Maoist wanted for DFO murder surrenders

DALTONGANJ: Sahdev Singh Kherwar, a dreaded CPI (Maoist) ultra wanted in connection with the killing of Sanjay Kumar Singh, a divisional forest officer (DFO) in Bihar’s Rohtas district, surrendered before the Jharkhand police at the police lines here on Friday.

After motivating her husband to surrender, Sahdev’s wife Yashoda Devi had petitioned Palamu superintendent of police Indrajit Mahatha to this effect during a police-public meeting at Kundilpur village under Manatu police station on December 13.

Sahdev also known as Sahdev Bhokta aka Vinayji, had joined the rebel outfit as ‘a baal dasta’ (children’s squad) member in 1991 and was promoted to armed squad in 2002, the year when he had carried out the DFO’s murder along with CPI (Maoist) squad members led by Nirala Yadav.

A CPI (Maoist) squad had shot dead DFO Sanjay Kumar Singh at Rehal forest under Nauhatta police station area of Rohtas district on February 15, 2002 after a heated argument.

Singh’s shocking murder had rocked the nation and the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) soon after the incident.

Recently, a special court at Sasaram in Bihar had pronounced judgment after trying the accused Maoists under different provisions of POTA and other acts. Palamu superintendent of police Indrajit Mahatha said, “Sahdev is a named accused in the DFO murder case and had been absconding since the incident. He was also wanted in a case relating to an attack on police party in Palamu in Jharkhand.”

The SP further said, “His surrender is a message for those who had gone astray and augurs well for the civil society. We appeal to others to shun violence and join the mainstream.”

The area of operation of the surrendered ultra who hailed from Manatu police station in Jharkhand’s Palamu was mostly the bordering areas of Bihar and Jharkhand states comprising Bhabua, Rohtas and Kaimur regions of Bihar.

Palamu deputy commissioner (DC) Ameet Kumar handed over a cheque of ₹50,000 to the ultra’s wife during the programme and praised her for persuading her husband to surrender.

A CPI (MAOIST) SQUAD HAD SHOT DEAD DFO SANJAY KUMAR SINGH AT REHAL FOREST ON FEBRUARY 15, 2002 AFTER A HEATED ARGUMENT