Chhatradhar Mahato (born 1964) is an Indian political activist and convict from
Lalgarh, West Bengal. He convened the ''Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee'' (People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, or PCAPA) during
Lalgarh insurgency.
He became prominent following the Salboni blast in November 2008. In 2020, he joined
Trinamool Congress (TMC). He was selected in the TMC State Committee in 2020 July. He was arrested by a team of NIA officials in the early hours of March 28 in connection with the murder of a Communist Party of India (Marxist) worker Prabir Mahato in 2009
Early life
Chhatradhar Mahato was born in the hamlet of Amlia in
Lalgarh. He is the eldest of three brothers. After high school he went to
Midnapore College where he became an active member of the Chhatra Parishad, student wing of the Congress, inspired by
Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee (; born 5 January 1955) is an Indian politician who is serving as the eighth and current List of chief ministers of West Bengal, chief minister of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of West Bengal since 2 ...
. He did not finish college. Mahto belonged to the
Kudmi Mahato agricultural caste.
Political prisoner status
In September 2012
Calcutta High Court granted Chhatradhar
political prisoner
A political prisoner is someone imprisoned for their political activity. The political offense is not always the official reason for the prisoner's detention.
There is no internationally recognized legal definition of the concept, although ...
status along with eight other activists. This ruling made the centre consider challenging the decision, as they feared more naxalites would seek 'political prisoner' status.
Conviction
He was convicted under the
Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) along with PCPA members Sukhshanti Baske, Sambhu Soren and Sagun Murmu and sentenced to life imprisonment on 12 May 2015.
Political career
After being released from jail, he joined TMC officially and joined its State Committee in July 2020.
See also
*
Jagdish Mahto
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahato, Chhatradhar
1964 births
Living people
Naxalite–Maoist insurgency
Ramakrishna Mission schools alumni
Vidyasagar University alumni
Indian activists
Prisoners and detainees of India