Hindi English Translation || Editorial || A stinging indictment: on acquittal of Chhattisgarh tribals in 2017 ambush case

A stinging indictment: on acquittal of Chhattisgarh tribals in 2017 ambush case

The scapegoating (an act of blaming someone for the wrongdoings/faults that someone else has done) of innocent tribals in the fight against Maoists (a follower of Maoism (it originated in China as a form of communist theory derived from the teachings of Chinese political leader Mao Zedong)) is a self-defeating ploy (चाल, योजना, युक्ति)

The acquittal (दोषमुक्ति, निर्दोषता की घोषणा) of 121 tribals by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) (राष्ट्रीय जांच एजेंसी) court, who were wrongfully held responsible for the deaths of 25 Central Reserve Police Force (केंद्रीय रिजर्व पुलिस बल) jawans in a Maoist-led ambush (घात लगाना, अचानक हमला) in Burkapal, Sukma district, Chhattisgarh in 2017, would have come as a huge relief for them. The tribals were held under the draconian (कठोर)  Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (गैरकानूनी गतिविधियां) and the fact that (यह तथ्य कि) the court held that there was little evidence that the tribals had any association with the proscribed (प्रतिबंधित, गैरकानूनी करार दिए) Maoists should be a pointer (सूचक, संकेत, सुझाव) to the utter failure of the law enforcement agencies (कानून प्रवर्तन एजेंसियाँ) in their response to the massacre (नरसंहार, सामूहिक हत्या, हत्याकांड). While justice has definitely been done to the innocent villagers, their prolonged (लंबा, बढ़ा हुआ) incarceration (क़ैद कर देना, कारावास, हिरासत) would have clearly upended (turn something upside down; invert, reverse, overturn, capsize) their lives and those of their dependents. The tribals who had been arrested and kept in jail for five years had been denied bail (conditional, temporary release of an arrested/imprisoned person when a specified amount of security is deposited or pledged (as cash or property) to ensure his/her appearance in court when required) in the past by the NIA court and the Chhattisgarh High Court. Clearly, in what seems to be a dubious (suspicious, questionable, doubtful) trend in such cases in conflict-ridden (dominated/divided by conflict) Chhattisgarh and beyond, the imposition (enforcement, application, enforcing) of the draconian UAPA without sufficient proof has resulted in this situation. A defence lawyer (the lawyer representing the defendant (innocent tribals in this context)) also claimed that the police investigation was poorly done, with the injured Central Reserve Police Force commandos (a group of soldiers who have been specially trained to carry out surprise attacks; special operations force) not being made witnesses before the tribal people were arrested, lending credence to the fact that the apprehended (arrest, catch, capture (someone for a crime); take prisoner, take into custody, detain, put in jail, put behind bars, imprison, incarcerate) people had been made scapegoats.

As a takeaway (a key point/idea/fact) from the outcome of this case, the state must ponder (think about, give thought to, consider, review, reflect on, contemplate, deliberate about, weigh up) as to whether this strategy (plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests)) of rounding up (arrest, detain, imprison (a large number of people)) suspects (accused, suspected person) among the hapless (unfortunate, unlucky, ill-fated, jinxed, cursed) tribals in the name of (for the sake of, at the behest of; on behalf of) swift (prompt, rapid, immediate, quick) action following a military setback (problem, difficulty, issue) does any good to law enforcement. The clearest way to defeat the Maoist insurgency — or any political movement based on violence and motivated by disenchantment (disappointment, dissatisfaction, discontent) with the state (government, the administration, the regime, the authorities) — is to uphold (confirm, endorse/approve, vindicate/validate) the rule of law (it is described as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards) and to win support among the people who the insurgents (rebel, agitator, subversive, guerrilla) claim to be fighting for. Without popular (public, societal) support, insurgencies are bound to (sure, likely, guaranteed) fail, specifically, the Maoist movement that is underpinned (strengthen, support, fortify, bolster up) on winning over those disenchanted (disillusioned, disappointed, dissatisfied, let down, fed up) with the Indian state. Beyond harping on (to talk/write about something continuously & boringly; keep talking about, dwell on, expound on, speak at length about, write at length about, discuss something at length, nag/badger someone about) factors related to poverty, livelihoods (means of making a living with the basic necessities (food, water, shelter and clothing); means of support, subsistence, source of income) in crisis and economic inequality (Inequality is simply defined as “the state of not being equal, especially in status, rights and opportunities; imbalance, unevenness, disproportion, disparity), the Maoists also use tactical violence that invites state repression (suppression, oppression, quelling, restraining/stifling) and serves their purpose of questioning the legitimacy (legality, lawfulness, rightfulness, fairness, justification, validity) of the Indian state. By typecasting (categorize, label, tag) the tribal people, conflating (shrink, shorten, reduce; combine, abridge/summarize (too many information into one)) dissidence (discontent, disapproval, disagreement) and disaffection (dissatisfaction, disgruntlement, grievances, unhappiness) with insurgency, and taking the dubious route of mass incarceration following any setback to the security forces, law enforcement agencies only end up (finish up, turn up, come/appear, find oneself (to a particular course of action in the end)) adding grist (it is a valuable/useful thing, particularly to help an argument/contention) to the Maoist propaganda (the (deliberate & systemic) spreading of information (facts, ideas, rumours or lies) to influence public opinion) that emphasises (call/draw attention to, put stress on, underscore, highlight) that these are just characteristics (manner, habit, custom; attribute, feature, trait, aspect) of a repressive (oppressive, dominating/coercive, authoritarian/draconian) state that is beyond reform. Besides (apart from, other than, barring, excluding) purposive (determined, single-minded, purposeful) socio-economic (relating to the interaction of social (position, rank, or importance) and economic (income, pay, and wealth) aspects) action, law enforcement must reinforce (strengthen, support, make stronger, bolster, buttress) steps related to procedural (formal, systematic, methodical) law to disprove (prove false/wrong, invalidate, refute, reject, challenge, dispute) the Maoist critique (analysis, evaluation, assessment, appraisal, review) of the Indian state and to retain legitimacy among tribal citizens.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.indictment (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अभियोग, आरोप
English Meaning - charge, accusation, allegation.

