Chhatradhar Mahato

Chhatradhar Mahato (Bengali: ছত্রধর মাহাতো) (born 1964) is an Indian political activist from Lalgarh, West Bengal. He is the convener of the Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA)), and a prominent tribal leader, though he himself is not an adivasi by descent. He gained prominence following the Salboni blast in November 2008. Mahato

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 Day 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.

Political career

After the blast organized by the Maoists to blow up the convoy of the West Bengal Chief Minister, Chhatradhar Mahato came into prominence by instigating a movement against the alleged police atrocities at Lalgarh where the local administration was abolished and he, under the aegis of the Maoists, ruled it for nine months. He also protested against the central government's plans to deploy special forces against the Maoists.

Arrest

He was arrested after giving an interview to the police posing as journalists on 26 September 2009. This incident was protested by the journalists and intellectuals. Chhatradhar Mahato, convener of the Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) was accused to have a life insurance cover of Rs.1 crore. This was revealed during police interrogation following his arrest from the Lalgarh area on September 26. It was revealed later that the 1 crore rupee (10 million rupee) insurance story was false.

Political prisoner status

In September 2012 Calcutta High Court granted Chhatradhar political prisoner status along with 8 other activist. This ruling caused a major uproar in India.

Rajdhani incident

Members of People's Committee against Police Atrocities, stopped New Delhi bound, Bhubaneshwer Rajdhani Express in Midnapore to secure the release of Chhatradhar Mahato

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 life imprisonment on 12 May 2015.