Kolkata, Sep 23 Three senior Maoist leaders, including two women, surrendered with firearms before the police in West Bengal’s Bankura district on Wednesday, police said.
According to a senior police officer, the three had been associated with Maoist activities for nearly two decades and were allegedly involved in around 80 incidents of violence.
Their surrender comes days after top Maoist leaders Akash alias Asim Mondal and Madan were arrested, while another leader, Bikram, had surrendered.
The three members of the CPI(Maoist) — Jaba Mahato alias Bulu, Nayantara Sahu alias Mita and Ramprasad Mandi alias Sachin — surrendered in the presence of West Bengal Police ADG (Western Zone) Anand Kumar and Bankura Superintendent of Police P V G Satish.
Jaba and Nayantara were members of the organisation’s zonal committee, while Ramprasad was a member of the outfit’s regional committee covering West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha, police said.
Jaba is a resident of Belpahari in Jhargram district, while Nayantara is from Sonachura in Purba Medinipur. Ramprasad hails from East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand.
“The firearms surrendered by the three had earlier been looted from the police,” a senior police officer said.
The three were active in Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur districts of West Bengal as well as the Kolhan region of neighbouring Jharkhand, he said.
Incidentally, the trio are also facing more than 75 cases collectively in different police stations, including those registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and laws relating to arms and explosives, the IPS officer said.
The Maoist leaders deposited two INSAS rifles, an AK-47, 10 magazines and 154 rounds of ammunition.
Talking to reporters, Jaba said they were keen to return to the mainstream of society.
“I have started looking at life in a new and different way. I want to start afresh, leaving the past behind,” Jaba said.
(PTI News)
