Chaanduram Sethiya's Change of Heart - and Uniform

Shloka Mehta, 11th June 2021

Chaanduram Sethiya, age 22, is married, has no kids and is now working with the police. He joined the Naxalites, in the 26th platoon, not out of willingness or belief in their ideas, but because there was not much choice. In fact, he admits that at a tender age he didn’t understand much about their beliefs or whether what he was doing was right or wrong. He had been introduced to well-placed people in the village and neighbouring regions who convinced him to join. At any rate, being a naxalite was an opportunity and he grew up in an area where survival demanded any means necessary. His job involved reconnaissance missions where he drove around with the commanders of the naxal group surveilling supposed enemies who were with the police. Apart from a few scuffles, he did not partake in direct conflicts with the police but his work  did involve interrogating and roughing up local villagers, some of whom were innocent. Disillusioned with this line of work, he contacted someone from his village and said that he wanted to return. On the villager’s advice, he surrendered in 2020 at the police station. While Chaanduram was with the naxals, he struggled for food and shelter and even had to stay away from his family. Now that he is with the District Reserve Group involved with anti-naxal operations, he has been able to marry his wife and remain in contact with mainstream society, something that he had craved as a Naxal. He lives and works with his unit, and while threat and danger from the Naxalites loom over his head, he does not fear them. After all, he has been a part of them. “I am ready to fight the Naxals. There may be a threat, but I am on the government’s side. I will go along with them and help them,” says Chaanduram.  He has faith in the establishment and is determined to lend his efforts to the cause of eradicating Naxalism. It will be a tough task, but he is not afraid.  Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on whatsapp WhatsApp