Upset with the exploitation of the poor and innocent people being done by top Maoist leaders in the organization, wanted Sub-Zonal Commander Santosh Kumar Singh alias Santosh Bhokta of Kolebira in Simdega surrendered before DGP DK Pandey here at Police Headquarters on Friday.
Police said that the surrender was an outcome of the recent meet organised by Simdega police bringing families of the victims of Maoist violence along with the families of Maoist leaders together on the same platform under perception management policy to build positive opinions among people towards Government and police.
During the meet, Bhokta’s father had announced that he will try to convince his son to surrender before police and join the mainstream to lead a respectful and dignified life.
“Bhokta’s father finally kept his promise which he had made on September 25 that he will compel his son to surrender before the police,” said Simdega SP Rajeev Ranjan Singh.
Probably for the first time in the country, family members of victims of Maoist violence were brought together on the same platform along with the families of Maoist leaders who are presently lodged in jails in Simdega on September 25 where they spoke their heart with each other. At least 120 families of the victims of Maoist violence had one to one debate with the relatives of Maoists on the topic ‘left Wing extremism: What we gained and what we lost in the last 50 years.’
Bhokta, having a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, has at least 14 cases registered against him in different police stations in Simdega and Jaldega area. He was also wanted in more than 38 cases. Following his surrender, the DGP handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh along with cash of Rs 50 thousand to him.
The surrendered sub zonal commander said that the top leaders do not have any principle and are busy in making money only to live a lavish life in big cities.
“They purchase palatial houses in prominent cities and provide modern education to their children while the lower cadres sacrifice their lives for those leaders staying in jungles for several days,” said the surrendered Maoist.
“Torture, loot and murder have badly dominated the organization due to which I decided to surrender before the police so that he could lead a dignified life ahead,” he added.
“Besides that, my father also pressurized me to surrender before police and join the mainstream,” he said. Bokta, still unmarried, said that he joined the Maoists in the year 2008 -09 after he got influenced by the speech given by the then sub-zonal commander Manoj Nagesia who used to make frequent visits to their village.
DGP DK Pandey while addressing the gathering said that Naxals will be eliminated very soon by 2017 from Jharkhand. Several top leaders of Maoists are surrendering before us under Operation Nai Disha in Jharkhand. At least 99 hardcore Maoists have surrendered so far before us and many more are in regular contact with us,” said the DGP.
ADGs Ajay Bhatnagar, Ajay Kumar Singh Anil Palta along with IG (Provisions) RK Mallick along with several other police officers were also present during the programme.