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.
Govt targets to make Tripura self-reliant in fish production: Minister Sudhangshu Das
The state fishery minister Sudhangshu Das on Tuesday said that the government has targeted to make the state self-reliant in fish production and accordingly the government has taken multifaceted initiative to boost fish production in the state.
Tourism to bring alternative economy for Tripura: Sushanta in Assembly
The state tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Tuesday said that the tourism sector in the state will be the backbone of the alternative economy in the coming days. Economic and social development of the local people will be achieved through this industry, he added.
Rs. 24.46 Cr provides as aid to flood-affected farmers: Ratan
In response to an unstarred question by MLA Sudeep Sarkar, Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath revealed comprehensive details about the arrangements made by the Farmers Welfare Department to assist flood-affected farmers in the state.
Infra development of Rs 1000 Crore for rural schools underway: CM
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today informed that for the development of educational infrastructure in rural areas, works amounting to approximately Rs 1000 crore are underway under various schemes.
5,520 drug users receive treatment, 612 recovers: Chief Minister
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today informed that as of January 2025, a total of 5,520 injection drug users have received services from Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centers. Of these, 612 have completed treatment and returned to the mainstream of healthy, normal lives.
Pradyot slams Yunus’s statement on NE, urges Centre to take firm stance
Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, the Royal Scion and founder of the Tipra Motha Party, strongly condemned a recent remark by Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh's Chief Advisor, regarding the Northeast Indian states, urging India to take a firm stance in response.
95 percent of Agartala Smart City works completed: CM
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today informed that almost 95 percent of the work under Agartala Smart City Limited has already been completed and remaining works are expected to be completed by May 2025.
More relief, medical supplies: India continues humanitarian aid to Myanmar
In a heartwarming gesture, Myo Aung, the Chief Minister of Mandalay, visited the facility, witnessing first hand the compassionate care being extended. The Indian Army shared this on X on Tuesday with a few photos.