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Former Chambal dacoit pleads for Rajakumar's release

Former Chambal dacoit, Pancham Singh, has appealed to forest brigand Veerappan to release Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajakumar.

''As a former dacoit, who once treaded the path that Veerappan now follows, it is my fervent appeal that Rajakumar be released. He is a great artiste, dear to everybody, which Veerappan should take cognizance of'', the septagenarian reformed dacoit, who was once charged with murdering more than 100 people, said in Calcutta Friday.

In the city on a peace mission organised by Prajapita Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Singh, who once carried a reward of Rs 1,30,000 on his head, said his life was now on an altogether different track of spiritualism and humanity.

''There is an evil inside each of us that forces one to take the wrong path, sometimes due to circumstances. But ultimately it is good sense that can annihilate evil'', he said.

Singh said the dramatic metamorphosis in his life came after he surrendered to the government along with 500 other dacoits, including Mohar Singh and Madhab Singh, at the behest of Jayprakash Narayan in 1972 and got in touch with the Prajapita Brahmakumari school and underwent 'Rajyoga'classes to embrace the principle of peace and love.

The former dacoit, who escaped the noose after his death sentence was commuted into life imprisonment, however, said dacoits were better than the country's politicians. He said politicians robbed people under a different garb.

''Dacoits operating in the jungles have some values. Normally they are God fearing and respectful to women. Most of them are victims of society and do not harm the poor. But the politicians are greater dacoits and do not have that morality'', he said.

Singh said during his stay he would visit several jails to meet the prisoners and spread the message of peace and non-violence.

Father of two sons and two daughters, the former dacoit now lives on a nursery that he has built on a 30 bigha plot he received from the government in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh.

UNI

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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