Kolkata, Oct 23: A Maoist couple, carrying a bounty on their heads, surrendered before Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand on Friday and handed over their weapons to the force.
The couple, identified as Mangal and Malati, hails from West Bengal but was active in Jharkhand, the Kolkata CP said.
The Jharkhand Police had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for Mangal’s arrest, while Malati was carrying a Rs 2 lakh bounty.
“Mangal hails from Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district, while Malati is a resident of Gopiballavpur in Jhargram. They moved to Jharkhand and were involved in Maoist activities, mainly in the Saranda forest region,” Nand told reporters.
Mangal was close to slain Maoist Mallojula Koteswara Rao, better known as ‘Kishenji’, and six to seven cases were pending against him in Jharkhand, he said.
“He joined red rebels in 2010 when the People’s Committee was active in Salboni, and moved to Jharkhand after 2011-12,” the Kolkata CP said.
Mangal was initially active in the Dalma region before moving to Saranda, the police commissioner said, adding that Malati also left Jhargram and joined him there.
According to police, Maoists were finding it increasingly difficult to remain active in Jharkhand’s Saranda and started leaving the area this year.
“Around 13 Maoists from West Bengal were among those who were active there. Several of them have been arrested,” the officer said.
Mangal said, “Social transformation is not possible through armed struggle. We have decided to leave that path and return to the mainstream of society. That is why we have come forward to surrender before the West Bengal government.”
The couple’s surrender comes months after Maoist leader Pushpa alias Shakuntala surrendered before the Kolkata Police in June, and a red rebel Sradhya Biswas alias Bela was arrested in the Uttar Kashipur area in May. (PTI)
