Prashant Bose aka Kishan Da, the once dreaded Maoist commander, is now spending his time at the Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi reading Bhagavad Gita.
Bose, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore on his head, was arrested by the police along with his wife Sheela Marandi from near a toll plaza in Jharkhand in November 2021.
Jail sources said that he got an English version of Bhagavad Gita issued in his name twice in the last three months. Suffering from various age-related ailments -- he is believed to be above 80 now -- Bose cannot not even walk on his own. His wife Sheela is also lodged in the same jail, whom he meets once a week.
Bose, wanted in several criminal cases, was said to be among the top rung leaders in the hierarchy of the rebel outfit, who used to head the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI) before it merged with the CPI-ML (People's War) to form the CPI (Maoist) in 2004.
As per police sources, he was the commander of Maoist activities in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
A native of West Bengal, Bose was arrested in 1974 but was released in 1978. Since then, he was absconding until his arrest in 2021.
After his arrest, Bose had confessed that he was involved in the Bara massacre of 1992, when the Maoist Communist Centre of India, now the CPI (Maoist), killed 40 Bhumihars at Bara village in Bihar's Gaya district.
He was also reportedly involved in the Jheeram Ghati carnage of 2013, when Maoist insurgents had attacked a convoy of Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, leaving 27 dead, including former state minister Mahendra Karma, Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, and senior party leader Vidya Charan Shukla, who died in the hospital later.
His wife Sheela is one of the two women to ever make it to the central committee of the CPI (Maoist), its highest decision-making body.
‘Pahalgam incident deeply disturbing & tragic’: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday termed the Pahalgam terror attack as disturbing & tragic and also condoled the victims and their families.
Congress finally deletes 'Gayab' post targeting PM Modi after outrage
Under fire from the BJP over its social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress finally, on Tuesday, took down the controversial post.
Guterres calls EAM Jaishankar, Pak PM Sharif; stresses pursuing justice in Pahalgam terror attack
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of pursuing justice in the Pahalgam terrorist attack while speaking with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shebaz Sharif, his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
Congress organises ‘Save Constitution’ rallies across NE states
The opposition Congress has been organising ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ (Save Constitution) campaign in the northeastern states. Claiming that the Constitution is in danger under the BJP-led Central government, the opposition Congress held a massive rally in Agartala on Tuesday.
RSS chief Bhagwat meets PM Modi after security huddle: Signs of a hard-hitting response in the works
In a significant political development, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Tuesday evening.
What PM Modi's free hand to armed forces against terror means for cross-border action?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unambiguous message during a high-level security meeting - ‘India is determined to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism’ - marks more than just a strong statement of resolve.
Justice BR Gavai appointed as next Chief Justice of India
Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on May 29, 2019. Appointed as Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003, he became a permanent Judge in November 2005.
Three more Bangladeshi nationals held in Tripura
The Tripura Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday apprehended three Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, for illegally entering India, officials said.