Aneesh and his family, residents of the Chapparam tribal settlement near Periya in Mananthavadi, continue to grapple with the terrifying memory of a showdown between Thunderbolt commandos and the Maoists.
Surrounded by dense forest, this tribal settlement, home to approximately 40 farming families from the Kurichia community, had become a regular stop for Maoists. They’d ask for supplies from local shops, seek assistance in charging their mobile phones, and gather information about commando movements. They’d also drop by for occasional meals.
On one fateful evening, when Aneesh, who works as a driver, returned home, Maoists including Chandru, Latha, Sundari, and Unnimaya were in his house. Aneesh’s wife Vineetha, their child, his brother Ajeesh, sister-in-law Binny, and their child also resided there. Inside, four Maoists were present, with another keeping watch outside. Three guns were placed outside, and only one was inside the house, according to Aneesh.
The confrontation erupted as the Maoists were about to depart after charging their phones and a power bank. Aneesh recalled, “Two were outside the house, and two others were about to leave when commandos started firing.” The entire area lost power suddenly. Maoists used only the gun inside the house, while those outside vanished into the darkness, he added.
The Thunderbolt commandos utilized searchlights during their operation. Aneesh described the chaos: “All of us, including children, were screaming when the police stormed into the house. There was total confusion as there were many people inside. So, the cops instructed us to sit on the ground for our safety. Gunshots echoed around us, and there are bullet marks on the house’s walls. We were bewildered about what had just happened.” According to his neighbors, the gunfire and raids lasted for nearly half an hour.
Another neighbor, requesting anonymity, mentioned that the Maoist group used to frequent the houses and attempted to recruit people into their ranks, highlighting the low crop prices and official apathy towards tribal communities.
Because the Maoists had established a rapport with the community, they were warmly received by the tribal families. Female cadres also played a role in bringing Maoists closer to the farming families.
These tribal farming families, residing on the fringes of the forest, have long endured severe poverty due to the harsh climate and uncooperative government policies. The location of the shootout is just a few kilometers from Kambamala, where Maoists targeted the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) office on September 28.
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