Having a Phone is All it Takes to Attract Suspicion from the Maoists

Annamika Sunil, 11th June 2021 Ramu (name changed) spent almost 16 years working for Naxals, moving from village to village evangelizing their cause. But all it took was possession of a phone to kick him out. Ramu's two older brothers and wife were a part of the movement. Juggling between being a Committee Commander of the ACM in the Bhairamgarh area, an AC coordinator and a DAKMS party member, he was constantly on the move from village to village to conduct meetings, form unions and talk about the Naxalite movement, all of which meant being away from his family for long periods of time. The police even placed an Rs. 5 lakh bounty on his head. Due to the constant traveling, he had a phone that he borrowed from his cousin to help him stay in touch with his family as well as organize meetings as part of his work. But the party had a no-phone policy and that caused a growing amount of suspicion against him. ‘Was he conspiring with the police against them?’ was the question he received. They constantly checked his call history but weren't satisfied even when they didn’t find anything. They threw curses at him and finally kicked him out of the party. His wife too was a part of the naxals. In fact, that’s where they got to know each other! But during her Naxalite days, she fell sick and had to go back to her village. The police got to know she was in the village. They arrested her and put her behind the bars for a year. After she got out, she turned to farming instead of going back to the Naxalite movement. He surrendered in February 2021. After the initial compensation of Rs. 6000 and a promise of a job, he knocks on the doors of the DRG office every day. Although he has not had any luck so far, he still clings to his dreams of one day being able to buy a house for himself and his family.  Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on whatsapp WhatsApp