Mahesh Raut Explained

Mahesh Raut is an activist working with Adivasi in Gadchiroli.[1] He is the youngest accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case.[2]

Personal life

Raut was born in Lakhapur village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region. He did his schooling at Navodaya School in Gadchiroli. He briefly worked as a primary school teacher in 2007. In 2009, he joined TISS, Mumbai to study social work.[3] After completing his degree from TISS, Raut was selected for the Prime Minister Rural Development (PMRD) fellowship.[4] In 2018, he suffered from acute ulcerative colitis.

Activism

Raut is a co-convener of the Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vilas Andolan (VVJVA),[5] which fights the displacement of marginalised communities. Under the VVJVA, he has campaigned along with the Adivasi communities of the region to sell Tendu leaves directly into the market without the involvement of the middlemen. He is also a member of the Bharat Jan Andolan, a human rights NGO. He has campaigned against mining projects in Gadhciroli, including the Surajgarh mining project.

Arrest

On 6 June 2018, he was arrested from his house[6] by the Pune Police, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He is currently lodged at Taloja central jail.[7]

References

  1. Web site: Gadchiroli's 300 Gram Sabhas Pass Resolution in Support of Activist Mahesh Raut.
  2. Web site: Mahesh Raut shows symptoms of COVID-19, moves HC for a test. 29 July 2020. www.thehindu.com.
  3. News: A poet, a lawyer, a professor: These are the five activists held for sparking Bhima Koregaon clashes. Johari. Aarefa. Scroll.in. 2018-08-29. en-US.
  4. Web site: The People's Fighters: Meet the Five Arrested in the Bhima Koregaon Case. The Wire. 2018-08-29.
  5. Web site: PM's Rural Development Fellows Come Out in Support of Mahesh Raut. thewire.in.
  6. Web site: Bhima Koregaon: Mahesh Raut turns 33 inside jail - The Hindu.
  7. Web site: State to re-verify after medical reports of Anand Teltumbde, Mahesh Raut before Bombay HC show identical details . The Indian Express.