In a significant breakthrough for Jharkhand's ongoing anti-Naxal campaign, more than 18 members of the banned CPI (Maoist) are understood to have surrendered before security agencies, opting to abandon violence and return to the mainstream, according to reliable sources.
Most of the surrendered cadres were reportedly active in the Kolhan region of the State, while a few had been operating in other parts of the state. However, the Jharkhand Police has not yet issued an official statement confirming the development.
Sources said the surrender process has already been completed before the security agencies. A formal announcement is expected to be made at a programme to be held at the Jharkhand Police Headquarters in Ranchi within the next two to three days.
The development comes amid intensified joint anti-Maoist operations by the Jharkhand Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) over the past several months.
Sustained operations in forested and hilly areas have mounted pressure on the Maoist organisation, resulting in a growing number of surrenders. Despite these gains, police records indicate that around 30 reward-carrying Maoists are still active in the state, with security forces continuing efforts to track them down.
In a recent operation, security personnel arrested Ajay Mahto alias Tiger, a close associate of Rs 1 crore bounty Maoist leader Misir Besra, from the Giridih-Bokaro border area.
The arrest was seen as a major setback for the Maoist organisation. Misir Besra, however, remains at large and continues to be one of the most wanted Maoist leaders in the region.
The latest surrender is also being attributed to the success of Jharkhand Police's rehabilitation initiative, Operation Navjeevan, which encourages extremists to renounce violence and reintegrate into society.
Earlier, on May 21, a total of 27 extremists — including 25 CPI (Maoist) cadres and two members of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) — had surrendered under the initiative. They also handed over 16 sophisticated firearms and 2,857 rounds of ammunition to the police.
Also read: Maoist commander with ₹25 lakh reward arrested in Jharkhand
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