Two surrendered Naxals join COVID-19 war, make masks for cops
Madkam Lakkha (31) and Reena Vekko (30), who workedwith Naxals in the forests of south Bastar, surrendered beforepolice in the last couple of years after realising that"violence brings nothing except pain".
They have now joined the war against the coronaviruspandemic as they have realised that "helping people givesultimate happiness".
Since the last 10 days, Lakkha and Vekko, along with apoliceman, have been engaged in stitching cloth masks in Sukmatown, located around 450 km from state capital Raipur.
"We have stitched around 1,000 masks so far. Thesemasks are not only being used by local people but also policepersonnel," Lakkha told over phone.
Lakkha, who surrendered in August last year, workedwith Maoists in various capacities, including militiacommander-in-chief since joining the outlawed outfit in 2008.
He also mentored a tailoring team of ultras and usedto stitch uniforms for senior cadres active in South Bastarand neighbouring Telangana.
"I am using my old skill and trying to support thepolice personnel who are working day and night during thelockdown. It is not a big contribution, but I am happy that Ican be useful to society in some way, he said.
Lakkha also works with police in translating Maoistcommunications, that are mostly in local dialects, into Hindiwhich has helped the security forces in gathering vitalintelligence for counter-insurgency operations.
Vekko, who quit the banned outfit in 2018 after beingactive as a hardcore rebel on Odisha-Chhattisgarh border forabout a decade, voluntarilyjoined Lakkha in producing masks.
She was not familiar with tailoring work, but wastrained in it as part of the government's rehabilitationprogramme for surrendered rebels.
"We stitch around 100 to 120 masks in a day. The rawmaterial for it is provided by local police, Lakkha said.
Hailing their contribution, Inspector General ofPolice (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said the two surrenderedcadres are playing their part in the battle against thepandemic, and setting an example for other such people.
"These little things are giving us hope that not allis lost and goodness remains," the official said.
The masks prepared by them are being distributed bypolice free of cost among local people, he added. TKPGK GK