2.acquittal (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दोषमुक्ति, निर्दोषता की घोषणा
English Meaning - declaration of innocence, clearing, discharge, release, vindication, exoneration.

3.ambush (noun)

Hindi Meaning - घात लगाना, अचानक हमला
English Meaning - surprise attack, trap, pitfall.

4.ploy (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चाल, योजना, युक्ति
English Meaning - plan, tactic, manoeuvre, move, activity.

5.National Investigation Agency (NIA) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राष्ट्रीय जांच एजेंसी
English Meaning - The National Investigation Agency is a central agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. It is functioning as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in the country. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is created following the terror attack in Mumbai on December 26, 2008. It came into being on December 31, 2008, with the passage of the NIA Act of 2008.

6.Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - केंद्रीय रिजर्व पुलिस बल
English Meaning - The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the premier central police force of the Union of India for internal security. Originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, it is one of the oldest Central para military forces (now termed as Central Armed Police Force). After Independence, the force was renamed as Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament on December 28, 1949. This Act constituted CRPF as an armed force of the Union.

7.draconian (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कठोर
English Meaning - (of laws or punishments) extremely harsh, severe, strict, stringent, tough.

8.Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - गैरकानूनी गतिविधियां
English Meaning - an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.

9.the fact that (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - यह तथ्य कि
English Meaning - used to refer to a particular situation under consideration.

10.proscribed (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिबंधित, गैरकानूनी करार दिए
English Meaning - banned, prohibited, forbidden (by law).

11.pointer (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सूचक, संकेत, सुझाव
English Meaning - indication, indicator, hint, sign, signal, suggestion.

12.law enforcement agencies (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कानून प्रवर्तन एजेंसियाँ
English Meaning - a government agency responsible for enforcing the law. For example- Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and etc.

13.massacre (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नरसंहार, सामूहिक हत्या, हत्याकांड
English Meaning - carnage, mass murder, mass killing.

14.prolonged (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - लंबा, बढ़ा हुआ
English Meaning - lengthy, extended, protracted, unending, unrelenting.

15.incarceration (noun)

Hindi Meaning - क़ैद कर देना, कारावास, हिरासत
English Meaning - imprisonment, confinement, custody.

16.stinging (adjective)

English Meaning - (of criticism) harsh, bitter, nasty, hurtful, biting, venomous/poisonous..

17.scapegoat (noun)

English Meaning - a person blamed for the wrongdoings/faults that someone else has done.

18.scapegoating (noun)

English Meaning - an act of blaming someone for the wrongdoings/faults that someone else has done.

19.Maoist (noun)

English Meaning - a follower of Maoism (it originated in China as a form of communist theory derived from the teachings of Chinese political leader Mao Zedong).

20.self-defeating (adjective)

English Meaning - futile, pointless, useless.

21.hold (someone) responsible for (phrase)

English Meaning - blame for, hold accountable for, hold answerable for; condemn for, criticize for, denounce for.

22.held past tense of hold (verb)

English Meaning - detain, hold in custody, imprison, lock up, put behind bars, put in prison, put in jail, incarcerate.

23.held past tense of hold (verb)

English Meaning - (of a court) decide, rule.

24.upend (verb)

English Meaning - turn something upside down; invert, reverse, overturn, capsize.

25.bail (noun)

English Meaning - conditional, temporary release of an arrested/imprisoned person when a specified amount of security is deposited or pledged (as cash or property) to ensure his/her appearance in court when required.

26.dubious (noun)

English Meaning - suspicious, questionable, doubtful.

