“Nuni khana khaa li? (Has our daughter eaten?)” These haunting last words of her husband echo in Jogi Vatti’s mind as she cradles her one-year-old son and three-year-old daughter. Living in Katekalyan’s Bandipara panchayat, Jogi faces an uncertain future after her husband, Somdu Vatti, was killed in an IED blast that claimed the lives of eight District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans in Bijapur on Monday.

Somdu, a surrendered Maoist turned DRG jawan, had left behind a life of violence to build a peaceful future with Jogi. Their love story was forged amidst conflict, prompting both to surrender and seek a new beginning. However, their dreams were shattered by the violence they tried to escape.

Jogi, a tribal woman from Sukma, recalls the harsh realities of jungle life. Though she never carried a rifle, she was part of Maoist operations as a ‘Janatana Sarkar’ volunteer. After surrendering, life in Dantewada’s police quarters brought hope—education for their children and stability for their family.

Now, with her husband gone, fear and uncertainty overshadow Jogi’s life. The widow hopes the government will provide her a job and a future for her children, far removed from the violence that has scarred her past.