Story of Communist Terrorism - Chapter 4

The last chapter ended with Vikram finding a possible clue to the investigation. The next chapter introduces new characters, namely Purshottam Sethi, a local but popular businessman; Prashant, Purshottam’s assistant; Anjali, Purshottam’s daughter; Dhruva Muriya, Anjali’s late husband; and Rudra, a PhD student staying in the village to conduct research.

Anjali is opening ‘Dhruva Muriya Memorial School,’ sponsored by her father, to continue her husband’s and Officer Darshan’s good work for the village. Just like Darshan, Dhruva was also killed in a Maoist attack.

He was on his way to the big cities to popularise Tribal goods when Dhruva, his colleague and two bodyguards were killed by the Naxalites.

Their dead bodies were found in their vehicle riddled with bullets. They were shot multiple times and had the slogan “Death to Traitors” painted over.

The next day Bhoomi informs Vikram that the little boy working in Mangtu’s stall had given them his number. Before the patrol left, the boy had delivered tea and Pakodas to Darshan’s cabin wherein he saw a map of the forest route being discussed by the officers.

He mentioned this to Mangtu and Vikram concludes that Mangtu informed his Maoist friends about the patrol. To find more guileless informants, Vikram orders Gayaram to set a post near the new school under the guise of watching over the school.

Through the mobile service provider, they found out that Mangtu had called someone at 4.40 AM, just a few minutes after the patrol had left. The other number was under Prashant’s name.

When confronted about this, Prashant revealed he had bought 10 cell phones and sim cards in his name under the instruction of Dhruva, for Dhruva wanted to gift functional phones to children of janjatiya employees who did well in academics.

The number was given to Dhruva’s assistant who was shot alongside Dhruva. Vikram thinks Dhruva’s killers might be mixed with the ambush.

In the Police Station Bhoomi reveals that the number has been used infrequently and the last location where it was operated was in the middle of the nearest village and the ambush site.

Next up Gayaram reveals he has found another child, used as a courier between Mangtu and Rudra. The boy was given some ‘blank’ papers by Rudra to carry to Mangtu.

The SP then heads out with a police party to meet Rudra. Upon reaching the Village Mukhiya’s house, where Rudra was staying, they see Rudra trying to run away. During the chase, Lokesh gets slightly injured but manages to slow Rudra down which helps in arresting Rudra.

Efforts to turn Maoist hotbeds into a liveable place for villagers have been going on for years. There are many places in Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and other Maoist-affected states where villagers are now being tended to.

Building schools in such areas ensures that the younger generation will not be caught in the lies of Naxals. In Jagargunda, a village in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, five schools were reopened by the government after 13 years.

The villagers and local children were very happy with this decision of the government, expressing their joy by taking admission in large numbers within just one week of opening.

These schools were demolished by Naxals during their attack on tribals in the year 2006, to protest against the local tribal’s Salwa Judum.

Due to the demolishment, children of the settlement had to travel several kilometres to attain education. With the reopening, children won’t have to travel far and will be able to gain knowledge in their own area. The school were renovated and reopened in the year 2019 to show a sign of peaceful development in the area.

Development was also done in terms of making the villagers realise their freedom. Every year on Independence Day, some villages celebrate their first Independence Day.

On 15th August 2023, Burgum, Tumrigunda, and Badegadam, three villages of Chhattisgarh, celebrated their first Independence Day with the rest of India. Similarly, other former Naxal-dominated areas have also celebrated Independence Day in the last few years and gained a newfound freedom.

On the day of independence, villagers, children, Security persons, and surrendered Maoists hold onto their feeling of patriotism and proudly witness the flag hoisting ceremony.

In Naxal-dominated areas, children become an easy target of Naxals as young minds can be easily manipulated. Older children are trained in arms while the younger are trained to carry minor chores like acting as a courier or a spy.

It is hard for police to pinpoint the mode of communication of Naxalites as children are often overlooked during any such investigation.

As these children get older, they continue supporting Maoists and fail to realise their wrong for they have grown into thinking following Naxalites is the right path and those who oppose them stand in the wrong.

Education and providing better facilities will guide the minds of children from the start into thinking and deciding for themselves that what is right and what is not.

In the next chapter of the book, the readers will come to know the far-reached connection of Maoists and a show of violence.