27.imposition (noun)

English Meaning - enforcement, application, enforcing.

28.result in (verb)

English Meaning - cause, prompt, bring about, give rise to.

29.defence lawyer (noun)

English Meaning - the lawyer representing the defendant (innocent tribals in this context).

30.defendant (noun)

English Meaning - accused, prisoner.

31.commando (noun)

English Meaning - a group of soldiers who have been specially trained to carry out surprise attacks; special operations force.

32.give/lend credence to (phrase)

English Meaning - to make something (an opinion/idea) seem more correct/true.

33.apprehend (verb)

English Meaning - arrest, catch, capture (someone for a crime); take prisoner, take into custody, detain, put in jail, put behind bars, imprison, incarcerate.

34.apprehended (adjective)

English Meaning - arrested, prisoned, imprisoned, incarcerated, detained.

35.takeaway (noun)

English Meaning - a key point/idea/fact.

36.ponder (verb)

English Meaning - think about, give thought to, consider, review, reflect on, contemplate, deliberate about, weigh up.

37.strategy (noun)

English Meaning - plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests).

38.round up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - arrest, detain, imprison (a large number of people).

39.suspect (noun)

English Meaning - accused, suspected person.

40.hapless (adjective)

English Meaning - unfortunate, unlucky, ill-fated, jinxed, cursed.

41.in the name of (phrase)

English Meaning - for the sake of, at the behest of; on behalf of..

42.swift (adjective)

English Meaning - prompt, rapid, immediate, quick.

43.setback (noun)

English Meaning - problem, difficulty, issue.

44.uprising (noun)

English Meaning - revolt, insurgency, revolution, rebellion.

45.disenchantment (noun)

English Meaning - disappointment, dissatisfaction, discontent.

46.the state (noun)

English Meaning - government, the administration, the regime, the authorities.

47.uphold (verb)

English Meaning - confirm, endorse/approve, vindicate/validate.

48.rule of law (phrase)

English Meaning - it is described as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards.

49.insurgent (noun)

English Meaning - rebel, agitator, subversive, guerrilla.

50.popular (adjective)

English Meaning - public, societal.

51.bound to (adjective)

English Meaning - sure, likely, guaranteed.

52.underpin (verb)

English Meaning - strengthen, support, fortify, bolster up.

53.win over (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - persuade, talk round, convince, induce, sway, prevail on.

54.disenchanted (noun)

English Meaning - disillusioned, disappointed, dissatisfied, let down, fed up.

55.harp on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to talk/write about something continuously & boringly; keep talking about, dwell on, expound on, speak at length about, write at length about, discuss something at length, nag/badger someone about.

56.livelihood (noun)

English Meaning - means of making a living with the basic necessities (food, water, shelter and clothing); means of support, subsistence, source of income.

57.inequality (noun)

English Meaning - Inequality is simply defined as “the state of not being equal, especially in status, rights and opportunities; imbalance, unevenness, disproportion, disparity.

58.repression (noun)

English Meaning - suppression, oppression, quelling, restraining/stifling.

59.legitimacy (noun)

English Meaning - legality, lawfulness, rightfulness, fairness, justification, validity.

60.typecast (verb)

English Meaning - categorize, label, tag.

61.conflate (verb)

English Meaning - shrink, shorten, reduce; combine, abridge/summarize (too many information into one).

62.dissidence (noun)

English Meaning - discontent, disapproval, disagreement.

63.disaffection (noun)

English Meaning - dissatisfaction, disgruntlement, grievances, unhappiness.

64.end up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - finish up, turn up, come/appear, find oneself (to a particular course of action in the end).

65.grist (noun)

English Meaning - it is a valuable/useful thing, particularly to help an argument/contention.

66.propaganda (noun)

English Meaning - the (deliberate & systemic) spreading of information (facts, ideas, rumours or lies) to influence public opinion.

67.emphasise (verb)

English Meaning - call/draw attention to, put stress on, underscore, highlight.

68.characteristic (noun)

English Meaning - manner, habit, custom; attribute, feature, trait, aspect.

69.repressive (adjective)

English Meaning - oppressive, dominating/coercive, authoritarian/draconian.

70.besides (preposition)

English Meaning - apart from, other than, barring, excluding.

71.purposive (adjective)

English Meaning - determined, single-minded, purposeful.

72.socio-economic (noun)

English Meaning - relating to the interaction of social (position, rank, or importance) and economic (income, pay, and wealth) aspects.

73.reinforce (verb)

English Meaning - strengthen, support, make stronger, bolster, buttress.

74.procedural (adjective)

English Meaning - formal, systematic, methodical.

75.disprove (verb)

English Meaning - prove false/wrong, invalidate, refute, reject, challenge, dispute.

76.critique (noun)

English Meaning - analysis, evaluation, assessment, appraisal, review.

77.conflict-ridden (adjective)

English Meaning - dominated/divided by conflict.