Chhattisgarh woman Maoist surrendered last week, dies by suicide, probe sought

The deceased, Kawasi, was a member of Chetna Natya Mandli or CNM, which is a cultural wing of the Maoists.

Published on: Feb 24, 2021, 08:54:41 IST

By Ritesh Mishra | Edited by Abhinav Sahay, Raipur

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A 20-year-old woman Maoist cadre, who surrendered last week, allegedly died by suicide on Tuesday in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, the superintendent of police said he has requested for a magisterial probe into the incident.

Police said the woman died by suicide inside the washroom on Tuesday afternoon. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

“Kumar Pande Kawasi (20), resident of Gudse village which comes under Katekalyan Police station surrendered on February 19, along with five other Maoists. Kawasi died by suicide today in transit barrack on Tuesday at around 4:00 to 4:30pm. She went for taking bath and died by suicide by hanging by her dupatta. She was accompanied by surrendered cadre Jogi, constable Sushila Karram and GS Jayo Attami,” a statement issued by Dantewada superintendent of police Abhishek Pallava stated.

As per the police, Kawasi, was a member of Chetna Natya Mandli (CNM) - a cultural wing of the Maoists and she approached police on February 18 along with a senior woman Maoist cadre, Kumari Jogi (36), a member of Katekalyan area committee of the banned group, expressing their willingness to surrender.

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“Next day, the two cadres and two other Maoist couples turned themselves in before the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials. Due to threat (from the Maoists), the surrendered cadre generally prefer to stay in the town and in police security,” police said in a statement.

Pallava said he wrote to the Dantewada collector requesting him for a magisterial probe into the incident. Police said the post-mortem will be conducted on Wednesday morning.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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