RANCHI: In a breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Maoist campaign, security forces in Jharkhand are set to witness another significant feat as 24 CPI (Maoists) are ready to surrender and join the mainstream.
The group includes 16 Maoists from Jharkhand and eight from neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The mass surrender is scheduled to take place at 11:00 am on Tuesday at the Jharkhand Police Headquarters in Ranchi, in the presence of the Director General of Police (DGP), marking another setback for the banned outfit.
Those returning to the mainstream include Maoists who held significant responsibilities within the organisation. The group comprises one Regional Committee Member (RCM), four Zonal Committee Members (ZCM), three from Jharkhand and one from Chhattisgarh, three Sub-Zonal Committee Members (SZCM), ten Area Committee Members (ACM), six from Jharkhand and four from Chhattisgarh and six active cadres or members.
The surrendering Maoists include RCM Santosh (alias Basudev Da, alias Gandhi), who carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh, along with Chandan Lohra (who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh) and Anil Turi and Sukhlal Birjia (who carried rewards of Rs 5 lakh each).
Additionally, Sudesh Honhaga (alias Sonaram, alias Sona), who carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh, has also decided to lay down his arms and return to the mainstream.
Other surrendering Maoists include Santosh Manjhi (alias Jagbandhu), Jaykant Munda (alias Gunga, alias Bengali), Rajnath Hansda (alias Guna Hansda), Etwari Manjhi (alias Sonot, alias Sant, alias Shanicharva), Devan Murmu (alias Shanichar), Sumitra Surin, Champa Manjhiain (alias Gudiya; Santhal cadre), Salemi Munda (alias Parul), Munni Surin (alias Murin Surin) and Sita Munda.
According to police sources, the surrendering Maoists have deposited a large quantity of weapons. These include a total of 11 modern weapons, comprising six INSAS rifles, two AK-47s, one HK-33 rifle, one US carbine and one M-16 rifle.
Additionally, 38 magazines and 1,562 live cartridges have been handed over to the police.
The police view this as a significant outcome of the ongoing operations and the weakening network of the Naxal organisation.
According to reports, the presence of Naxalites in Jharkhand is now largely confined to the Saranda forest in West Singhbhum.
Security forces are conducting continuous operations there, significantly curtailing Maoists' activities.
Earlier, on May 21, 25 CPI (Maoists) and two JJMP insurgents had surrendered before senior officials at the police headquarters. The squad was active in the Kolhan and West Singhbhum regions and was linked to the network of Misir Besra, a Maoist with a Rs 1 crore bounty.
The Maoists who surrendered at that time carried combined rewards totalling Rs 33 lakh. These successive surrenders clearly indicate declining morale within the organisation.
Meanwhile, Central Committee members Misir Besra and Asim Mandal, each carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore, remain in hiding within the Saranda forest. Security forces are primarily focused on either arresting these two top Maoist leaders or securing their surrender.
Although they have been cornered during encounters on several occasions, they have managed to escape each time by changing their hideouts.