Dara's secret -- Sympathetic people in an isolated village

Dara's secret -- Sympathetic people in an isolated village
SHYAMHARI CHAKRA

GOHIRA (KEONJHAR), FEBRUARY 1: Finally, the Orissa police did it. Exactly one year and ten days after the heinous murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, the prime suspect, Dara Singh was nabbed late on Monday night from a well chosen hideout in Gohira forest.

The operation in Gohira hamlet, about 25 km from Karanjia town and under the Patna police range in Keonjhar district, was meticulously planned and executed in total secrecy. The local administration including the police learnt about the arrest from the radio.

A visit to the spot from where the special squad of Mayurbhanj police led by Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, SP, nabbed the prize catch revealed why Dara selected his hideout. Contrary to the popular belief that he was in dense forests in the foothills of Similipal along with his trusted followers and weapons, he preferred smaller hills, isolated villages and most significantly, sympathetic people. Gohira eminently filled the bill.

About one kilometre from the hamlet,adjacent to the small Bandiria hill full of caves and trees, there is the palla (tiny makeshift tent meant for temporary use) of young Jagannath Munda, a marginal farmer, who very often comes there to guard his paddy and potato cultivation against stray cattle. And this palla served as Dara's hideout till Monday.

Munda who was found with Dara inside his tent has also been arrested. But his widowed mother, younger brother and wife, who is expecting her second child soon, were ignorant of his crime. ``As usual he went to the tent in the evening after dinner to stay there during the night. Now we hear from you about his arrest,'' his brother said.

In and around Gohira and en route to the nearest town, the villagers one encounters simply refuse to believe the news of the arrest of their ``Robinhood'' Dara. ``Are you kidding'' a young man at the Khadikapada grampanchayat office near Gohira asks. He adds quickly ``if he is caught, then someone must have betrayed him for the cash reward''. Othersin Gohira claim that they have met Dara often in the village, greeting village elders. He was very friendly, they say. Likewise, locals reveal their sympathy and support for their `man of many miracles'. They appear relaxed that there would no more be raids by police and odd-hour interrogations. Yet, they fail to conceal their anger towards the ``source'' who helped the police nab Dara.

The policemen everywhere, on the contrary, irrespective of their cadre and involvement in the mission, look contented. ``After all, it is a credit for our department'' was the unanimous reaction of cops at Karanjia, Thakurmunda, Mohuldiha, Patna and Anandapur police stations.

Some policemen are sorry for not being able to have a look at Dara who for long put them in a tight spot. Says lady sub-inspector Kasturi at the Karanjia police station, ``on many occasions I was included in the squads for raids, but due to election duty I missed the chance of sharing the rare moment of victory and glory for our department onMonday.''