Law Kumar Mishra
Mohar Singh (92), charged with over 400 murders and 650 kidnappings for ransom in Chambal region covering UP, MP and Rajasthan died at Jaura on this day two years ago.
He was the contemporary of Madho Singh, another Chambal dacoit. I visited their resettlement colony at Shyopur-Kalan in 1997. Malkhan Singh, another veteran in the field, invited me to join his grandson’s baraat to Mainpuri (UP) the next day. They were good hosts, offering Buttermilk also.
The Madhya Pradesh government had also given them land for farming at Palpur-Kuno, where the second home for Asiatic Lions is planned.
Madho Singh, the 6.5 feet tall, former compounder in the Indian army, had deserted the Force and joined Ravines along with Mohar Singh, who had kidnapped Meena Kumari during a movie shooting. He stayed in the ravines for 11 years and decided to give up arms after 13 of his trusted members in the Gang were eliminated in an encounter in March, 1971.
He stayed at Patna for three days impersonating Ram Singh, a contractor from Bhind to negotiate with Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) for surrender. When JP finally agreed, he revealed his genuine identity. His surrender along with 550 others was arranged by JP in April, 1972.
I met Madho Singh at Mahila Charkha Samiti, Kadamkuan in Patna during the Janata government. He had resorted to the art of group kidnapping. Once a team of businessmen had gone for a picnic. He kidnapped them claiming he was a police officer and wanted to interrogate them at the police station. He was wearing a police uniform. Instead of the police station, they were taken to the Ravines.
Once an international notorious thief of antique idols was lured to come to Gwalior by the Gang on pretext of buying the stolen antiques. The thief was taken to the Ravines and released only after paying Rs 26 lakhs as ransom.
Madho Singh, who died in early 90s, told me in an interview at JP house in Patna, “Now, the situation has changed. They (passengers) even abuse me in the buses as I am too tall and sometimes touch them innocently. I cannot speak or protest since I have taken an oath for peace.”
His daughter was then studying for MBBS. Mohar Singh was president of the Nagarpalika and Malkhan Singh headed the Zilla panchayat too. When I met him in the colony, his son was Deputy SP at Indore.
Two of his contemporary (then) SPs Vijay Raman, Rajen Chaturvedi deserve credit for the surrender. Chaturvedi was treated like a brother by Phoolan Devi (she tied rakhis to him).
Arjun Singh rehabilitated them in mainstream society. Now, they and their families are well settled.
(The author is a senior journalist based in Patna, Bihar)
