'Tau' of Bastar who got CoBRA commando released from Naxals

The release of CoBRA battalion commando, Rakeshwar Singh Manhas was not an easy task at all. An important role was played by Padma Shri Dharampal Saini, an eminent social worker of Bastar. The 91-year-old Dharampal Saini travelled a long and difficult journey of 500 km without exhaustion and got the jawan released.

Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh): He is 91 years old but is in news like never before. The whole world saw him in a relaxed frame of mind on April 8, which was, Thursday along with Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, a CoBRA battalion commando, who had been abducted during the Bijapur encounter between Naxals and security forces. It was not easy to secure the release of the jawan from Naxals. Everyone had set their eyes on Bastar to know when they got the news they were anxiously waiting for. It was suddenly learnt that Rakeshwar Singh Manhas has been released. Someone mediated to make this happen. Who were the arbitrators? ETV Bharat reached the house of the man who played a crucial role in the release of the jawan.

The release of Rakeshwar Singh Manhas was not an easy task at all. An important role was played by Padma Shri Dharampal Saini, an eminent social worker of Bastar. The 91-year-old Dharampal Saini travelled a long and difficult journey of 500 km without exhaustion and got the jawan released. He said that he travelled about 20 kilometres from Tarrem police station on a two-wheeler. The 91-year-old Dharampal Saini admitted that he suffered a lot during this journey but he wanted to fulfil his purpose – safely secure the release of the CRPF jawan in which he finally succeeded.

WHO IS DHARAMPAL SAINI?

The 91-year-old Dharampal Saini is known as Tau ji in Chhattisgarh. He is a philanthropist and runs the Mata Rukmani Kanya Ashram. His ashrams are being operated in Naxal-affected areas of Bastar division along with Jagdalpur city. After studying in the ashram of Dharampal Saini, many girls have brought laurels to Bastar by winning the first prize in the National Games. When Tau Ji came to Bastar in 1976, the literacy rate here was around one per cent. Saini’s contribution in raising the literacy rate in Bastar to 65 per cent cannot be denied. Not only that he has played a monumental rate in improving the literacy rate of Bastar but he is also a force and inspiration behind a total of 37 residential schools, which are being run under the aegis of Mata Rukmani Devi Ashram for the tribal girls of Bastar. Many of these schools are also in the areas badly affected by the Naxal problem.

Correspondent: How were you chosen for mediation?

Dharampal: It was on the evening of April 5 I got a call from the police administration. The caller asked for mediation to secure the release of the kidnapped CoBRA commando. I agreed to mediate. Gondwana Samaj president Telem Bauriya, its vice president Sukhmati Hakka, retired teacher Jai Rudra Kare and I left Jagdalpur for Bijapur on April 7. We spent the night at the Basaguda camp. The next morning, I left for the destination on a motorbike with the mediation team and local journalists. Naxals were already setting up a Jan Adalat. In this mass court, Naxals were listening to the complaints of the villagers. The Jan Adalat started from 12 noon and lasted till 4 in the evening. Meanwhile, the jawan taken hostage was brought to the Jan Adalat. After talking to the villagers and their consent, the jawan was released safely.

Correspondent: How was the situation of the jawan at Jan Adalat? Did he talk to anyone during that time?

Dharampal: The whole discussion with the Naxalites was positive. Two female Naxalite commanders led the Jan Adalat on behalf of the Naxalites. After which the final decision was taken and the jawan was safely given to the mediation team. During this time, the young man was completely cool and calm.

Correspondent: Did the Naxalites place any kind of condition?

Dharampal: The Naxalites had not placed any condition to free the jawan. They just said that when the jawan reaches his family, they need a picture so that they should know that the young man has reached safely his family and this can be confirmed.

Correspondent: How was the atmosphere there during the mediation?

Dharampal: The youths present in the Jan Adalat were of 13 to 30 year. Thousands of people from 20 nearby villages were called to this mass court. In front of them, the woman Naxalite commander offered to release the jawan, to which the majority agreed except a couple of people who had different views.

Correspondent: What should be done to end Naxalism?

Dharampal: The solution to the problem of Naxalism is possible but only through dialogue. There should be an initiative from both the government and the Naxalites. This problem should be solved over the negotiating table. Many great wars have ended on the table. But for peace, we need to have talks between the government and Naxalites. If an invitation is sent by the government for peace talks with the Naxalites, they will definitely come forward for it.

‘GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO TAKE POSITIVE INITIATIVE’

Dharampal Saini also revealed that the Naxalites told him that they are leaving the jawan safely. But the government should also consider leaving innocent Tribals who are in jails for years for their alleged involvement in Naxal cases. After being in the Jan Adalat for nearly four hours, Dharmapal Saini brought the jawan to the local Tarrem police station along with local journalists of Bijapur district. From there the jawan was handed over to the CRPF DIG at Basaguda base camp. During this, the jawan said that the Naxalites did not cause any harm to him while being held hostage for six days. During the encounter, the Naxalites had found him in a state of unconsciousness. Dharampal said that he will be fully ready to play his role to maintain peace in Bastar. He said that the Naxalites discussed with him for a long and also took detailed information about his institutions.