Jawans deployed against Naxals revolt by Sujay Khanra & Falguni Banerjee

Nearly 166 jawans of the Indian Reserve Battalion rebelled in Jangalmahal on Wednesday, alleging they were being made to work in inhuman conditions and are getting no help from the police in high-risk operations. The flashpoint of the rebellion was in Silda, where Maoists had massacred 24 EFR jawans in February 2010. Three other critically located IRB camps – Salboni, Barikul and Ranibandh – are affected.

As news of the revolt spread, IRB jawans guarding the disputed car factory compound in Singur also refused to work and joined the hunger strike.

The rebelling soldiers – from IRB first battalion – insist on talking only to CM Mamata Banerjee or a representative nominated by her. They have covered their faces with black bandanas as a mark of protest. Four of the jawans on hunger strike in Silda are seriously ill.

Besides inhuman working conditions, IRB jawans allege they are being forced to work without leave and are summarily punished if they raise their voice. The long resentment turned into a fullfledged standoff on Wednesday. The IRB first battalion commandant Kalyan Kumar Mullick is already headed for Silda.

Meanwhile, terming the agitation by some Indian Reserve Battalion personnel, engaged in anti-Maoist operation in Jangalmahal, a "sensitive issue", the West Bengal government on Thursday disapproved of the stir.

"No uniformed force can go for any agitation and it is a sensitive issue," the state’s chief secretary Samar Ghosh said when asked to comment on the IRB agitation in different camps in the state.