UN report nails India; says Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh naxalites recruiting kids

We have often heard about ‘baal dastas’ or child soldiers in media when they report about Naxal attacks in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. But, now it’s official. United Nations has released a report – ‘Children in Armed Conflict’ – in which it is stated that Naxalites were recruiting children in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to fight against security forces.

The report was released last week by United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres. According to the report, a list of 20 countries are mentioned in which countries like India, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Philippines and Nigeria are included, where children are used as either informers or as child soldiers. In India, the name of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand found its prominence, with Naxalites using them against security forces.

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Requesting anonymity, an official of security forces said that these children, popularly known ‘baal dastas’ or child soldiers, are recruited by the Naxals by using the lottery system in Jharkhand. The official added that all these children – aged between 16-18 years – are mostly recruited as informers, carriers or for technical jobs; but with drop in strength of the outfit, these children are used as child soldiers, the official added.

Though the report is disturbing, but one of security forces say its not a new trend. A senior CRPF official admitted that Naxalites forcibly take away these children and sometimes even families are forced to gift one child for the ’cause’, reports TOI. “Sometimes, people allow their kids to be taken under pressure. But they are mostly boys above 16 years of age,” said Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, CRPF chief.

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Bhatnagar added that children are mostly used as ‘shields’ by the Naxals, as the security forces do not fire at the young children. However, neither the report of UN not the security force chief provide any data on how many of the children have joined the Naxals.

According to the annual report of the UN, secretary general said more than 10,000 children were killed or injured in conflicts in 2017 across the globe, while over 8,000 were used as combatants.

Photo courtesy: Outlook India