In a typical case of role reversal, yesterday’s villain has now become today’s hero. This is what Sanjay Potam’s life signifies.
According to a report in news18.com, Potam today is with Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) and holds the position of the unit commander and till now has carried out more than 20 successful encounters. Posted in one of the worst-affected districts of the State, Dantewada, the three-star officer owes his success to the promotions which he got out-of-turn for his remarkable operations.
Now for the twist in the tale. Potam, today's encounter specialist, was once a dreaded commander of the Maoists. He joined them in 2006, and just like his meteoric rise in police, there too, he soon became the commander of the Local Organisation Squad, becoming the LOS commander in the Malger region in 2008 and by 2010 the Area Committee Secretary and member of Darbha Divisional Committee in 2012.
The year 2013 was the turning moment when Potam left the Naxalites due to differences with some leaders along with his wife Sukki, who was a part of the medical team of the Maoists and both surrendered to Dantewada police.
He told the media that during his time with Naxalites, he was never a part of any encounter with the police. Today things are different, as Potam as per Dantewada SP, Dr. Abhishek Pallav, has helped the police force nab Maoists on more than one occasion. He was initially recruited as a constable in DRG and quickly rose in position due to back-to-back promotions.
In a report in ommcomnews.com, he has successfully led over 50 counter-insurgency operations in Dantewada with more than 100 Maoists carrying cash rewards of around Rs 5 crores on their head either killed or apprehended during these operations.
His courage during exchange of fire in November 2016 got him the Police Medal for Gallantry in 2021.
Potam wants to carry on fighting the Naxals and set an example for others, to surrender and join the mainstream of the society.
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