I was totally engrossed in my riding so much that, I
didn't even noticed I was approaching a jungle, I
missed a sign board of Dantewada at right turn,
although that right turn was a long cut but it was safer
than a straight road.. but I didn't realize till I reached
dense forest of NARAYANPUR which is a core of
Naxelists people.. I still remember there wasn't any
vehicles before or after me and I realized I will be in
trouble now, I checked my phone and it was no
network area, I had no choice left to just ride straight
and the road was worse than a off road..
I know shit happens on the roads and especially with
the riders but this wasn't a shit.. I could sense a big
trouble was coming on my way, and as I thought so,
some decoit kind of people stopped me, and they
were carrying a gun like AK 47 and all, it was three of
them.. I said to myself.. Vinod you are fucked now..
They came near me and asked me.. Who are you ?
are you a police or CRPF or any Govt official ?
That question scared the shit out of me.. But I prayed
to Jesus and asked for wisdom to answer that..
I told them that I am a rider and I think I am lost, and
as expected they were not ready to believe in that.. I
had to tell them that I am specially abled guy.. first
they did not understand but then I told him I am
Langda (I don't have one leg), their shocking
expression made me uneasy but the insisted me to
show.. Since I was damn scared so, I started acting
like a disabled, although I could get down from the
bike easily but I asked them to help me to get down
from the bike and they did so.. As I was pulling my left
pant up.. one of the goon put the gun on my head as if
like I was about to pull out a gun against them.. one of
the goon took my pant up to check whether I was
telling truth or not but they found out my artificial limb.
They removed the gun point from my head and
asked.. how can you ride a motorcycle ? And from
where you are coming ? And where you are heading
for ? I told them that I am coming from Mumbai and
every year for like a month I travel on my bike to
different parts of India and this time I decided to go to
Chhattisgarh.
But the counter question which I got and I wasn't so
sure what I was gonna answer.. Agreed you are a
traveller and a rider but what are you doing in this
jungle and that too it's our territory (they meant
Naxelists territory).
I took a pause for sometimes, I remembered a place
called Chitrakoot (very famous water fall of India).. I said
Chitrakoot, where I am heading, they muttered
something amongst themselves.. and asked, you could
have avoided this jungle if you really wished to go to
Chitrakoot, but then why this route. I said.. I am visiting
for the first time in this state and this area and I am not
so familiar with the geography properly, also I am
technologically bit unskilled so that's why I think I am lost
and now wandering in to this jungle.
I answered all the questions which they asked, till this
time I could make out that they started believing in me.
One of the goon asked do you have water ? I offered
them my water.. We talked for some like
45 minuets about everything.. I told them about my
background in Mumbai and how I lost my leg and was
working with a gang and all and everything.. till this time
they also got opened up and told me about their story as
well.. I did not have any options but to listen to them.. I
saw my watch and it was already 10:00 am.. and I was
supposed to reach Dantewada at 11:00 am for a event.
But anyhow I gathered some courage and asked them
will you guys help me.. how should I go back to
highway?
They told me to follow them.. relieved me took a sigh of
relief and nod. I started following their jeep and was
thinking may be I got relived for sometime or may be
they genuinely helping me to show the highway.. but I
thanked Jesus for the help and also prayed please help
me further too till the time I am in Chhattisgarh please
help me so that I should not land in to a trouble.
After about 20 kms with them I was able to hear the
sound of vehicles coming from right side of me. I thought
I am near to highway. They stopped their jeep and told
pointed me a route and told me go in this direction for
about 2 kms and you will be on the highway. I thanked
them and I was about to leave.. one of them shouted me
to stop.. that shout shook me again.. when I looked back
one of them told me if you are going to Chitrakoot then
go 10 kms further and visit a cave which is one of the
best caves in India. I said of course ! out of amazed
expressions.. thanks for telling that.
Before they could stop me again I just ran with my bike
from there.. the time which I spent there was scariest
time ever, the faces of my family members came in front
of me, I thought I might not be able to see them again
but thanks to Jesus, I came out of safe from there and I
reached highway.