'Only fight they will pick is with Pakistan'

“Ask anyone at the bus stand, police station or on the road, people will guide you to my house. Everyone knows me here,” says 58-year-old Awtaari Gujjar, when this reporter called him for directions to his place.


Once a synonym for terror in the ravines of

Dholpur

, Awtaari had 26 criminal cases against him ranging from extortion, attempt to murder, assault, keeping illegal arms to attacks on police. Now, he is leading a normal life having completed jail term in an arms case.


TOI went to the ravines of Dholpur and Karauli and met a few ex-bandits who spent half their lives on the run. Like Awtaari, there are several reformed bandits who have returned to the mainstream and want better educational and infrastructural facilities in their region so that future generations do not pick up the gun. “Nobody wants to pick up a gun, but it was a fight against oppression,” said Awtaari, now acquitted in a majority of cases against him. He had surrendered in 2004.

“If you do not open schools, colleges or hospitals and do not provide drinking water, electricity and better roads, people will quarrel and sometimes these petty fights might land them in the world of crime,” he said.

Awtaari said his community is unhappy with the Congress. “Sachin Pilot was not made the CM, so we will vote for BJP now,” he said.

Narayan Singh Meena, 68, of Dhakiyapura village in Dholpur praises Congress leaders Indira Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. He became a bandit after murdering his neighbour in a land dispute. “My fight was with the administration. Had the police solved my problem, I would not have broken the law,” said Meena, who surrendered in 1999.

These reformed bandits said they will take to weapons only if the nation needs them. “Poorey Chambal main 5,000 se jyaada baaghi hain. Humko border pe bhej do Pakistan ko sabak sikhane ke liye (There are more than 5,000 rebels in Chambal. Send us to the border and we can teach Pakistan a lesson),” said Ramji Lal, another ex-bandit and former sarpanch of Kotra village.

But even Lal knows a village cannot sustain only on patriotism. “There is no electricity in our village for the past eight days. There is no hospital or dispensary. I urge Congress and BJP to visit our village and spend two to three days to understand our problems,” Lal said.