Police: Minor & women among 15 Maoists surrender in Jharkhand

Ranchi: In a major success for security forces ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, 15 Maoists, including a minor and two women, belonging to the squad of wanted red

rebel Misir Besra laid down their arms in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Thursday, police said.

The Naxals were operating in Saranda, Asia’s densest Sal forest, in Kolhan region in southern Jharkhand where security forces have mounted a major operation against the red rebels.

“Fifteen Maoists have surrendered on Thursday. They were operating in Saranda and were squad members of CPI (Maoist) politburo member Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head,” a senior police officer said. West Singhbhum is considered to be one of the worst left-wing extremist-affected districts in the country. It had witnessed 46 Maoist-related incidents, resulting in 22 deaths last year. “It is a big achievement and will contribute significantly to conducting free and fair elections in Singhbhum constituency without an element of fear,” West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Kuldeep Chaudhary said.

“Joint security forces specially targeted their (Maoist) ERB (Eastern Regional Bureau) command and our

continued operations have resulted in the dismantling of their ERB HQ location from Kolhan area. “Due to continued operations and facilitative security environment in the disturbed areas and outreach of the security forces, local dasta (squad) members have been motivated to leave out the team and join their families and lead a normal life in mainstream society,” a statement from the police headquarters said.

As a result of efforts of the security forces, 15 members of the banned organisation CPI (Maoist) have surrendered before the district

administration and security forces, it said. It is critical to highlight that all of them are residents of West Singhbhum district and have been disgruntled by the exploits of Maoist leaders, the statement said, adding, of them, some members have been active for more than seven to eight years.