Maoist who gave up gun, jawan enlisted last month: Chhattisgarh bids farewell

Hariram, his cousin said, was in the Maoist ranks for three years. Fearing death, he surrendered sometime after the 2018 Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh. Police said the 36-year-old from Dantewada joined the force in 2020.  “Death was always a possibility for him, never mind which side he chose to be on. He had joined the Naxals fearing that police would arrest him. He later fought with the  Naxals and surrendered to police. He joined the force and was with the DRG (the state anti-Naxal force) for three years,” Boti Ram said.

The story of Raju Ram Kartam, a 24-year-old also killed in the attack, is similar. Kartam surrendered to police in 2021 and joined the force a year later. A family member said Kartam used to run a general store in his village Kawasipara in Dantewada. “There were allegations that he was helping the Naxals. On the other hand, there were whispers that he was a mukhbir (police informer). He felt that he would be killed if he continued to live in the village. He left his parents and came to Dantewada city where he surrendered. He married last year and has a son,” Raju’s uncle Gangaram Sodi said.

Another jawan, Joga Sodi, 33,  had joined the DRG in 2017. His brother is in jail for allegedly taking part in Naxal activity. Joga is survived by his wife, twin sons born earlier this year, and two daughters of age 6 and 3.

Among the dead was a civilian driver, Dhaniram Yadav. The 35-year-old had driven vehicles carrying police personnel multiple times in the past. Bhojraj Yadav, his uncle, said, “He was the sole breadwinner.”

Another jawan, Dulgo Mandavi, 22, joined the DRG on March 6. He leaves behind his wife and son.0