Gadchiroli goes from rifle by bore to iron ore

Surrendered Naxals join the mainstream as factory workers

- ANAND SINGH

Shanti Navrokulla, a surrendered Maoist in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, had got orphaned in her early childhood. She shared the hardships that she and her comrades have had to face at the hands of Maoist groups with which they were associated. She stated that even if they were ill, they had to work for the Maoist groups and were made to lift heavy loads even beyond their capacity, putting their lives at risk from the security agencies in case of any conflict.

"It used to happen even during emergencies, and we were told to face difficulties and carry heavy things", she said. Once she realised the extent to which they were being exploited, she left the path of the Maoists, also known as Naxals, and surrendered to the police. She now has a job and is leading a safe and secure life.

Baby Wasnik said that it was he who had approached the Maoists since he wasn't really educated. "I did rastabandi (road blocking) for them. But gradually I came to know that their way of life was not the right path to pursue, so eventually I surrendered," he said.

"Now I work with Lloyds Metals. I am thankful to Gadchiroli SP, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and MD, B. Prabhakaran for giving me this job and now we are living our lives well," he stated.