Chhatradhar Mahato

Chhatradhar Mahato (Bengali: ছত্রধর মাহাতো) (born 1964) is an Indian political activist and convict from Lalgarh, West Bengal. He was the convener of the Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (transl. People's Committee Against Police Atrocities – PCAPA) during Lalgarh insurgency.

Chhatradhar Mahato
ছত্রধর মাহাতো
Born1964 (age 58–59)[1]
India
NationalityIndian
Known forTribal Leader
SpouseNiati Mahato

He gained prominence following the Salboni blast in November 2008. In 2020, he joined Trinamool Congress (TMC).[2] He was selected in the TMC State Committee in 2020 July.[3] He was arrested by a team of NIA officials in the early hours of March 28 in connection with the murder of a Communist Party of India (Marxist) worker Prabir Mahato in 2009 [4]

Early life

Chhatradhar Mahato was born at a tiny hamlet of Amlia in Lalgarh. He is the eldest of three brothers. After his Higher Secondary examination from Lalgarh Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, he joined Midnapore College where he became an active member of the Chhatra Parishad, student wing of the Congress, inspired by Mamata Banerjee. He did not complete his college education. Mahto belonged to Kudmi Mahato agricultural caste.[5]

Political prisoner status

In September 2012 Calcutta High Court granted Chhatradhar political prisoner status along with 8 other activist.[6][7][8] This ruling made the centre consider challenging the decision, as they feared more naxalites would seek 'political prisoner' status.[9][10]

Conviction

Court has convicted Mahato under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) along with other three PCPA member Sukhshanti Baske, Sambhu Soren and Sagun Murmu and sentenced to life imprisonment on 12 May 2015.[11]

Political career

After being released from jail,[12] he joined TMC officially and was inducted in its State Committee in July 2020.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Once partied with Cong, Trinamool, now he leads tribals in West Bengal". Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. "chhatradhar-mahato-joins-tmc-party-meeting-in-jhargram". etvbharat.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  3. "Mamata Banerjee announces reshuffle in TMC organisational structure ahead of 2021 WB Assembly polls". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  4. "NIA arrests TMC leader Chhatradhar Mahato". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  5. "Trinamool Congress changes strategy to secure Kurmi community's votebank in West Bengal". newindianexpress. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  6. Court grants nine rebels political prisoner status Archived 27 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012
  7. 9 jailed Maoists are ‘political prisoners’, rules Kolkata court articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012
  8. 7 Maoists get political prisoner status Archived 2013-01-31 at archive.today punjabnewsline.com Retrieved 13 October 2012
  9. Centre may challenge ‘political prisoner’ status to Maoists thehindu.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012
  10. Maoists as political prisoners? indiandefencereview.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012
  11. "Chhatradhar Mahato, three others convicted for sedition". The Hindu. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  12. Special Correspondent (3 February 2020). "Chhatradhar Mahato released from prison". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  13. Datta, Romita (13 March 2020). "Why Mamata Released Chhatradhar". India Today. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
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