A Surrendered Naxal

Note: This story is based on Author's fiction and it doesn't apply to any historical references or true-life incidents. It's the second part of my planned "Naxal series."

Till two years ago, he was a dreaded Naxal with multiple cases filed against him and carried a reward of Rs. 25 Lakh on his arrest. Now as he walks into the conference room of a police officer here in formal wear to meet some visiting journalists, he looks no less mainstream than the two IPS officers who played an important role in getting him to join the mainstream and were facilitating the meeting. The 43-year old Rajesh surrendered on April 12, 2016 after 20 years as a Naxalite. He was then a special area committee member, considered a senior post in the Maoist's hierarchy.

"I was feeling suffocated there. Naxalism now has shunned it's principles."

"But how and why did you join the revolution? What made you renounce it?" asked a journalist. The question took him to his college days here when his only aim was to work for the people.

FEW YEARS BACK

EARLY 1990'S

It was in the early 90's. He came in contact with some over ground Maoist Communist Centre(MCC) workers who used to visit my college for meetings. He initially joined protests against a proposed firing range of the Chatra police. Since MCC leaders claimed that: "People would be displaced by the land acquisition from the range."

During the protests, the police baton charged and Rajesh got hit. Some may say that was the trigger. The exuberance and agitation of the youth prompted him to take up arms. He went underground in 1996. The MCC received funds in the form of levy, donations or grains and part of it was spent on the "welfare" of people. They opened schools and built dams. These things gave Rajesh a feeling that, he was indeed working for the people.

ONE YEAR LATER

1991

In 1991, he got married and had a daughter and a son. The son was studying in LSc and the daughter was pursuing her 7th grade. He rarely used to call them to the camp- maybe once or twice a year. More than 10,000 people would gather at MCC meetings. They would come with their food like "sattu"(roasted gram flour).

PRESENT

"How many landmines did you lay as an active Naxalite?" asked a journalist.

"I lost count. Entire valley remained dotted with landmines."

SARJU, LATEHAR DISTRICT

Sarju, about 25-minute drive from the Latehar district headquarters, served as the headquarters of the CPI(Maoist)'s Eastern Regional Bureau(ERB). Their cadres used to meet there. These groups lived there day in day out. They were trained in making weapons, bombs there. Ashish Batra, IG(Operations) know well that "From 2001 to 2006-07, going to that area used to be like a death trap."

2004

But things started changing after 2004, when the People's war and MCC emerged from the Communist Party of India(Maoists). The leadership started compromising on the principle and policies. They concentrated on collection/extortion on one hand and killing security personnel on the other. And when opposed by Rajesh, the cadre responded by saying that, "They are becoming right-wing."

Rajesh told them, "It was not about left-wing or right-wing. It was about revolution and revolution for whom- people. Then why deploy all your resources only on attacking official and doing nothing for people." His head doesn't reply anything to his questions, leaving him angered.

The number of policemen killed in the Naxal attacks, encounters were more than 35 annually between 2001-2014.

PRESENT

At present, the surrendered Naxal Rajesh said: "Such arguments and counter-arguments led to internal dispute. I felt suffocated and a sense of remorse started setting in."

"How you got the idea to surrender?" When the media men questioned him, he recounted the administration, which kept a close eye on him and the development of Maoists. They were the one who moved up to take advantage of the situation.

"The administration reached out to me through my relatives. They told us that welfare work I wanted to do can very well be done by being among people." Meanwhile, he said the same media, the government announced a new surrender policy in 2009, which was amended in 2015 and 2016.

FEW YEARS BACK

2016

But despite several round of proxy talks and back and forth, he was not convicted about surrendering. Rajesh had heard the police would torture Maoists after surrender. Also, he was afraid that he'd to spend his entire life in jail. So, he wanted cases against him withdrawn. However, the police said court did not allow the cases to be withdrawn.

Then a meeting was arranged between Chief Minister and the family of the surrendered Naxal. He assured the family that no harm would be done to Rajesh. He counseled them. It is then that he surrendered on April 12, 2016.

PRESENT

At present, the journalist asked: "How you managed to come out from the camp?"

With a laughter, Rajesh said: "I managed to come out from the camp on the pretext of getting medical help. Had they(the Maoists) known I was going to surrender, they'd have killed me. They still issue press releases against me."

"Those who surrendered are labeled as renegades" said Raj Kumar Mallick, Additional DG(Operations) who was with Rajesh. IG(Operations) Badra said his security is a concern for the police.

"We have provided two full-time armed bodyguards to him." The former MCC commander said: "The day I surrendered the administration gave me Rs. 25 lakh under the new surrender policy. I spent 23 months in jail and then released on March 9, 2018.

He said he did not face any sort of social boycott.

"In fact, people have been welcoming. Whenever I go to my village, 300-400 people came to see me. They say, you have done a good job by surrendering. Live with us. You will get all the respect."

Rajesh is still figuring out what to do to make a living.

"I have kept the award money. Some of it is for my children's education." He appealed to his former colleagues to "come out of that quagmire."

"The administration and society cooperate. Come join the mainstream, join the development story." He said his concluding words to the media and thanked them before leaving with the police officials.