Chhatradhar Mahato (born 1964) is an Indian ex Trinamool activist. He is the convener of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee and a prominent tribal leader, though he himself is not an adivasi by descent.^[3] He gained prominence following the Salboni blast in November 2008.

 Early life

Chhatradhar Mahato was born at a tiny hamlet of Amlia in Lalgarh. He is the eldest of three brothers. After his Higher Secondary examination from Lalgarh Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, he joined Midnapore Day College where he became an active member of the Chhatra Parishad, student wing of the Congress, inspired by Mamata Banerjee. He did not complete his college education.

Political career

After the blast organized by the Maoists to blow up the convoy of the West Bengal CM, Chhatradhar Mahato came into prominence by instigating a movement against the alleged police atrocities at Lalgarh where the local administration was abolished and he, under the aegis of the Maoists, ruled it for nine months. He also protested against the central government's plans to deploy special forces against the Maoists.

Arrest

He was arrested by the police when tried to get off posing as a journalist on 26 September 2009. Chhatradhar Mahato, convener of the Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) has a life insurance cover of Rs.1 crore. This was revealed during police interrogation following his arrest from the Lalgarh area on September 26. It was revealed later that the 1 crore rupee (10 million rupee) insurance story was false

Rajdhani Incident

Members of People's Committee against Police Atrocities, stopped New Delhi bound, Bhubaneshwer Rajdhani Express in Midnapore to secure the release of Chhatradhar Mahato Chaatra's another brother Sasadhar Mahato is an active squad member. His sister in law Suchitra Mahato(W/o Sasadhar Mahato) is also an active squad member.