7 yrs ago, ‘much-wanted Maoist' featured in a YouTube film as Raigad tribals' ‘local hero'
On the run for 15 years, alleged Maoist operative Prashant Jalinder Kamble alias Laptop (44), who was arrested this month from Pune, had not only changed his identity but had also appeared in a short film 'Ulgulan – Everyday Hero', posted on YouTube on March 10, 2018.
The three-minute film, still available online, was on 'Sunil Jagtap Sir', the name Kamble went by, for his work with children in the tribal areas of Khalapur in Raigad district of Maharashtra. Incidentally, authorities were unaware of this film.
His arrest on May 4 by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has shocked the villagers of Khalapur taluka who knew Kamble as Sunil Jagtap.
He has been booked by ATS under various sections, including the stringent UAPA, in connection with a 2011 case of spreading the ideology of the banned CPI (Maoist) and attempts to recruit cadres from cities.
On Tuesday, the ATS told a Mumbai Sessions Court that Kamble took part in the farmers' agitation of 2021 and also worked closely with top CPI (Maoist) operative Milind Teltumbde, who was gunned down in November 2021.
The ATS said it wanted to question Kamble how he managed to obtain documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID cards and a passport in the name of Sunil Jagtap. The court extended Kamble's ATS custody until May 19.
Officials said Kamble had settled in Donvat village in Khalapur, where he had rented a shop to offer services such as installation of CCTVs, and the repair of computers, laptops. According to police, his skill with electronics was what earned him the nickname 'Laptop'.
His Aadhaar card mentions his name as Sunil Chandrakant Jagtap, a resident of Khanav village, located a few kilometres from Donvat.
'When he arrived here seven years ago, he said he was a native of Solapur, but had left home and family to work with tribal children. He was very sincere in his work, which is why some people made a film on him. He also joined an anti-superstition group,' one of the village residents recalled. 'Sometimes, Sunil (as he was known to them) would go away for a while, but we thought he was out for work.'
Former Donvat sarpanch Sandesh Patil said they were stunned that he was a wanted Naxalite.
Sandip Gaikwad, an office-bearer of the anti-superstition outfit that Kamble joined around 2018, said they never suspected anything.
Sandeep Patil, the chief of Maharashtra's Anti Naxal Operations, said Kamble's 'modus operandi' was not uncommon among Maoists, and that they often led double lives.
Stating that no one should doubt Kamble's Maoist links, Patil said: 'He is a hardcore Maoist and refused to surrender under a government scheme. He operated as per the instructions of Milind Teltumbde, and was associated with armed cadres of the Korchi Kurkheda Dalam in Gadchiroli and was also active in urban areas.'
Police suspect Kamble may have 'settled down' in recent years as part of the CPI (Maoist) strategy to spread the banned group's activities in the Western Ghats.
More than 14 years ago, Kamble, who hails from Pune and is a graduate, left his home in the Tadiwala road slum and never returned, according to police. A missing person's complaint was filed by his family in January 2011. His brother said he did not even come for their mother's funeral recently.
The family said Kamble was associated with a Pune-based cultural group described by police as 'a frontal organisation of Maoists'. Police said Santosh Shelar alias 'Painter', also from the Pune slums, went missing with Kamble. Shelar was arrested in January 2024 for alleged links with Maoists.
Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007.
Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
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