Latest news with #ex-Maoists
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Red rebel turns blue warrior
JHARKHAND : They say, true revolution stems from necessity, and a strong sense of justice. Om Prakash Sahu's decision to exit the Maoist organisation came out of the realisation that they were being exploited by the top leaders, which paved the way for a small revolution among fellow ex-Maoists, who joined together to form a fish farming community in Gumla, Jharkhand. 'It was danger at every step when I left the organisation. Several attempts were made to kill me, but I survived each of them and fought on, with a group of 18-20 people. About 8-10 of my supporters got killed by the Maoists, but I did not lose hope and moved on with my stone crusher business. The government later banned the stone crusher business in 2017, which left me unemployed' said Om Prakash Sahu. 'During this phase, my friend Jyoti Lakra, already a fish farmer, encouraged me to take up fish farming,' said Sahu. More than 200 families of the Basia Block of Gumla are indebted to Sahu for helping them with a livelihood. 'More than 150 ex-Maoists are directly or indirectly engaged with me in fish farming' said Sahu. Locals asserted that he wore his life on his sleeves and helped drag out Maoists from the region, which brought peace to the region. 'The training given by the fisheries department proved to be a turning point in my life,' said Sahu. Later, in 2024, he received assistance under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for six ponds with advanced Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) technology Ishwar Gope, 42, an ex-Maoist and friend of Sahu, now harvests eight quintals of fish worth `2,50,000 annually from a government pond. Likewise, Lakhan Singh, 51, had been doing fish farming traditionally in his own pond, but after meeting Sahu, started doing it in an organised way in the five ponds he owns and is making a good profit. Singh returned home after several years as a daily wage labourer, due to Sahu's efforts- he had to leave more than 150 acres of ancestral land when Maoist menace hit peak.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ex-PLGA Head Helps Commandos Navigate IEDs, Storm Abujmarh
1 2 3 Nagpur: In the booby-trapped hills of Abujmarh, once the impregnable stronghold of Maoists, a new dynamic is reshaping the battle against the guerrillas. Giridhar, a former commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Company No. 10 has emerged as a pivotal figure in the security forces' mission to dismantle the Maoist fortress, said an official source. Giridhar, who surrendered before CM Devendra Fadnavis along with his wife last year, has transitioned to a key asset with his intimate knowledge of Maoist camps, routes, exit points, hiding places, and locations of deadly booby traps and spike holes in Abujmarh and its adjoining areas. His inputs have been instrumental in fine-tuning ground-level commando operations in treacherous terrain, said top sources. "After leading the PLGA for three decades, Giridhar's contributions have been critical in Gadchiroli and neighbouring Chhattisgarh, where the fight against Maoism has intensified," an official said. Their strategic deployment in operations has helped leverage their expertise in guerrilla warfare. Beyond providing tactical intelligence, these ex-Maoists play a crucial role in identifying the bodies of neutralised Maoists after encounters, as most Maoist cadres lack recent photographs or verifiable records. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Giridhar, in particular, has been summoned multiple times to Chhattisgarh to assist in this task. This week, Giridhar participated in a police-organised blood donation camp in Gadchiroli, joining 330 other such donors. Sources indicate he has shared critical details on Maoist strategies, military techniques, arms training, and artillery information with Gadchiroli police. This intelligence significantly enhanced effectiveness of operations at ground zero, allowing security forces to anticipate and counter Maoist tactics. Giridhar's insights also helped in planning operations that minimise risks to personnel, a key factor in a region where ambushes & IEDs remain constant threats. Giridhar's personal journey is equally noteworthy. After Giridhar's surrender, his marriage was solemnised in the presence of chief minister Fadnavis, symbolising a new chapter in his life last week. His transformation from a Maoist commander to a state collaborator reflects the broader success of rehabilitation programmes for surrendered cadres. Over the past two years, approximately 60 Maoists surrendered before Gadchiroli police under SP Neelotpal. While senior officials remain tight-lipped about the specifics of how former Maoists are utilised, sources confirm that their clandestine involvement has saved commandos in Abujmarh's unforgiving terrain. Chhattisgarh, too, recognised the value of former Maoists, inducting some of them into its security forces.
