Three Maoists including zonal commander with Rs 10 lakh bounty surrender in Jharkhand's Chaibasa

Chaibasa (Jharkhand), Aug 7 (AHN) Three members of the banned CPI (Maoist), including a zonal commander carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh, surrendered before the police in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district on Friday, officials said.

This marks another setback for the insurgent outfit in the Kolhan region.

State Police Headquarters confirmed the surrender of zonal commander Saluka Kayam alias Dangil along with two women Maoist cadres, Kodo Muni Koda alias Padmini and Pinki. Padmini was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on her head.

Padmini is a resident of Rengra Tola in Banglasai under Tonto police station area, while Pinki hails from Ichagora village under Goilkera police station limits.

Saluka Kayam was considered one of the prominent Maoist leaders operating in the Kolhan region.

Police records show that he was known by several aliases, including Saluka, Dangil, Maru and Bhuvneshwar. He was associated with the South Zone Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist) and is believed to have played a key role in sustaining Maoist activities in the Kolhan belt.

A resident of Kudaburu Kayamsai village in Sonua police station area, Saluka had been on the police's wanted list for a long time.

His surrender comes at a time when security forces are intensifying anti-Maoist operations across the dense forests of Kolhan. Joint teams of the police and Central Armed Police Forces have been conducting search and combing operations to dismantle Maoist strongholds in the region.

According to the police, continuous security operations have significantly increased pressure on the Maoist organisation, making it increasingly difficult for its members to maintain safe hideouts and carry out activities in the forested areas.

Authorities also attribute the latest surrender to the state's rehabilitation and surrender policy, which offers Maoist cadres an opportunity to return to the mainstream of society.

Under the policy, surrendered Maoists are entitled to rehabilitation benefits and other assistance as specified by the government, aimed at facilitating their reintegration into society.