“SURRENDER OF DACOITS”

INTRODUCTION:

The name of Chambal-Valley is enough to strike terror in one's heart. This

area of Madhya Pradesh, through the ages, has been an ideal sanctuary for

the people who have turned outlaws for various reasons. The martial

background of the people, their fight against alien invaders and rulers, and

the immense socio-economic disparities, has combined to produce rebels or

"baagis", a name also given to the dacoits. The dacoits considered looting as

a profession and a number of gangs built upon the innovations of Dongar-

Baturi.

MEANING OF DACOITS:

It is an offence relating to property and said to be an aggravated form of

robbery. In order to constitute an offence of dacoity, robbery must be done

by five or more persons and is punishable under Section 395 of the Indian

Penal Code. Preparation to commit dacoity or belonging to gang of dacoits is

punishable under Section 399 and 400 respectively.

WHY THIS WAS FORMED?

Most of the life stories follow a similar pattern. There would be minor land

dispute in the village, tempers would flare and someone would get killed.

Faced with the option of surrending to the police, and facing a lifetime in

prison, most of them would choose to run away to the forests and join the

established dacoits gangs.

DACOITS OF CHAMBAL AND MORALITY:

Dacoits of Chambal have captured the public imagination; they were long-

suffering farmers, took up arms against the rich feudal lord; the poor goat

herd, who could find no other escape from State atrocities; the woman who

swore blood-revenge against her rapists. In fact, they were royal rebels

(baaghis) and helped the helpless. They were ethical dacoits and acted as

parallel police providing security to the poor villagers who believed in them.

SURRENDER OF CHAMBAL DACOITS:

It may be divided into three phases. Besides these phases, small surrenders

also had taken place frequently in the valley. Surrender of Phoolan Devi is

one of the examples.

1. Surrender of Dacoits in 1920:

The Maharaja of Gwalior, Scindia persuaded 97 dacoits to surrender in

1920. However, during the period, the character of baagi was undergoing

profound transformation. Gangs began to get organized and kidnapping for

ransom, rather than looting, was the new favoured activity.

2. Surrender of Dacoits to Bhaveji:

Acharya Vinoba Bhave persuaded 20 dacoits to surrender their arms in

1960 pointing out that everyone had both good and bad propensities and

sins of life are burnt out by repentance and by following righteous path just

like the darkness of cave is dispelled even by a small candle. He compared

the rebellious character of dacoits to the rebellion against the social order
infested with poverty, inequality and injustice and preached for non-

accumulation of wealth and donation of land to uproot the evil. 20 dacoits

surrendered their arms before him. It was a triumph of non-violence and

human good sense. They prepared to face law courts and jail sentences

courageously. The specially constituted Chambal Valley Peace Committee

helped them in their efforts. After their release, they were given Bhoodan

lands to lead a simple and peaceful life.

3. Major Surrender of Dacoits to Jayaprakashji-

In 1971, when Jagroop Singh, an emissary of Madho Singh, another

notorious dacoit, met Vinoba, to request him, to come once again to

Chambal. But Vinoba had taken ‘Kshetra Sanyas’ and expressed his

inability to help. He directed them to Shri Jayaprakash Narayan and JP has

consented to take up the challenge. He negotiated to the state authorities

and with coming of positive replies, he persuaded the dacoits to surrender

and requested the community to open its doors for their peaceful return to

normal life and the Government to consider their cases sympathetically. For

six months, Jayaprakash conducted his “Operation Persuasion” not as a

spiritual leader but as a social worker. The first mass surrender was led by

Mohar Singh and Madho Singh and received reward of Rs.3 lakhs and Rs.1

lakh respectively. It was 511 dacoits surrendered in 1972 responding to an

appeal by J.P.Narayan. As a result, agriculture and other development

activities flourished. Most dacoits who did surrender lived peaceably.

farming the 30 bighas of land that the government allotted to them as a

measure of rehabilitation. The once turbulent Chambal became known for

its prosperity.

LEGAL PROVISIONS OF PARDON, COMMUTATIONS OR REMISSISON

ETC.:

Constitutional Provisions: Article 72 and 161 of the Constitution

empowers the President and Governor of the State to grant pardons,

reprieves, respites, remissions, suspension of punishment.

Code of Criminal Procedure- The appropriate Government according to

Section 432, 433 and 433 A of the code is empowered to commute, remit or

suspend the execution of person’s sentence with or without conditions

which the person sentenced accepts, suspends the execution of his

sentence.

CONCLUSION:

What could not be accomplished by police force could be achieved by an

approach of benevolence, correction and amelioration. How the Sarvodaya

principle and procedure can supplement the basic aim of the legal system is

fruitfully confirmed in the Chambal incident.