19.11.11

Somewhere in Kolkata....



The name that launched a thousand red guerrillas in the Maoist siege against the state finally bade farewell to arms. On Thursday, Maoist commander Jagori Baske — who inspired awe and terror in Jangalmahal — walked up to Writers’Buildings with her husband, rebel comrade Rajaram Soren, and five-year-old son to surrender before West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Jagori’s name had cropped up after every major Maoist attack, including the Silda massacre in February 2010, and she was accused in over 30 cases, including horrific murders like the burning of an elderly CPM leader and his wife in Purulia in 2005. In the battle between the awe-inspiring squad commander and a loving mother, Jagori chose the latter. Five Maoist leaders, beginning with Prakash, have now surrendered to the Mamata government. What is not clear, though, is how she approached the administration. Sources say Jagori got in touch with some officials three months ago, leading to a series of delicate negotiations and culminating in Thursday’s dramatic surrender. Clad in battle fatigues, Jagori echoed Mamata’s words, saying, “The party (Maoists) led us on the wrong path. They said they would offer freedom to the people. They taught me to use weapons and kill people and policemen. As I grew older, I came to realize they were doing many wrongs. I want to go back to the mainstream. They (Maoists) are opposed to the development that the government wants, and that’s the reason I want to come back.” Surprising words from a ruthless rebel, who joined the Maoist ranks as a 16-year-old and never batted an eyelid when she took someone’s life. Her name first did the rounds for the December 2005 murder of CPM leader Rabindranath Kar and his wife Anandamoyee in Purulia. She is suspected to have led a squad that gunned down another leader, Mahendra Mahato, in July that year. But all that is past, Jagori said. She claimed she was misled into believing that change can be brought about at gunpoint, saying the movement had “lost its direction and purpose”. Rajaram said, “They (Maoists) had said they would work for development of the tribals, but I found them killing the tribals instead and realized I had chosen the wrong path.” Jagori’s surrender is a major success for the Mamata government. “I congratulate them for coming out like this,” Mamata said, promising to take up the responsibility of educating Jagori’s son Bahadur.

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