“Being Neutral is Our Biggest Crime” - Global Coalition to Protect ...

Tarrem Kosa’s life as a dalam member
A dalam interrupted Tarrem Kosa’s school days when he was in class eight. They
came to his school one day, watched him playing sports, and saw that he was
agile and strong. That sealed his fate and decided his career. Dalam members
approached him and asked him to go with them. He said he wanted to study, but
they promised to let him go after 15 days. Unfortunately, they did not keep their
promise.
First he was trained to use bows and arrows. Because he was good, the dalam
leader promoted him and gave him a rifle. They also trained him to plant bombs.
Looking back at his years as a dalam member and the separation from his family,
Tarrem said,
I used to think of home a lot. I worried I would never be able to contact
my parents. I used to read magazines to kill time … Sometimes I would
sit and cry. I never had the opportunity to contact my parents. I
thought of home a lot, but never had a way to get back.
During his three years with a dalam, he participated in several armed encounters
with government security forces. Despite his young age there was no place for
fear during such encounters: “You can’t be scared, you just have to run.” Dalam
members did not get paid. They depended on villages and schools for food.
His decision to leave his dalam brought deep personal tragedy. After he
deserted, the Naxalites killed both his younger brothers. They beat his mother
and broke her arm, took all their belongings, and burned their house.
After his surrender to the police when he was under age 18, Tarrem began to work
for the police as an informer, and was then promoted to the post of SPO. The
Chhattisgarh police gave him additional weapons training, and he now
accompanies government security forces on anti-Naxalite combing operations.
As part of these operations, Tarrem is often involved in many armed encounters
with Naxalites. He is now a top Naxalite target and says he has seen posters with
his photograph stating that he should be killed.
139
Human Rights Watch July 2008