Shunning violence, hardcore Maoist Maharaj Pramanik carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh surrendered before the Seraikela police. Sources informed that he was impressed by the police's rehabilitation drive and disappointed with the Maoist ideology.
Maharaj Pramanik, a resident of Ichagarh police station area in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, was in touch with the state police intelligence wing. According to information, Maoist outfits had declared him an outsider for sympathising with police.
In Seraikela-Kharsawan, Ghatshila and Chaibasa under Kolhan area, Maharaja was involved in various incidents of blast. Police were continuously running a drive in the jungles to nab Maharaja Pramanik and his squad.
The Maoist, who had become a challenge for the police and security forces for a long time, was dismissed from the organization by the CPI-Maoist. He was also removed from the post of zonal member after being accused of indulging in anti-organisation activities.
At the same time, area committee member Balloon Sardar was also dismissed from the organisation.
CPI-Maoist southern zonal committee spokesperson Ashok issued a communique and said that Maharaj Pramanik had duped the organisation by coming out in the name of getting treatment for the disease. It was alleged that Maharaj Pramanik left the organization on August 14 with Rs 40 lakh, an AK 47 rifle, 150 bullets, a 9 mm pistol, mobile, medicine tablets and walkie-talkie set. The CPI-Maoist organisation has also announced the punishment of Maharaj Pramanik and Balloon Sardar in the Jan Adalat.
Revealing about the development, police officials said that they had launched an intense operation against the naxals in Kharsawan, Chowka jungles and also in the foothills of Dalma close to Ranchi district.
"We had information that the squads of naxal leaders Anal and Maharaj Pramanik were active in Kharsawan and Chowka since the past one year in Kharsawan and Chowka beside the foothills of Dalma. We had set up the CRPF camps keeping the Dalma foothills, Chowka and Kharsawan in view so that the CRPF personnel could conduct random operations against the rebels effectively. Now he has surrendered after realising the importance of mainstream life,” he noted.
Police said that the security has been beefed up in the area and they were keeping strict vigil on movement of the Naxlites. “There has been a substantial increase in Maoist activities in this. We are not much concerned about small acts of violence because these activities can be controlled by us, but the bigger attacks are worrisome,” said a security official.