After Maoist attack, surviving Bengal troopers face trauma

Kolkata, Feb 19 (IANS) The security personnel who survived Monday's Maoist attack at the Silda camp in West Bengal should go through individual counselling and be kept away from the conflict zone for a while to cope with trauma, say psychiatrists.

Twenty four of the 62 Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) troopers posted in the West Midnapore district camp were killed in the attack. Psychiatrists fear the surviving troopers who were on duty could become victims of fear psychosis, anxiety and stress.

"The incident is really unfortunate but more misfortune is yet to come as per medical science. First of all, the jawans who survived the attack and have seen the massacre with their own eyes will either want to stay back and take revenge or may want to move away from that place," said Arnab Banerjee, a psychiatrist.

"In both the cases, they are likely to suffer from acute anxiety, acute stress disorder or revengeful attitude within the first few days of the incident. This acute anxiety and stress disorder could later lead to post traumatic stress disorder (PSD)."

Medical experts feel the attack will have drastic psychological effects on the camp's surviving troopers who escaped with injuries and bruises as also other security personnel who are in the line of duty in the three Maoist-infested districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.

"Most of the jawans may suffer from fear psychosis as they may feel they are the next targets. There will be a significant drop in the level of mental strength of the jawans," added Banerjee.

Psychiatrists say the only way out is individual counselling of each and every trooper who survived the attack and keeping them away from the conflict zone for a few months.

"Individual counselling of all the jawans, both physically and mentally, is a must to cope with the stress and trauma they have suffered," said psychiatrist Debasish Roy.

Agreed Banerjee: "The jawans should spend more time at home with their families. And those security personnel who are on duty in the other camps of the three districts should also be given counselling individually on a regular basis."

Apart from the psychological problems within the first few days of the attack, the troopers could also become victims of PSD within a month of the incident.

A PSD patient suffers from loss of appetite, sleeplessness, nightmares, and visualises horrific scenes whenever he close his eyes and might be afraid of going out of the house alone.

"They may behave abnormally within the first few days of the incident. After a few months they may have nightmares. They may suffer from sleeplessness and might see the visuals of the attack whenever they close their eyes," said Amarnath Mallick, another psychiatrist.