Night after the guns fell silent in Bastar forest, minds of surrendered Maoists noisy & awake

RAIPUR: Accustomed to sleeping beneath the open forest sky, senses sharp, nerves on alert, always ready to flee at the slightest sound — not a single one of the 210 former Maoists who laid down arms in Bastar on Friday, could close their eyes on the first night after surrender.

Not used to the steady hum of a ceiling fan, the softness of a mattress, or the rumble of passing vehicles breaking the silence of the night and noise of their thoughts running in their minds, they stayed awake, trying to make sense of the sudden shift in their lives. Saturday morning was a new dawn for them after 20-25 years in forest life. They wished to read and watch news and TVs, newspapers were facilitated at the barracks of police training center in Jagdalpur, where the former Maoists have been accommodated at.

All 210 ex-Maoists preferred to stay together and asked for ration to cook their own simple food, this way, they will keep themselves engaged, they said. Although, having morning tea together was the only routine that wasn't changed. "This is a rehabilitation of a different kind unlike other surrenders as it's a huge group of male and female cadres coming from separate places. It's no less than the first day at a hostel.

The former cadres have asked us to give them some 3-4 days to settle and organize themselves. Many of them are not familiar with each other as they worked in different units," P Sundarraj, Bastar range IG told TOI. The ex-Maoists said that they would like to check news and know how they are being projected in the media and "outside" world.ADG anti-Naxal operation Vivekananda Sinha who visited the former cadres on Saturday morning, said that it's important they feel normal being there at the centre and they will soon start following a routine of yoga, sports and other activities. "To come out of the psychological trauma of being in the forest for so many years isn't easy. Now, they realize there's no threat but are not used to the comfort either. As of now we are interacting with them, and they are sharing their experiences on how they feel after coming out. They are pondering over how they would like to spend their life ahead," ADG told TOI. The day earlier, during the grand event of surrender, the 210 cadres stood with faces stern and upright, the same hands that fired gunshots upon seeing a security jawan, laid those weapons down and were made to hold roses in stead, right in front of their 'once upon a time enemies.' They showed no expression of regret for the bloodbath they painted Bastar red with, nor was there a clue of acceptance or excitement on their faces, to mainstream life waiting ahead. Standing like an indifferent bunch in a queue, posing with red roses before of the sea of media persons, their eyes still showed a sense of confidence and conviction. To what, only they know. People of Bastar would have never imagined that the “andar wale dada log” who remained elusive for decades, will ever come out only to choose to shun violence this time and no killing or meeting or recruitment. Those who lost their loved ones in Naxal violence, fumed for a while to see the “assassins” seemingly standing “guilt free” and preparing to lead a normal life which cannot be granted to any other criminal otherwise, in this country.But those victims of violence in Bastar chose to keep their mouths shut and eyes dry. “My only hope now is that no more innocent killing should occur in Bastar. Yes, there’s anger against them, but we have been made to understand that the Maoists are the youths of our own villages who were misled and pushed into violence,” said Sonu Markam, a villager witnessing the surrender programme in Jagdalpur.When the copies of Indian Constitution -- which the Maoists had learnt to disregard-- were handed to the surrendering cadres, their commander Rupesh seemed uncomfortable. ADG Sinha standing behind him in the queue, handed him the copy, which Rupesh reluctantly held, to pose for the cameras. "Change of heart is a gradual process which takes time. An ideology they followed for 40 years can't go in a jiffy," Sinha told TOI.