Chidambaram defends CRPF battalion in Dantewada attack

New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Indian Home Minister P
Chidambaram and the Central Reserve Police Force on Friday
strongly defended the battalion that was massacred in
Dantewada on Tuesday saying they were properly trained,
differing with Army chief General V K Singh on the issue.
Refuting certain media reports that the CRPF men killed
in Dantewada were not well-equipped or trained, the Home
Minister said, "much has been written in the last few days.
Some of it has pleased me, some of it has pained me.
"For example, it is been written that the companies of
the 62nd Battalion (the men from which laid down their lives
two days ago) were poorly trained, poorly equipped and they
did not arrive with preparedness," he said at the "Shourya
Diwas" (Valour day) memorial of the CRPF here.
Army chief General V K Singh, while suggesting a failure
on the part of the para-military men during the attack, had
Thursday said, "this (Dantewada attack) is a matter of
concern... in what has happened, there were some internal
deficiencies, which may be in their training or some other
things and they (paramilitary forces) are thinking over it."
Singh also said the 62nd batallion of the force-- whose
part was the CRPF company which almost got eliminated-- was
not trained by the Army.
CRPF's Special Director General (North) N K Tripathi
joined issues saying he does not agree with the view that
there was lack of training in the force and that the
particular company which was attacked in Dantewada had not
been given the required training.
"The men were trained and were given all the weaponry
available," Tripathi said.
All trainings, including jungle warfare training, were
provided, he said while talking to reporters on the sidelines
of the event.
Chidambaram also expressed his anguish over due
recognition not being granted to the CRPF men as he said,
"very little is written about the valour, very little is
written about the bravery. Very little is written about
that even when they came in the ambush, the companies managed
to kill eight Naxalites as intelligence reports and other
reports tell us today."
"I ask everyone humbly, respectfully that even if you
cannot hold the front line and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with
our brave jawans, please do not be disrespectful to the
jawans. Please do not be disrespectful to our forces." (MORE)
PTI NES/SAP
RBT


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