Gadchiroli: Row over ex-Naxal Bhupathi's appointment at Gondwana University, VC responds

The appointment of former Maoist Bhupathi alias Venugopal, who had surrendered in Gadchiroli, as a coordinator at Gondwana University's Single Gram Sabha Training Centre has triggered protests among gram sabhas in the district. The university administration has issued a clarification following the opposition.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. Prashant Bokare said Bhupathi's appointment for three months was made only after a full process of advertisement, document verification and interview. He clarified that Bhupathi has been given only office-related work and has not been assigned any responsibility to guide gram sabhas or any training on any subject.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the university's Executive Council decided on July 9 to appoint three coordinators for the Single Gram Sabha Training Centre. Following this, a direct interview advertisement for the coordinator post was put up on the university website on August 11. Applications received were scrutinised and eligible candidates were interviewed. On August 14, a committee headed by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Shriram Kawale conducted the interviews. After the interview process was completed, the selection list and waiting list were released on the university website on August 29. Dr. Bokare said Bhupathi was appointed coordinator for three months through this same process.

Meanwhile, the Jan Sangharsh Samiti has demanded that the university administration disclose the qualifications on the basis of which Bhupathi was selected as coordinator. Samiti president Datta Shirke questioned how a violent figure who spread terror in Gadchiroli for four decades, was directly or indirectly responsible for the killing of hundreds of ordinary tribal people, and faces sedition charges, could be given the responsibility of guiding gram sabhas.

Malloju Venugopal Rao alias Sonu alias Bhupathi, a former member of the Maoists' Politburo and Central Committee, has long been regarded as the intellectual force behind the Naxal movement. The first encounter between the CRPF and Maoists took place on November 2, 1980, at Moyabinpetha in Gadchiroli district, in which Maoist commander Peddi Shankar of the Sirpur Dalam was killed; the first case against the Maoists was registered over this incident. Later, in 1982, Maoists attacked an ordinary civilian for the first time near Sironcha in Gadchiroli district, at Amaradi village, when they cut off the right hand of a local teacher, Raju Master.