Once abducted by Naxals, 3 kids aspire to become civil servants

Three children, who were abducted by Naxals in Jharkhand to induct them in their ranks, are now studying in a school and aspire to become civil servants.

Lavkesh (12) Sitaram Singh (12) and Jitendra (13) were abducted last year by Naxals who after subjecting them to harsh training, often empty stomach, wanted them to become their cadres. The ultras thrashed these children when, unable to bear the hardship, resisted. They were enduring hardship in deep forests of the Naxal-infested Latehar district of Jharkhand.

“I was playing football with my friends when the Naxals abducted me from near my house. They initially told me that my poor family would be given money in lieu of work I will undertake. However, no money was ever paid to my parents,” Lavkesh, a resident of Kheerakhan village of Latehar district, said. 

Sitaram Singh, who belongs to Ladi village, said, “Naxals forced us to do household chores like cleaning utensils, washing clothes and preparing food. We were never given money and were made to sleep without food for days.

“If we complained of hardship, Naxals used to beat us brutally and threaten to eliminate our family,” he said.

“The children are now studying in Class IV in a school here in Latehar and their entire expenses are being taken care of by the Jharkhand Police.” SP Anoop Birtharay said.