BHADRACHALAM: Salva Judum activists are now eager to pull the trigger. Enraged with the killings at the Erraboru relief camp, they are out to hit back with vengeance. "We will fight what may come," roared the youths keeping vigil round the clock in the village.

They are out on the Bijapur highway checking the vehicles and frisking every new persons visiting the camp. Strangers venturing into the camp have been incurring their wrath if they failed to justify the purpose of their visit. Even the media persons making a beeline to the camp had a word of caution from the police.

The Salva Judum relief camp at Erraboru was the largest of the 27 such centres of civilian defense promoted against Maoists in Dantewada district. Initially, over 4,000 people were lodged in the camp. Some of the activists were trained and armed with weapons.

A majority of the families were shifted to the camp from a cluster of villages spread over eight gram panchayats, including Darbhakunta, Gaganpalli and Manikunta. They were extended assistance to build houses. Those appointed as special officials for their active role in spearheading the campaign were paid a monthly allowance of Rs. 1500 each.

Their identification with the state sponsored anti-Maoist campaign made them the Maoist targets. Though they were mentally prepared to face any eventuality, the tribal youths were ill-equipped to face such a major offensive.

The Monday raid was viewed as one of the largest ever onslaught by the Maoists against a civilian target.

Officials grilled

The Salva Judum activists without the weapons failed to withstand the onslaught and paid a high price.

The tribal youths blamed the Government for shifting them into the camps without proper protection to their lives. They even grilled officials as well as the Home Minister who visited them in the day on this count.

Many families deserted the camp after the raid.

Overcome by panic, the Koya Dora tribes, who were identified with the anti- Maoist campaign were migrating to the nearby village in Andhra Pradesh.

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