Dantewada, October 18: Diwali will be celebrated with fireworks in Abujhmarh area of ​​Chhattisgarh after two decades. Till now, Naxalites had banned fireworks in Abujhmad area. Here Naxalites used to bust firecrackers to transmit information to each other.
After the surrender of all the Naxalites of Maad division in Jagdalpur on Friday, the ban on firecrackers in villages like Godsa, Niram, Palevaya, Kaushalnar, Pidiakot, Pahurnar, Manganar has now lifted. After the complete elimination of Naxalism from the area, the villagers are preparing to celebrate Diwali by bursting firecrackers for the first time in two decades.
Following the Naxalite retreat, villagers said their villages would now have access to electricity, roads, and other amenities. Previously, the Naxalites had to pay donations for every little thing, but that too would now end. PDS rations had to be brought from 20 kilometers away, and the Naxalites had to share even that. They had fixed shares in tendu leaves and MNREGA wages. They even charged annual fees for bikes and tractors. This will now end.
It’s worth noting that during Salwa Judum, approximately 200 families from Abujhmarh were displaced to the Kasoli relief camps. Families living there for the past two decades had been waiting for the end of Naxalism. Now, after this major surrender, those living in the relief camps are happy to return to their homeland. Last year, families living in barbed wire fences in the relief camps in Jagargunda, Sukma district, returned to their villages. Consequently, the hopes of return have increased among those living in the Kasoli relief camp. Judum is among those living in relief camps. Many families have lived here since 2005.
On Friday, when 210 Naxalites were surrendering in Jagdalpur, local journalists discussed with villagers that the fear of Naxalites still persists. They are still hesitant to speak openly about this. They believe they have not forgotten the large number of villagers killed during Salwa Judum. Therefore, for the safety of the villagers, we are keeping the details of our discussions with them, mentioning their changed names.
Butkiram of Pidiakot village in Abujhmarh said that he has received information about this, and now he will be able to return to his village. Mangali of Niram village in Abujhmad said, “The village is full of agriculture. After leaving the village, the Naxalites divided their fields among their comrades; now they will get their land back.” Jagan Mandavi of Abujhmad says he has 5 acres of farmland and will decide whether to return after observing the situation for the next month.