-Basilan: ” Another war face of Balraj” 01
-Basilan: ” Another war face of Balraj” 01
After the Indian Army’s actions targeting the LTTE camps, the LTTE fighters had no permanent camps in the forest. The fighters kept moving around in the forest. Only when they went to the villages, did they take shelter in the houses of supporters. And wherever they went in the forest, they would spend the night under a tree.
That was also the rainy season. If it rained in the forest, they would get wet only after the rain stopped. Those who have experienced the forest life will understand this well. It was raining heavily. The flood kept flowing so that they could not sleep at night. They had to find a place somewhere and lay their heads on that high ground. Even if the insects were dug, there would be snakes and iguanas in it. However, even if they did that, there was no other way in the forest. It kept raining. They had to put their fingers in both their ears, make sure that the water did not go into their ears, and sleep with their eyes closed. They don’t know how they can sleep in that rain because of physical fatigue; they sleep well.
The water keeps running while washing their feet. Sometimes, snakes that are swept away by the flood, when they see a tree, jump on it and climb on the legs of the fighters. There are also cases where the fighters, realizing that it is a snake, wake up and run away screaming.
You can sleep in the forest only until it rains. After the rain stops, you must get up. Because every drop of water that falls from a tree causes pain like being hit by a big hammer when it hits your body. In the world, this is even done as torture. They tie someone up motionlessly and let water fall drop by drop on their body. At first, it feels good. You wonder if this is also torture. But over time, it can cause life-threatening pain and, at some point, even lead to death.
It is not possible to sleep under the trees after the rain. The fighters would get up and start drying their bodies and clothes in an open area. No matter how wet they were, the weapons in their hands would never get wet. Wherever they could find polythene bags, the fighters would take them and protect them. If it rained, they would not even think about whether they would get wet themselves but would immediately cover their weapons and protect them.
One day, the fighters were soaked in the rain and stiff. Although it was evening, the forest was a bit dark because it was the rainy season. The fighters, who were exhausted from hunger on one hand and from being soaked in the rain on the other, sat down at the roots of a large tree there. Two of the fighters, who did not even have the courage to talk, suddenly had a verbal confrontation.
One fighter, somewhat angrily, said to the fighter next to him: “If you are here, just stay still. Otherwise, get up and go.” The other fighter must have been angry too. “What for?” he asked in response.
“If you come here and squat, you are shaking the roots,” said the fighter.
“Where should I shake the roots? You are the one who is a goat,” replied the other fighter.
Since they were soaked in the rain and stiff, they thought they were standing on the roots. However, when they sat down, they felt as if the roots were slightly rotting. Only then did they look closely at what they were sitting on. The sound of both screaming and jumping is unforgettable even today.
“Oh, this is not a root, a snake,” they shouted and ran, and only when they looked did they see a snake curled up against the root of a tree. Thinking it was a root, they sat on it. At one point, due to the weight of their bodies, the snake twisted its body and wriggled and rose. It seemed to them as if someone was shaking the root. Snakes do not bite. But they swallow people. The snake, soaked in the rain and exhausted, escaped for the day.
Another day, the fighters were walking in the forest, very hungry and tired. While they were going to the Mathavalasinghamkulam area of Mullaithivu, they heard the sound of cutting trees. When the army sets up new camps, they cut down trees to strengthen their defenses. Balraj sent two fighters to slowly go in the direction of the noise, asking if the army was setting up a new camp in that area. When they got closer, they saw two civilians chopping wood for firewood. Balraj recognized them and went to where they were standing and started talking. One of them asked the fighters if they wanted rottis and to eat.
The faces of the fighters who were very hungry showed great joy at having a good meal. But when Balraj refused and said, “Everyone has eating,”. The faces of the fighters became sad. When they insisted, Balraj accepted the food. When all the rotis were finished the civilians knew how hungry the fighters were. They asked if they should go home and make more rottis. But Balraj, understanding their situation, stopped them and told them not to. He took the little money he had and told them to buy something for their children and left. The civilians were very happy to receive the money.
After starting to walk from there, Balraj said, “They are very poor people. They must cut wood to support their family. Now we have eaten their food. When they are already in trouble, we should not cause them more trouble. That is why I gave them money.” This is another example of Balraj, who is an iron man on the battlefield, melting when he sees the suffering of the people.
-Basilan: ” Another war face of Balraj”
(Translation by Tamilpriya)
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