ATS chargesheet: ‘Urban youths were introduced to us in jungles as Maoists’
Krushna (left); GopiBY CHANDAN HAYGUNDE
Two surrendered ‘Maoists’ — Gopi alias Nirangsai Darbarsingh Madavi (30) and Krushna alias Birju Dorpate (28) — both from Gadchiroli district have told Pune Newsline that youths from Pune whom they met in the jungles were introduced to the duo as ‘Maoists’.The ATS has included the statements of Gopi and Krushna —who surrendered in 2014—in the chargesheet filed against alleged “Maoist” couple Arun Bhelke and Kanchan Nanware. The three were arrested in September 2014.
The chargesheet states that Gopi was the area secretary of 3K Dalam operating in Korchi, Kurkheda, and Krushna was divisional committee member of company 4 of the “Maoists” in Tipagad jungles of Gadchiroli. On being shown photographs of Arun, Kanchan and the artistes of Pune-based Kabir Kala Manch—Sheetal Sathe, her husband Sachin Mali, Ramesh Gaichor, Sagar Gorkhe and Santosh Shelar—the two arrested youth identified them, though there was a mismatch in the names. Gopi identified Sheetal as Janaki, Sachin as Samar, Sagar as Akash, Ramesh as Yogesh, Santosh as Vishwa. He said two girls Priyanka and Kausalya had come to the jungles. Cops suspect the girls are KKM artistes Rupali and Jyoti who accompanied Ramesh and Sagar when they surrendered. Krushna identified Sheetal, Sachin and Santosh. But he did not remember names of the other artistes.
These KKM artistes were booked by ATS after the arrest of alleged Maoist Angela Sontakke and her aides from Thane and Pune, in April-May 2011. Sachin, Sheetal, Ramesh and Sagar had surrendered a “satyagraha” in Mumbai in 2013. Two KKM artists Santosh Shelar and Prashant Kamble of Pune, also booked in the case are still missing and suspected to have joined the Maoists in the jungles who adopt a militant stand and warfare tactics. KKM has been denying allegations of any links with the Maoists.
Gopi said that in 2011, when he was active in the Dalam in Khobramenda jungle, a few urban youths were seen with Milind Teltumbde alias Deepak, who is now central committee member of the Maoists. “Deepak introduced them to us as our party members working in urban areas. They used to sing revolutionary songs. They also conducted physical training. But they were not with us all time. They mainly had discussions with Deepak. I spoke to them a few times. They left the jungle after a few months,” he said.
Asked about Santosh, Gopi said he is known as Vishwa in the party. “He is a good painter. He talks less. He draws pictures and makes posters for Maoists. He carries a rifle and ammunition,” he said. Asked about Prashant Kamble alias “Laptop”, Gopi said, “He moves with Deepak. I do not know much about him.”
Krushna and Gopi identified Arun Bhelke as Rajan and Kanchan as Bhoomi. “Rajan is educated. He was spreading Maoist work in urban areas. He used to come to the jungles to meet Deepak. Bhoomi lived in the jungles and worked as a nurse. She gave medicines and first aid to Dalam members. She could not walk much due to illness. So sometimes she halted in villages for rest,” said Gopi.
Krushna said, “Kanchan had a heart ailment. She was sent with Rajan to the urban area in 2012, where she could have better treatment.” Krushna was inspired to join the Maoists in 2022 after hearing songs of Chetna Natya Manch, a Gopi has passed HSC and joined the Maoists in 2002 owing to disputes at home.
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