Cobra Commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas Told The Story

Cobra commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas told the story of those six days in captivity of Naxalites, you should also know.

Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, a Cobra commando of CRPF kidnapped during an encounter between security forces and Naxalites in Tarrem in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, was rescued on Thursday.

Jawan Manhas remained in captivity of Naxalites for six days. After his release from captivity, he briefly narrated the story of these six days. Rakeshwar Singh Manhas said that he was surrounded by Naxalites during the encounter on April 3.

It is noteworthy that in the encounter between security forces and Naxalites near Tekalguda-Jonaguda village on April 3, 22 soldiers were killed and more than 30 were injured.

Manhas said the Naxals asked him to surrender. He was not aware of where he was taken after surrendering. He was blindfolded during the change of venue.

Rakeshwar Singh Manhas said that the Naxalites were speaking in the local dialect. He could not understand their language.

The Naxalites, after apprehending Manhas, issued a letter demanding the state government to appoint an arbitrator in the matter.

Sources reveal that Bastar veteran Gandhian activist Dharampal Saini and Gondwana Samaj chief Muraiya Tarem had gone to the forest along with some locals.

After talks there, the Naxalites set up a public court and released the jawan. Jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas was brought by bike to Tarram Camp and assigned to Komal Singh, DIG, CRPF.

The Naxalites’ Pamhed Area Committee on Thursday called tribals from 20 villages in the forest near Tekmalmeta village and started a mass court.

The Naxalites handed the jawan to Dharampal Saini on the sixth day of the encounter, amidst a huge crowd.

Let me tell you that 91-year-old Dharampal Saini is a well-known Gandhian activist of Bastar. Saini, a disciple of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, has been working for women’s education in Bastar since 1979.

He has opened 36 Ashramshalas in the name of Mata Rukmini in the last four decades. In 1992, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri.