Ranchi: In a major success for anti-Maoist operations in Jharkhand, the CRPF and Jharkhand Police have arrested three hardcore Maoists carrying a combined bounty of ₹22 lakh, dealing another significant blow to the banned CPI (Maoist).
Those arrested include Madan Mahato, who carried a reward of ₹15 lakh, Ravi Sardar, carrying a ₹5 lakh reward, and Meena, Madan Mahato’s wife, who had a bounty of ₹2 lakh. The Jharkhand Police Headquarters has confirmed the arrests.
The security forces also seized a large cache of arms during the operation, including three AK-47 assault rifles, along with other weapons and ammunition.
The arrests were made during a joint operation in Seraikela-Kharsawan district after intelligence inputs indicated the presence of active Maoist cadres in the area. Acting on the tip-off, the joint team launched a special search operation, surrounded the suspects, and took all three into custody without incident.
Investigators said the arrested Maoists were members of the squad led by top Maoist commander Asim Mandal alias Akash, who carries a reward of ₹1 crore. They are accused of involvement in several incidents of Maoist violence, attacks on security personnel, extortion, and other criminal activities. All three are currently being interrogated.
Madan Mahato, also known by the aliases Shankar and Charan, is a native of Karmasol village under Salboni police station in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district. He had been active for years in the Jangalmahal, Belpahari, Dalma, and Kolhan forest regions along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border. According to investigators, he played a crucial role in leading armed squads, planning attacks on security forces, recruiting cadres, and strengthening the Maoist network.
His wife, Meena, was also an active member of the banned outfit. She allegedly handled courier work, logistics, and coordination for Maoist squads while assisting the organisation’s activities in the border forests of Jharkhand and West Bengal. She is also accused of supporting conspiracies against security forces.
Ravi Sardar, a Regional Committee Member and commander of the CPI (Maoist), had been operating in the Dalma, Kolhan, Saranda, and Jharkhand-West Bengal border regions. Security agencies allege that he worked closely with senior Maoist leaders Misir Besra and Asim Mandal in planning attacks on security forces, planting IEDs, recruiting new cadres, and expanding the outfit’s operations.
The arrests mark another important milestone in Jharkhand’s sustained anti-Maoist campaign, with security agencies continuing to tighten their grip on the insurgent network operating in the state’s forested regions.