Dantewada Maoist attack: Martyr Jairam Podiyam, a former rebel, joined DRG to marry his girlfriend

Martyred soldier Jairam Podiyam, a former Maoist leader, surrendered and joined the DRG force because he wanted to marry his girlfriend.

Dantewada: Jairam Podiam, a District Reserve Group (DRG) soldier, who attained martyrdom while carrying out an anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on Wednesday, was the former Maoist. Jairam Podiyam laid down his arms and joined the DRG for his girl friend Fali Podiam. When Jairam was the rebel, he was carrying a courtship with Fali Podiam. The love affair between the duo blossomed over a period of time. Jairam wanted to get married to Fali. So, both tied the nuptial knot. Their relationship began when he was serving the CPI (Maoist), a proscribed outfit.

Jairam was born on October 1, 1995. Two brothers of the martyred soldier are engaged in farming. Jairam quit Left Wing extremism on March 1, 2020, to become a DRG jawan. The martyr laid down his arms before the police and decided to join the mainstream. The reason behind quitting the CPI (Maoist) was Jairam's fiancé Fali Podiam. Jairam's would-be wife was then staying at Chikpal. He was carrying a courtship with Fali and wanted to lead a decent life after marrying her. Jairam was serving as an RMP while working with the Maoist Organisation.

After the passage of one year of his surrender and joining the DRG force, Jairam entered into a wedlock with Fali. The slain soldier is survived by his wife and two children. The soldier attained martyrdom when he went for patrolling. On Wednesday morning, the vehicle in which Jairam was travelling was blown to pieces when it came in contact with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. Ten soldiers, including the driver of the vehicle, who was a civilian, were killed in the blast.