The Delhi police Crime Branch has arrested a 23-year-old woman Naxal operative from Jharkhand, who had been living in the national capital and working as a domestic helper under a false identity, from Pitampura area of outer Delhi.
The accused, identified as “R,” had been residing in Pitampura since 2020 and was taken into custody following a crime branch operation based on secret intelligence.
Originally, a resident of Village Kudaburu in West Simbhum district of Jharkhand, she was wanted in connection with multiple police encounters and was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, Explosives Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, according to Delhi Police. On March 26, 2023, a non-bailable warrant was issued against her by a court in Jharkhand.
The alleged Naxalite arrived in Delhi in 2020 and after assuming a false identity took up work as a domestic helper in Noida and various parts of Delhi, eventually settling in Pitampura.
“Based on months of surveillance and intelligence gathering, the crime branch received credible information about the presence of a Maoist extremist in the National Capital Region (NCR),” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vikram Singh said.
The officer further said that on March 4, the team carried out a raid in Maharana Pratap Enclave, Pitampura, resulting in the arrest of the Naxalite.
The accused was born into a farming family and was recruited into the CPI (Maoist) faction at the age of 10.
“She received intensive training for five years at a camp led by a commander named Ramesh in Jharkhand’s Kolhan forest. The training covered handling sophisticated weapons such as INSAS rifles, SLRs, LMGs, hand grenades and .303 rifles,” DCP said.
In 2016, she joined the CPI (Maoist) extremist group led by Ramesh, whose camp was situated in the hills of the Kolhan forest. At the time, the camp accommodated 300-450 individuals, including 40-50 women, 4-5 children of her age. Her involvement in Naxal activities began when she was 10-years-old.
She joined the notorious Naxalite camp Bhakpa Maovadi Ugarvadi Jeevan Kandulna. During her time there, she underwent a rigorous and intense training regimen for five years, where she was groomed as a trained Naxalite.
Between 2018 and 2020, she actively participated in three encounters with the Jharkhand Police -- first in Kolhan (2018), then in Porahat (2019), and later in Sonua (2020) alongside her company commander, Jeevan Kandula.. Following these confrontations, she was instructed by her faction commanders to relocate to Delhi, said the DCP.
During her interrogation, it is revealed that it is revealed that she had undergone extensive training in handling sophisticated weapons, including SLR, INSAS, LMG, Hand Grenade and the 303 rifle, among others. During foot patrols with the gang, she uses to carry INSAS rifle.
Acting on the instructions of her faction commander, she relocated to Delhi. Upon arriving in Delhi in 2020, she concealed her true identity and began working as a house cleaner in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and various parts of Delhi. She settled in the Pitampura area, where she remained undetected, living discreetly.
Multiple FIRs were registered against her at Sonua Police Station, Jharkhand, under serious charges, including criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, and waging war against the state. She will be produced before the court for further legal proceedings.
The arrestee is wanted in case FIR No. 19 dated 11.04.2020, registered under Section 147/148/149/307/353/120B/121/121-A Indian Penal Code, 1860, read with Section 25(1A)/25(1B)(a)/35 Arms Act, read with Section 3/4/17 Explosive Act, read with Section 10/13 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Police Station Sonua, Jharkhand. On 26.03.2023, the court of SDJM (P), Chaibasa, Jharkhand, issued a Non-Bailable Warrant for the arrest of the lady accused (R).
Accused arrestee “R” has been booked by way of Kalandara under Section 41.1 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 read with Section 35(1)(C) Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023.