‘Patriotic’ MP tribals offer to take on stone pelters
BHOPAL: A group of tribals in Madhya Pradesh have written to the Prime Minister, offering to take on “stone pelting” protesters in Kashmir with their traditional weapon, gofan (slingshot).
Bhil youth in the state’s tribaldominated Jhabua district say they are infuriated by videos and photos showing security forces “helpless” against masses of stone-pelting men and women in Kashmir that has seen widespread clashes in recent months.
“We will give a befitting reply to them – stone for stone - and send them packing” said Bhanu Bhuria, one of the youths using the Gofan, confidently. They also want the army to raise a “gofan battalion”.
The Gofan comprises a piece of rope where the loose ends are held in one hand and at the centre a square or rectangular piece of cloth, rubber or skin is attached on which a stone is put.
The user rotates the rope and when it has gained sufficient velocity, one end of the rope is released and the missile hurtles through the air .
“The stone travels at two to three times the velocity compared to a person throwing a stone and it also travels a greater distance.
Some skilful tribals can hit a target at 50 metres with accuracy,” said police inspector RC Bhaskare.
“We are patriotic. Our blood boils when we see our enemies hurting our soldiers,” said Naval Singh from Dotad village.
“We have watched how our security forces are often helpless against the stone-pelters since they cannot fire at them. We believe that we can come in handy in such situations,” Bhanu said.
More than 100 Bhil youth are now honing their skills with the gofan at Hatipao hills, situated on the outskirts of Jhabua and want the government to start a gofan squad and send them to Kashmir.