Maoist surrender turns tragic as cadre dies

One of the 16 Maoists, who surrendered before the Jharkhand Police on July 28, died during treatment at a Ranchi hospital, a senior official said on Friday.

Itwari Manjhi alias Sonot was the bodyguard of CPI (Maoist) politburo member Misir Besra, arrested by the police on July 28 from Dhanbad district. Mesra carried a bounty of over Rs 2.2 crore and was wanted in 175 cases.

Manjhi, 26, a former area committee member of CPI (Maoist), fell ill days after being shifted to Hazaribag open jail, the official said.

He was admitted to Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) in Hazaribag on August 2 with complaints of sudden fever and extreme weakness.

"A medical board at SBMCH subsequently recommended higher-level treatment on August 4,” the official said.

Manjhi, a resident of Mahonpur village in Giridih district, was admitted to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi on August 7 for better treatment.

“He died during treatment at RIMS on Thursday,” IG (Operation) Narendra Singh said.