‘Poor people work for party, but party kills them on suspicion’

By Kartik Lokhande

The concrete road in the colony leads to a curve, at which is located a house with a small shop in front. As one enters the compound by the side of the shop, one comes across two doors. On the left wall of a door is painted the name ‘Jalamsai Lalsai Sadmek’. The man in the house bears this name on records, but is known widely as ‘Raghu’, who was once the dreaded Member of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist). Now 49 years old, Raghu had surrendered before police in the year 2009. So far, he is the seniormost ranking surrendered Naxal/Maoist in Gadchiroli district since the Surrender Policy came into being in 2005. He is also one of those who had joined the erstwhile ‘Naxalite movement’, which deteriorated further into violent anti-national and anarchist CPI (Maoist) by 2004. An interaction with Raghu provides many insights into the functioning of the Naxalites/ Maoists, and also why he joined and left the Left Wing ultras. One is amazed at the sharp memory of Raghu. For, he still remembers many names as if he had met them just a day before.

Raghu, a resident of Hindewada in Bhamragarh tehsil in southern part of Gadchiroli district, had joined the erstwhile Naxalites when he was just 14 years of age. “That time, many Naxals from adjoining State of Andhra Pradesh used to frequent our village. They used to deliver speeches. I did not understand their ideology, but got attracted towards them due to songs and dances that were part of their propaganda toolkit. Revolutionary poet Ghaddar, one Sanjeev, Leng used to compose songs and poems for Jan Natya Mandali of the Naxals. The romanticism of guns carried by Naxals in uniforms, and the songs and dances had their impact on my young mind,” he tells ‘The Hitavada’. Then studying in Class VIII only, one day, Raghu left village with Jan Natya Mandali. He went to school but did not go home. His worried family lodged a ‘missing’ complaint with police. But, he had gone far away. 6 months later, as Raghu recalls, the then Bhamragarh Dalam commander Balanna and other Naxals called his parents to another village. “My family members wanted me to come back and study, but the Dalam found my utility and kept me with them,” he adds, with a pause as if those days are flashing before his mind’s eyes.

Having seen the ‘party’ from within, Raghu has insights to offer regarding membership and ‘promotions’. According to him, the party offers membership only after keenly observing and assessing someone for 2-3 years. Tasks are given, performance in those tasks is assessed, and then promotions are given accordingly. Raghu quickly rose through the ranks after getting membership at a young age in 1990. He became Etapalli Area Committee member, rose to become Section Dy Commander, and then Commander in Etapalli. In 1993, Naxals formed ‘Military Squad’ to counter police pressure. He worked in Platoon Divn also, which was headed by Devji, who, Raghu says, is Central Military Commission in-charge of CPI (Maoist) now. Raghu soon became Divisional Commander, then State Committee member for Dandakaranya (DK), and later DKSZC. He was involved in various ‘actions’. He was Gadchiroli district military chief of Naxals when the Naxals attacked Koraput district police headquarters in 2004 and looted hundreds of arms. “That time, 600-700 Naxals were assembled from various areas including the area under my command,” he adds.

However, with merger of People’s War and Maoist Communist Centre of India and some other groups in latter half of 2004 to form CPI (Maoist), the Red terrorists became more power-drunk. In 2007-08, Raghu got a taste of this. His brother Kishor, living in his native village, had attended a ‘Jan Jagaran Melawa’ (public awareness meet) organised by Gadchiroli Police in Dhodraj, and had also given a speech. “Some villagers reported to the Maoist leaders that my brother had spoken against the party. Without even verifying if this was really the case, Sonu alias Bhupathi, who was looking after DKSZC, decided to eliminate my brother. I went to my village, tape-recorded their as well as my brother’s versions on the issue and handed it over to Devji and Kosa alias Gopanna. But, the party leaders still warned my brother...” says Raghu. Incidentally, Sonu alias Bhupathi is now Central Committee member of CPI (Maoist). The ‘party’ threatening his brother did not go down well with Raghu. “It disturbed me. Despite spending so many years since my childhood with the party leaders, they started suspecting me. This mistrust was deeply hurting,” he observes. He first asked his wife Bharati, who was Secretary of Kasansur Area Committee of the Maoists, to surrender before police. In 2009, he too surrendered finally, after waiting for long for the ‘things to improve in party’. At the time of surrender, his wife carried a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh, and he carried cash reward of Rs 6 lakh. After surrender, both stayed at Kotgul for some time.

Some years passed by well. But, in 2012-13, Maoist terrorists issued posters against 10-12 surrendered persons, including him. “The language was threatening. Despite having served the party for years, they called us traitors. The posters mentioned that people would punish me. The message was clear,” he recalls. So, he started keeping low for a few years, which were disturbing for him. Finally, in 2017-18, he got a house under Government scheme in Murkhala in Gadchiroli and shifted there. Since then, he resides in the house and runs a small daily needs shop in front. His son is studying in school, and Raghu wants him to be a ‘big man’. But, Raghu and Bharati could have this son only after ‘de-sterilisation’. Because, according to him, ‘the party’ does not want cadres to have children and advocates sterilisation. In the past few years, many Naxalites/Maoists have surrendered before police. They have been rehabilitated too and are leading a happy and stress-free life. But, why are so many surrendering?

Ask Raghu and he replies, “Maoists are violent. Poor people work for the party even leaving aside their daily routine and livelihood too. However, the party kills the same people even at the slightest hint of suspicion, forgetting their years of dedication and contribution to the party’s cause.” Besides, the misguided innocent tribals, acting as foot-soldiers of Maoists, are left to fend for themselves, suffer, and are killed as ‘coverts’ or ‘police informers’. “The party leaders from Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana) always dominate local tribals. They are suspicious of tribals. What use is spending years for such party?” asks Jalamsai Lalsai Sadmek, who is still known as Raghu but has relegated to the past his identity as ‘Comrade Raghu’, before signing off.