Chhatradhar Mahato
Encyclopedia
Chhatradhar Mahato is an India
n activist. He is the convener of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee and a prominent tribal leader, though he himself is not an adivasi
by descent. He gained prominence following the Salboni blast in November 2008.
. He is the eldest of three brothers. After his Higher Secondary examination from Lalgarh Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, he joined Midnapore Day College where he became an active member of the Chhatra Parishad, student wing of the Congress, inspired by Mamata Banerjee
. He did not complete his college education.
in Midnapore
to secure the release of Chhatradhar Mahato
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n activist. He is the convener of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee and a prominent tribal leader, though he himself is not an adivasi
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
by descent. He gained prominence following the Salboni blast in November 2008.
Early life
Chhatradhar Mahato was born at a tiny hamlet of Amlia in LalgarhLalgarh
Lalgarh is a village in the Sujangarh tehsil of the Churu district in Rajasthan, India. It is situated at a distance of 57 km from Sujangarh in the southwest direction near the border of Nagaur and Bikaner districts. This is a well-connected village by road from Sujangarh or Nagaur. Raja Lal Singh...
. He is the eldest of three brothers. After his Higher Secondary examination from Lalgarh Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, he joined Midnapore Day College where he became an active member of the Chhatra Parishad, student wing of the Congress, inspired by Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee is the 11th and current chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal. She is the first woman to hold the office. Banerjee founded All India Trinamool Congress in 1997 and became chairperson, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
. He did not complete his college education.
Political career
After the blast organized by the Maoists to blow up the convoy of the West Bengal CM, Chhatradhar Mahato came into prominence by instigating a movement against the alleged police atrocities at Lalgarh where the local administration was abolished and he, under the aegis of the Maoists, ruled it for nine months. He also protested against the central government's plans to deploy special forces against the Maoists.Arrest
He was arrested after giving an interview to the police posing as journalists on 26 September 2009. This incident was protested by the journalists and intellectuals. Chhatradhar Mahato, convener of the Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) was accused to have a life insurance cover of Rs.1 crore. This was revealed during police interrogation following his arrest from the Lalgarh area on September 26. It was revealed later that the 1 crore rupee (10 million rupee) insurance story was false.Rajdhani Incident
Members of People's Committee against Police Atrocities, stopped New Delhi bound, Bhubaneshwer Rajdhani ExpressRajdhani Express
Rajdhani Express is a passenger train service in India connecting New Delhi with other important destinations, especially state capitals. Rajdhani means "The Capital" in Hindi.- History :...
in Midnapore
Midnapore
Midnapore is the district headquarters of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. It is situated on the banks of the Kangsabati River . This area had taken a pioneering role in India's freedom struggle...
to secure the release of Chhatradhar Mahato