15 Maoist members surrender in J’khand
Fifteen alleged active members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), including a minor boy and two women, from the squads led by politburo member Misir Besra alias Sagar-ji, central committee members (CCM) Patiram Majhi alias Anal-da and Asim Mondal alias Aakash, surrendered before the Jharkhand Police in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand on Thursday, police said.
Misir Besra and Patiram Majhi have been running the Maoist Eastern Regional Bureau (ERB) in Kolhan and Saranda regions for the past three years through Maoist commanders like Sushant alias Anmol-da, Mehnat alias Mochu, Ajay Mahato alias Budhram, Sagen Angariya, Kande Honhaga, Lamu, Ashwin, Chaman, and Pintu Lohra, leading separate squads.
“This is a very crucial achievement in our ongoing operation to wipe out the extremists from the Kolhan and Saranda Forest divisions in West Singhbhum district, the last bastion of the Maoists. Fifteen active members of the Maoist core squad teams have surrendered owing to the unrelenting operation by Jharkhand police, CRPF, COBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar, etc., since October 2023,” Amol Venukant Homkar, Jharkhand Inspector General (IG operation), told HT on Thursday.
The IG revealed that some of the surrendered Maoists were from Chhattisgarh, while a few sub-zonal commander-level rebels were also among the surrendered Maoists.
“We have wiped out the Maoists from Budha Pahar, Trijunction of West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan and Khunti, Bulbul Jungles, Khunti, etc., almost completely. But PBM Misir Besra and CCMs Patiram Majhi and Aakash led squads have been active in Kolhan and Saranda Forests for the past couple of years. This is their strongest, but last bastion and our operation will continue until they are completely neutralised. We appeal to the remaining Maoists to shun violence and join the mainstream. We also appeal to the villagers not to be misled by any propaganda,” added Homkar.
At least five security personnel have been killed, and another 30 injured in encounters with the Maoists and IED blasts in the West Singhbhum district during the past couple of years.
A total of 22 villagers have also lost their lives in Maoist violence during the same period.
“It is the result of our sustained Operation Magnus for the past couple of years, especially just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. They have surrendered owing to our joint operations and became fed up with the constant exploitation by the top Maoist leadership. A total of 161 Maoists have been arrested in West Singhbhum since 2022,” Ashutosh Shekhar, West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police (SP) told HT on Thursday.
“Apart from 15 Maoists surrendering today, another 11 Maoists had surrendered here in 2022-23. We have recovered 375 explosive devices, arms, and ammunition in huge quantities. EEB headquarters, 8-10 temporary camps, and 15 Maoist bunkers have been destroyed during the past two years. 16 new CRPF camps too have been set up to instil confidence among the common people,” added the SP, after the surrender in the presence of Kolhan DIG Manoj Chothe and DC Kuldip Chowdhury.