Maoist commander carrying ₹10 lakh reward surrenders in Ranchi
JAMSHEDPUR/RANCHI: CPI (Maoist) zonal commander Jeevan Kandulna, carrying a reward of ₹10 lakh on his head, surrendered before police in Ranchi on Sunday.
Ranchi senior superintendent of police Surendra Jha presented him before media persons in Ranchi late Sunday evening.
Jeevan Kandulna alias Patras Kandulna had been posing a stiff challenge for the state police, particularly for West Singhbhum police in Porahat forest range under Chakradharpur subdivision over the years. Jeevan has about 40 cases of Maoist violence pending against him in West Singhbhum district alone..
“Jeevan Kandulna surrendered Sunday on his own will and we welcome him and any other Naxals willing to come back to the mainstream. He too has appealed to fellow Maoist cadres to lay down weapons and benefit from the state government’s surrender policy. He was mainly active in Porhahat, Saranda forests in West Singhbhum and Khunti district. He was wanted in 77 cases in different districts of the state,” the Ranchi senior superintendent of police (SSP) said.
Jeevan originally hailed from Japud village under Raniya police station in Khunti district. Most of the cases against Jeevan are, however, pending in Sonua, Karaikela, Gudri and Tebo police station areas in West Singhbhum district.
His squad had attacked Chakradharpur SDPO Nathu Singh Meena and his team on
Janua hills on June 1 last year, in which Meena’s bodyguard Lakhindra Munda and village SPO Sunder Swarup had died. His squad had also killed a village resident Krishna Sevaiya in Porahat last year.
As per available information, Jeevan had surrendered before Ranchi police a few days ago and a cache of IEDs, arms and ammunition of banned CPI (Maoist) were recovered at his instance over the past few days. He had entered Porhahat forest range for the first time in 2001.
According to sources, Jeevan surrendered after a recent move by the top Maoist leadership to sideline him and promote another hardcore Maoist commander Suresh Munda, who was recently promoted to the rank of zonal commander. Munda was also given charge of areas which were under Jeevan’s command till recently, they said.
Jeevan was also allegedly having disputes with another top Maoist commander Maharaj Pramanik, carrying a reward of ₹10 lakh on his head.
Jeevan had also distanced himself from Maoist activities after his wife gave birth few months ago.
Earlier on Saturday, West Singhbhum police and CRPF arrested an active Maoist of Jeevan’s squad, Budhu Hessa, and recovered 22 IEDs at his instance from Porahat Forests under Gudri police station in West Singhbhum.
“Budhu Hessa was arrested in a joint operation by district police and CRPF from Soymari and Duaroli jungles under Gudri police station Saturday. A total of 22 IEDs were unearthed at his instance from jungle roads and were destroyed,” Ajay Linda, West Singhbhum superintendent of police (SP), said.