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Former Maoist Dies by Suicide at Chhattisgarh Rehab Center
· Confirmed
In Short: A 26-year-old former Maoist cadre died by suicide at a rehabilitation center in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, days before his release.
A 26-year-old former Maoist cadre died by suicide at a rehabilitation center in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Wednesday morning, according to The Indian Express and Rediff. The deceased, Narsu Boddu alias Naiti, was a resident of Kamkanar in Gangaloor area, a major ground for Maoist recruitment.
Boddu had come to the rehab center voluntarily in July to seek benefits, including money, a mobile phone, and training in agriculture and fish farming, under the policy. He was to be released soon, but his death has left his family devastated. His wife, children, and aging father were expecting his return.
Police said Boddu was a low-rung cadre who never had any serious offense registered against him. He had surrendered before but was sent back. This year, he was called for rehabilitation again. A police source said Boddu's mother had died by suicide two years ago, and his brother had died in the same manner four to five years ago.
The Indian Express reported that Boddu's aunt, also a surrendered cadre, was housed in the same rehab center along with 120 others. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Umesh Gupta said.
This is the third death in the Naiti family due to suicide. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for former Maoist cadres in Chhattisgarh.
In a separate development, an NIA special court in Jagdalpur on Wednesday awarded death sentences to all 10 convicts in the 2013 Jheeram Ghati Naxal attack case. The case relates to the planned attack by armed cadres of the proscribed organization CPI (Maoist) on the convoy of Congress party’s 'Parivartan Yatra' in Jheeram Ghati, Darbha, in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
Among those killed were then-Chhattisgarh Congress President Nandkumar Patel, senior leader Mahendra Karma, and former Union Minister Vidyacharan Shukla. A total of 101 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial, and several documentary pieces of evidence were presented.
The Chhattisgarh cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 500 crore startup and skills mission to create new opportunities in employment, skill development, entrepreneurship, and innovation for the state's youth, officials said. The mission envisages setting up entrepreneurship development centers in all 33 districts, 100 emerging technology laboratories, and five industry excellence centers.
What this adds
Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash S Naidu, a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, specialized in crisis and disaster management, notably covering the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline personnel in Maharashtra.
Background
A 26-year-old former Maoist died by suicide at a rehabilitation center in Chhattisgarh, days before his release.
What's confirmed
- A 26-year-old former Maoist cadre died by suicide at a rehabilitation center in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Wednesday morning, according to The Indian Express and Rediff. The deceased, Narsu Boddu alias Naiti, was a resident of Kamkanar in Gangaloor area, a major ground for Maoist recruitment.
- Boddu had come to the rehab center voluntarily in July to seek benefits, including money, a mobile phone, and training in agriculture and fish farming, under the policy. He was to be released soon, but his death has left his family devastated. His wife, children, and aging father were expecting his return.
- Police said Boddu was a low-rung cadre who never had any serious offense registered against him. He had surrendered before but was sent back. This year, he was called for rehabilitation again. A police source said Boddu's mother had died by suicide two years ago, and his brother had died in the same manner four to five years ago.
- The Indian Express reported that Boddu's aunt, also a surrendered cadre, was housed in the same rehab center along with 120 others. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Umesh Gupta said.
- This is the third death in the Naiti family due to suicide. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for former Maoist cadres in Chhattisgarh.
- In a separate development, an NIA special court in Jagdalpur on Wednesday awarded death sentences to all 10 convicts in the 2013 Jheeram Ghati Naxal attack case. The case relates to the planned attack by armed cadres of the proscribed organization CPI (Maoist) on the convoy of Congress party’s 'Parivartan Yatra' in Jheeram Ghati, Darbha, in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
- Among those killed were then-Chhattisgarh Congress President Nandkumar Patel, senior leader Mahendra Karma, and former Union Minister Vidyacharan Shukla. A total of 101 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial, and several documentary pieces of evidence were presented.
- The Chhattisgarh cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 500 crore startup and skills mission to create new opportunities in employment, skill development, entrepreneurship, and innovation for the state's youth, officials said. The mission envisages setting up entrepreneurship development centers in all 33 districts, 100 emerging technology laboratories, and five industry excellence centers.
What's still developing
- Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel.
- Highlighting the momentum generated under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Majhi noted that the synergy of “double-engine governments” has significantly accelerated the dispute resolution mechanism.
- Calling the Mahanadi the “lifeline and livelihood for crores of people of Odisha,” the Chief Minister emphasized that Odisha’s core priorities—including irrigation, flood control, hydropower generation, drinking water supply, and environmental safeguards—were firmly presented during the deliberations to ensure the state receives an adequate volume of water.
- Tracing the roadmap of negotiations, CM Majhi detailed that initial bilateral discussions between the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh took place in July–August 2025.
- "The barbaric massacre in Jhiram Ghati is an agonising chapter in Chhattisgarh 's history whose bitter memories will continue to torment us for a long time. In this heinous violence, we also lost senior leaders of the state, security personnel, and ordinary citizens. The death sentence handed down by the Jagdalpur NIA Court to the ten Maoists found guilty in the case is a victory for justice,” he said in a post on X.
- The cabinet also cleared the Chhattisgarh Export Promotion Policy 2026-30, which aims to build a robust export ecosystem and strengthen logistics infrastructure in the state.
- The policy aims to achieve qualitative and quantitative growth in Chhattisgarh's exports while strengthening the state's integration with national and global markets, the official said.
- The proposed NSTI is expected to create opportunities for advanced skill training, internships and employment for the state's youth and help establish Nava Raipur as a major centre for skill and technical education, the official said.
- The initiative also seeks to establish Chhattisgarh as a major hub for startups, innovation and technology-driven industries.
- The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhavan here, also approved the Chhattisgarh Export Promotion Policy 2026-30 aimed at developing the state as a major export hub.
- Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh.