Ranchi: In a major success for Jharkhand Police and other agencies involved in counter-insurgency operations in state five hardcore maoists including a zonal commander who was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head surrendered before the senior officials of Jharkhand Police and CRPF.
In a function held at the zonal office of Ranchi IG a total of five hardcore maoists including zonal commander Amarjeet Yadav alias Tingu who was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh, sub zonal commander Sahdeo Yadav alias Latan who was carrying Rs 5 lakh on his head, sub-zonal commander Neeru Yadav alias Salim, sub zonal commander Santosh Bhuiyaan and squad member Ashok Baiga alias Ashok Parhia surrendered before the police.
Speaking on the occasion IG Operations Jharkhand Police Amol V Homkar said that with the surrender of these hardcore maoists the entire Kauleshwari sub zone of the CPI Maoists has been almost wiped out where the ultras were active for the last three decades. He said that all those who have surrendered were active in Chatra Palamu and Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand and Gaya and Aurangabad districts of Bihar.
He said that the surrender of the maoists is not a result of one-day action but is an outcome of persistent efforts of last one year in the area. The IG said that during the last year three encounters had taken place with the maoists in that area on three occasions while in 2023 on four occasions a gun battle took place between the two sides. Homkar said that the killing of two SAC members and three sub-zonal commanders were shot dead recently after which panic had spread in the ranks of the maoists.
Moreover, the officials on the ground were in constant touch with the family members of the maoists due to which they managed to get them surrendered. CRPF Sector IG for Jharkhand VK Birdi that the surrender of these five dreaded maoists is historic as far as anti insurgency operations are concerned in the state. He said that with the maoists surrendering with arms and ammunition the Kauleshwari zone of the maoists has been wiped out.
Following are the details of arms and ammunition handed over by the maoists: AK 56 Rifle (2) SLR (1) Insas Rifle (1). 303 Rifle (2) .30 MM US Rifle Air Gun (1) Country Made Guns (2) Pistol (1) Magazines 41 Wireless sets 16 Cartridges of various guns 1855 and other items.