Parents of policemen on Naxal areas poll duty complain to CM

Panaji, April 2 (IANS) Parents of young policemen dispatched to Naxal-hit areas for election duty complained to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Wednesday saying their wards were without proper body protection and food.

A delegation of parents of the over 100-odd policemen met Parrikar at his residence, saying they feared for the safety of their sons posted in Chandrapur, a Naxalite-affected district of Maharashtra.

The policemen were drawn from the state reserve police squad.

"Our boys are there without body armour and even food and water. ... We fear for their lives," a worried mother of a police constable said.

The parents also said senior police officials had taken themselves out from the squad when they learnt they were heading for Chandrapur.

"The senior officers have skipped duty. Only our boys have had to go," said the mother, who requested not to be quoted for fear that the police top brass would harass her son.

"The police agencies function under the election officials. Although I cannot do anything about it I have assured the parents about writing a letter to (election officials) to look into their grievance," Parrikar told reporters in Panaji.