidental­ly Mishra had spoken to media persons earlier supporting Tej Bahadur’s video. “I request the media to understand our pain,” he said. “Ask jawans what are their problems,” he said and lambasted “defence specialist­s” who questioned the training programmes of the CRPF.

“It is better to die once. It’s a very pathetic scenario. My colleagues also don’t raise their voice,” he said. “Please understand our pain.” In Delhi, a CRPF official, who refused to be named, said: “The CRPF headquarte­r has asked field formations to ensure no such comment is posted on social media by their personnel. This particular post is also being removed.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India