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Chhattisgarh's children of war

September 05, 2008
"The police asked me also to become an SPO, but I refused because I did not want to become an SPO and commit heinous crimes. I did not want to shoot and kill people. They do not ask anyone how old they are. Even 14-year-olds can become SPOs if the police want them to become SPOs."
-- Poosam Kanya (pseudonym), former resident of Errabore camp, December 2007.

"In Bhairamgarh, about 15 to 20 children dropped out of high school after 8th standard in 2005 to become SPOs -- both boys and girls. I live in Bhairamgarh and many of these children also stay there. Now they are all SPOs. Their entire schooling has been ruined -- they can never go back to school because they have discontinued education for over two years."

-- Government teacher in Bijapur district, December 2007.

Image: Most SPOs are recruited from indigenous tribal communities that have been displaced to Salwa Judum camps

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