Hemchand Manjhi will return Padma Shri award, said- receiving threats from Naxalites

Traditional physician Vaidyaraj Hemchand Manjhi has announced to return of his Padma Shri award. He says that he will return the award due to the constant threats he is receiving from Naxalites. 

Police say that Naxalites set fire to two under-construction mobile towers in Chameli and Gourdand villages of Narayanpur district on Sunday night. Along with this, Naxalites put up banners threatening Manjhi there. Apart from this, some pamphlets were also thrown there, in which the picture of Hemchand Manjhi receiving the Padma Shri award was printed. Naxalites have alleged that Manjhi helped in starting the Amdai Valley Iron Ore Project in the Chhotadongar area of Narayanpur and also took bribes for it. Even before this, Majhi had been threatened by Naxalites by making such allegations. On the other hand, Vaidyaraj Manjhi has completely rejected the allegations against him. 

Vaidyaraj said that after talking to his family, he has decided to return the Padma Shri award. Along with this, he said that he would also leave his traditional medical work. Manjhi said, 'I will return the Padma Shri award. Earlier, Naxalites had murdered my niece Komal Manjhi by making false allegations against her. I and my family are living under the shadow of fear.' Komal Manjhi was murdered on 9 December 2023 in Chhotadongar, Chhattisgarh. At present, security has been provided to Vaidyaraj's family by the local police.