RANCHI: In a major achievement ahead of 2024-Lok Sabha polls, as many as 15 Maoists, including a minor and two women cadres, who were active in Saranda jungles of West Singhbhum in Jharkhand, surrendered before the police on Thursday.
All these Maoist cadres belong to the squad of Misir Besra and Patiram Majhi alias Anal Da.
The police stated that the Maoists chose to surrender due to their frustration with the exploitation of the people by top Maoist leaders such as Misir Besra and Patiram Majhi, also known as Anal Da.
“A total of 15 Maoists, including one minor and two women cadres have put down their arms before the police on Thursday. All of them being locals, it will have a great impact on the strength of the red rebels as it will weaken them further," said Chaibasa SP Ashutosh Shekhar.
The SP also warned the Maoists either to surrender before police or be ready to feel the heat as they will further intensify anti-Maoist operations in the Kolhan jungles.
West Singhbhum is considered one of the most left-wing extremist-affected districts in the country.
Notably, the Maoists have planted thousands of IEDs to check security forces enter into the jungles, due to which regular incidents of blasts are taking place during operations.
Since November 2022, as many as four security personnel have been killed while 28 others were critically injured, besides claiming lives of 12 civilians in IED blasts triggered by Maoists in Kolhan jungles.
Interestingly, the Maoists have also distributed pamphlets in the villages adjacent to Kolhan jungles and warned villages not to enter deep into the jungles as they may walk over an IED and lose their lives.
According to Chaibasa SP, even though Maoists have planted IEDs in the entire area, forces are advancing slowly into the jungles with full determination and have established several temporary security camps in their core areas.
The state police launched a joint operation in Kolhan jungles in November 2022 after a tip-off that some of the senior Maoist leaders, including Misir Besra and Patiram Majhi alias Anal Da, are hiding in that forest stretch, which is said to be strategically important.