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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Rebel trophy with a riddle

Rebel trophy with a riddle

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published Published on Nov 17, 2011   modified Modified on Nov 17, 2011

-The Telegraph

 

The Bengal government today pulled out of its hat Jagori Baskey, once a feared member of the Maoist action squad and a purported ace shot, saying that the woman and her husband had surrendered this morning.

Conflicting versions flew about Jagori’s current status in the Maoist outfit and the actual time of the surrender, the announcement of which at Writers’ this afternoon coincided with a dramatic escalation in hostilities between the government and the rebels.

But the occasion did provide chief minister Mamata Banerjee with a chance to assure “my brothers and sisters” that they would be treated as “our own” if they returned to the mainstream. It also told the tale of a girl who got mixed up with a guerrilla outfit when she was aged not more than 15.

The government said Jagori and her husband Rajaram Soren alias Sagen Santhal had surrendered this morning before the IG, intelligence branch. Despite being in uniform, the couple did not surrender with any weapons.

In the afternoon, Jagori, allegedly involved in several major Maoist operations and killings, and Soren, accused in eight cases, met the chief minister at Writers’.

“They surrendered before the IG (IB) today,” said a beaming Mamata, flanked by Jagori, Rajaram and their four-year-old son. “I have heard from them how Maoists torture women, kill people. They have decided to shun arms and lead a normal life. The government will do everything to support them.”

Chief secretary Samar Ghosh said Jagori was part of many raids in which policemen were also killed. “She was involved in seven-eight cases, including the Shilda camp attack (in which 24 jawans were killed). Soren was also wanted in eight cases. Now that they have decided to join the mainstream, we will do everything to help them lead a normal life,” Ghosh said.

However, some police officers as well as rebel sources said Jagori had been expelled from the CPI (Maoist) about two years ago for violating party discipline. If that is true, she could not have taken part in the Shilda camp attack in February last year.

The police sources said that after her expulsion, Jagori hid in the jungles of Purulia and West Midnapore with her son before her husband joined her. They gave themselves up before Purulia police a few months ago, the sources said.

More than one police officer said Jagori and her husband had been in the custody of Purulia police for the past three months.

“They were finding it increasingly difficult to get shelter since they were no longer with the Maoists but, at the same time, were wanted by the police,” an officer said. “So, we kept them in our custody.”

With the joint forces’ operations having resumed, a senior officer said, this was the “perfect time” to produce the surrendered duo before the chief minister as it could encourage other rebels to defect.

“Delayed” and “stage-managed” surrenders are not unusual. Last year, a woman Maoist’s “surrender” was tom-tommed but police sources later said she had been taken into custody three months earlier.

This afternoon, Jagori said that she was forced to join the rebel outfit. “I was very young then, barely 15 or 16, and didn’t realise what they were doing was wrong,” she said, standing on the podium at Writers’. “They taught me to use guns, kill people and policemen. Gradually I realised that this was criminal. Now I want to come back to the mainstream. I will ask others to surrender and lead normal lives.”

Rajaram said he had been with the Maoists for 10 years. “They talked about doing good to the tribals but were killing them. We went the wrong way. Those who are still with the Maoists should come back,” he said.

An officer said this was the message the government was seeking to put across to the Maoists.

Mamata assured Jagori and Rajaram that the government would take care of their son’s education. “We will try for admission in a Ramakrishna Mission-run school or else any other school with hostel facility where he can study till Class XII. He is an extremely intelligent boy. I spoke to him,” she said.

The state government offers a three-year fixed deposit of Rs 1.5 lakh and a stipend of Rs 2,000 a month during the same period to Maoists who surrender. Mamata has also promised jobs to those who lay down arms.

Mamata had a word of warning and advice for Maoist supporters operating from urban areas. “These are people who make the plans and they are more dangerous. I will request them not to conspire to kill people. I hope my brothers and sisters will return. We will treat them as our own,” she said.

The Telegraph, 18 November, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111118/jsp/frontpage/story_14767606.jsp


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