Bijapur: Almost a week after the surrender of notorious Maoist commander Dinesh Modiyam, local residents of Maoist-affected Gangloor area staged a strong protest against him, seeking capital punishment for Modiyam’s involvement in several killings in the area.
The villagers organised a demonstration against the surrender of the dreaded Maoist commander who according to the police is the most violent of the local commanders of the proscribed group.
The villagers after their protest rally also submitted a memorandum to the local authorities, stating that Modiyam is the man behind around 200 murders along displacement of many families.
The locals said that the killings carried out by Modiyam included of brutal murders of youths, women and children, emphasizing that such a notorious Maoist should not be re-integrated into the society and given benefits of rehabilitation policy. They also warned for a stronger agitation if their demands are not taken seriously by the administration.
According to the local political representatives, Modiyam was a synonym of terror during his association years with the banned outfit. He used to forcibly collect extortion money from the locals through violent means, this include frequent execution of those who dared to raise voice against his violent means.
“He killed many of the innocent villagers alleging them for being informers and behind eviction of many from their homes,” said one of the protestors.
This comes amidst the Chhattisgarh government announces to approve the Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy -2025 in place of Chhattisgarh Eradication Policy 2023 on March 12.
The newly approved policy aims to provide financial assistance, education, security, rehabilitation along employment opportunities to the surrendered Maoists, ensuring that those shunning the path of violence can lead a life with dignity.
Officials of the police say that they will deal with the criminal cases of surrendered cadres as per the provisions of surrender and rehabilitation policy.
Who is Dinesh Modiyam
A notorious Maoist, Dinesh Modiyam joined the Maoist group at a tender age and rose to the rank of DVC member. A synonym of terror in Bijapur, Modiyam during his association years with the banned group, was involved in multiple ambushes, resulting in loss of hundreds of lives.
An expert in Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Dinesh was said to be close to Central Committee member Madavi Hidma and Deva Barse, the commander of Maoist’s strongest unit battalion no 1.
Modiyam, along with his wife and child surrender before the Bijapur police lately, fearing his safety. He was active as a Divisional Committee (DVC) Member and carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh. He was also reported to be the secretary of Gangloor Area Committee of the proscribed group.
Read more at: DVC cadre involved in killing of over 100 security personnel surrenders; Maoists kill civilian in Sukma……
His wife Kala Tati was holding Area Committee Member (ACM) rank in the same unit. She was carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on her head as announced by the government.
The surrender of Modiyam is being seen as a body blow to the outlawed group in south Bastar area, where the extremists are already on the back foot given persistent offensive campaigns of security forces.
Meanwhile in a press release issued, the Maoist outfit has alleged that Dinesh and his wife have run away with the outfit’s money, asserting that the outfit will never forgive Modiyam and his wife.
It should be noted that a surge in surrender has been witnessed in the Maoist-infested Bastar region with many top cadres surrendering arms and joining the mainstreams in recent months. Earlier the government informed that over 800 cadres have shunned the path of violence and parted ways with the banned group in the year 2024 alone.
