Bullets for the living, dignity for the Dead

This picture appeared in The Hindu Newspaper on 17th June 2010.The following day readers recorded there strong reaction in letters to editor column

That the body of a person — Maoistor no Maoist, male or female — can be carried like that of an animal is appalling. Dignity in death is a human right. Every such act of in humanness shames us collectively.

Sandhya Sundar,

Chennai

The photograph not only brings to mind the image of pre-historic hunters but also points to the disregard for the dignity of the dead. No doubt the security forces face a difficult task in tackling Maoists. But they ought to remember that they represent a superior moral order on which the state power is legitimised.

Saurav Jhalli,

New Delhi

The photo of the security forces carrying the body of the woman Maoist with her hands and feet tied to a pole can be viewed only with revulsion. They could have used a makeshift stretcher with bamboos.They should be instructed to avoid insulting the dead, at least in future.

M.K.B. Nambiar,

Mahe

The photograph speaks volumes of how the Indian state views all those it considers a threat to internal security. The other photo of the captured Adivasi, barely past his adolescence, bears the face that could stand in for a large number of disenfranchised, poor and desperate tribals, treated as enemies of the state for merely wanting to lead a life of dignity.

S.V. Rajadurai & V. Geetha,

Kotagiri

I was shocked beyond words to seethe photograph of the security personnel carrying the body of the Maoist woman.This is perhaps how they are trained to work. Probably, this is how they carry their own colleagues killed in such encounters.

N. Nagarajan,

Secunderabad

The security forces were aware that they were hunting down the ultras. Should they not have kept stretchers with them to carry the dead and the injured?

K. Bala Sundram,

Dharmapuri

The respect for human lives is an essential characteristics required for society to be called civilized. However the demand of readers in this case in unreasonable and not good for the morale of our security forces. The turmoil our security forces go through is unparalleled, with limited resources our force has to fight the naxals who are well trained in guirella warfare and at the same time they have to keep their morale high against local people criticisms. The success of security forces are largely dependent on public support, when they should be appreciated for their courage and valour few ladies attending kitty parties call them murderers. The trauma of mass killing of 71 security personnel is still fresh, though entire nation was gripped in grief after Dantewada blast(71 CRPF were killed in one attack) but the security personnel pain and trauma is different. Those who are serving in chattisgarh know it very well that any battalion could have met such fate. The security forces are groomed to protect sovereignty an integrity of nation, they are not human rights watchdog. One hand we expect them to kill enemy and at the same time demands respect for the dead,(few may argue that those killed were not enemy, i prefer to call them enemy) It is the policy of every state to keep security forces in intellectual deprivation, because intellectuals cant kill. Feelings of brotherhood and respect for human beings/dead are food for intellectual consumption in places far from combat zone, unfortunately very few Indians can afford such luxury. We must not forget that security Personnel are ordinary men under extraordinary pressure. Situation in naxal affected area is far from inhabitable, logistic support are ill developed so security forces have to carry huge supplies. A combat may extend for weeks, they have to ensure that they carry sufficient supplies into jungle. Expecting them to carry stretcher will put too much pressure on them.

The readers demand is strange

Carry bullets for the living and stretcher for the dead.

Death for the living and dignity for the dead.