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As a result of the huge losses suffered by security forces in the past four years in Naxal-infested states, retired army trainers, who were supposed to be hired on contract to give on-job training to paramilitary personnel in these states, have declined the offer.
Sources in the home ministry said none of the retired army trainers who were contacted by the paramilitary forces to provide jungle warfare training to their personnel have agreed to go and live in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh -- two affected states -- because of the troubled situation.
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The fear of the retired army personnel is not without reason.
In the past four years -- from 2007 till September 5 this year -- around 970 police and paramilitary personnel in the seven affected states have lost their lives, while 886 Naxals have been killed during the same period.
"We can't blame these retired army personnel who have declined the offer because these are troubled areas and not many people want to serve in these states after retiring from armed forces. All their lives, these army personnel have lived in tough terrain and now they want to spend time with their families," said a senior home ministry official.
The battle between security forces and Naxals in these states has also taken a toll on civilians as 1,286 people have lost their lives because of the violent attacks.
"We were ready to match the last salaries of these retired army personnel before retirement, but they asked us to bring the paramilitary personnel to Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh or places closer to Delhi for training," the official added.