Surrendered 20yo Maoist dies by suicide in Dantewada

Kumari Pande Kawasi, who had surrendered to the Dantewada police a few days ago, under the Lon Varratu (Return home) campaign has died by suicide. The member of Chetana Natya Manch (CNM) ended her life four days after her surrender to the police.

As per the police, Kawasi had surrendered to the Dantewada police on February 19th, along with five other Maoists who carried cash rewards on their heads. Several Maoists have been surrendering under the Lon Varratu campaign of the Naxal Extinction Mission for the past few weeks.

As per the police press release, the deceased, Kumari Pande Kawasi, was just 20 years old, and was a resident of Gudse in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. Part of the cultural wing of the Maoists, she was involved in spreading word about Maoism, posting banners, digging roads, etc. After the surrender, she was placed in a transit barrack. She went to take a bath in the bathroom, where she hanged herself. While Cadre Jogi, Constable Sushila karram and GS Jayo Attami, who had accompanied her to the bathroom forced open the door when she didn't come out in 15-20 minutes, and also tried to revive her, she had already passed away.

The police are conducting further investigation into the matter. The body of the deceased has also been sent to the District Hospital Dantewada for post mortem.

Kumari Jogi Kawasi, Kamlu aka Santosh Podiyam, Payke Kowasi, Bhume Uike and Linga Ram Uike were the other Maoists who had surrendered along with the deceased on February 19th, and carried cash rewards on their heads.