‘Afraid of going back to vote’: kin of youth killed by Naxals in Gadchiroli
Even as Gadchiroli-Chimur constituency goes to polls on April 19, Manoj Kando of the Nakshalgrasta Va Nakshal Pidit Sanghatna (organisation of victims of Naxalism), Gadchiroli, said there were many who have been displaced by Naxal violence.
Deceased Sainath Naroti. (Express file photo) Sainath Chaitu Naroti, a 26-year-old tribal youth, who was busy preparing for state competitive examinations in Gadchiroli city, came home to Mardahur village in Bhamragad district for Holi celebrations last year. But on the night of March 9, 2023, a group of Naxals shot him dead just because he had gone for police recruitment.
The impact of the incident was so traumatic that his family — parents, three brothers and a sister — all left their village to live elsewhere. “We have a big house, over 25 acres of farmland in our native place, but we left everything and came here. We are afraid of going back to vote due to the threat of Naxals,” said Santosh Naroti, brother of deceased Sainath.
The government declared monetary aid of Rs 13 lakh to Sainath’s family. “We have so far received Rs 8 lakh,” Satonsh told The Indian Express.
Manoj Kando (right) and Narendra Pungati of “Nakshalgrasta Va Nakshal Pidit Sanghatna” (Express photo)
Even as Gadchiroli-Chimur constituency goes to polls on April 19, Manoj Kando (40) of the Nakshalgrasta Va Nakshal Pidit Sanghatna (organisation of victims of Naxalism), Gadchiroli, said there were many like Sainath’s family who have been displaced by Naxal violence. “Some of them are still afraid of going back to vote. While others like me have changed their voting address,” he said.
Kando, a native of Deoda village in Etapalli, has now rented a house in Gadchiroli city and works at a local hospital. “I was also kidnapped by Naxals in 2009 because I appeared for police recruitment. They confined me for 30 days in dense forests and thrashed me ruthlessly. Fortunately, I was rescued during an encounter between Naxals and the police. But thereafter, I could never settle down in my village. I even shifted my voter ID address to the city,” he said.
Narendra Pungati (40), Kando’s associate and also a victim of Naxal violence, said he visited his native village Gardewada in Etapalli taluka of Gadchiroli only twice in the last 12 years. “Maoists kidnapped me and our village sarpanch Chamur Noi of Nationalist Congress Party on April 19, 2012. Maoists shot dead the sarpanch right in front of me, and only because he wished to avail government schemes for the development of our village. They called me a police informer, but did not kill me as some villagers convinced the Maoists I was innocent. However, they asked me to pay up Rs 2 lakh in five months as punishment. Unable to pay up, I escaped from my village. I started living in the city and went back only twice, once for my father’s funeral. I plan to go vote this time due to the increased police presence now,” Pungati said.
Neelotpal, Superintendent of Gadchiroli police said, “The police are appealing to people to come and vote, and celebrate the biggest festival of democracy.”
“Despite Naxals opposing the polls, the overall percentage of voting in Gadchiroli constituency in 2019 LS elections was significantly high (over 71 per cent). Naxalism has declined…..,” he said.
‘Whoever wins should support victims of Naxalism’
Many victims of Naxalism like Kando and Pungati came together under the banner of ‘Nakshalgrasta Va Nakshal Pidit Sanghatna’ to confront the group of activists who had through a “fact finding” endeavour raised questions on the Gadchiroli police action wherein about 40 Maoist cadres were killed in April 2018.
Pungati said, “We questioned activists as to why they do not come when innocent villagers are killed by Maoists. There are about 76 Naxal victims associated with our outfit. However, the number of Naxal victims across Gadchiroli is much more,” he said.
“Our outfit has put forth some demands to help uplift the displaced Naxal victims. We demand a piece of land and home under government schemes, free education for children, jobs in police or government service etc. Some Naxal victims work as special police officers and help policemen in several ways. They should be given a permanent source of income,” said Kando.
“Despite repeated letters to government officers and even the CM, our demands have not been fulfilled yet. We plan to register our organisation and keep raising our issues. Whosoever wins elections in Gadchiroli, we expect they should look into our demands and support victims of naxalism, living in bad conditions,” said Pungati.
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