Gadchiroli tribal bodies oppose ex-Maoist's university coordinator role
Gadchiroli tribal groups have demanded cancellation of Gondwana University's appointment of former Maoist Bhupati as coordinator, citing trust and local opportunity concerns.
Tribal groups in Gadchiroli have formally opposed the recent appointment of Bhupati, a former Maoist leader who surrendered last year, as a project coordinator at Gondwana University. The university had tasked him with spreading awareness among tribal communities about the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), the Forest Rights Act, and related entitlements.
Bajirao Usendi, who leads a Mahagramsabha — an informal advisory body comprising gram sabha members from Naxal-affected areas such as Etapalli, Kurkheda, and Kurki — has submitted a memorandum against the move to the university, the District Collector, and the Superintendent of Police.
Usendi questioned why qualified local tribals, many of whom have worked on PESA-related issues, were overlooked for the role. He argued that an outsider from an upper-caste background, who he claims exploited tribals and led them into conflict, cannot be trusted to guide tribal communities on their legal rights. He also pointed to the continuing plight of tribals jailed for having sheltered Naxals out of fear, asking why no rehabilitation has been offered to them.
The Mahagramsabha's note further alleges that Naxals threatened locals, attacked families, and killed tribal sarpanchs whose views differed from theirs. In this context, members see the appointment as contrary to tribal interests.
Gondwana University Vice Chancellor Prashant Bokare has defended the decision, describing the post as temporary and clerical in nature. He said Bhupati, who remains under police supervision in Gadchiroli, was selected through due process and would not be involved in training or guiding gram sabhas.
However, the university's August 29 appointment notification, which the Mahagramsabha has reviewed, states that the coordinator was hired for an integrated gram sabha training programme. This discrepancy has deepened the group's concerns.
Gadchiroli Collector Avishyant Panda confirmed that a delegation met him to hand over the memorandum. The Superintendent of Police could not be reached for comment.