I was once afraid of death, but now death has become my companion,” so wrote constable Hemant Kumar Mandawi in his personal diary before being killed during a Naxalite attack in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh last year.

Finally, the unsung heroes of Bastar, who were engaged in a long-drawn battle with the Maoists have started getting some recognition. Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) R K Vij has tried to compile and document the contributions of hundreds of police, paramilitary and special police personnel, killed in the line of duty in the five districts of Bastar region. In fact, his book, Bastar mein diwangat janbaaz police adhikariyon ko shradhanjali (Homage to martyrs of Bastar), attempts to compile all major Maoist attacks that took place in 2006-07.

The IG said that it was time the nation recognised the valour and commitment with which our security forces are taking on the Naxalites in a region where they held sway for the past three decades.

“The problem is that no one in the national media is interested in a fight which is taking place in a distant and remote region. The biggest Naxalite attack at Rani

Bodli, in which 55 security personnel were massacred, elicited only a meek response from the media,” Vij said, adding that electronic media is apparently more interested in showing weddings of celebrities rather than reporting serious national issues.

The Naxalites made their presence felt in the Bastar region nearly 30 years ago when they penetrated into the tribal villages and instigated them against the Government, holding it responsible for their backwardness, said the IGP.

... contd.