In a major blow to Maoists in the insurgency-hit Giridih district, a hardcore Naxal who was involved in several naxal activities for last 20 years surrendered before police here on Thursday. The State Government had declared a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh on the Maoist identified as Balbir Mahto.
Giving details about the surrendered Maoist, Superintendent of Police, Giridih, SK Jha informed that Balbir Mahto alias Rouson (30) resident of Pirtand laid arms before DIG, North Chhotanagpur Range Pankaj Kamboj ,SP, Surendra Kumar Jha and DDC Mukund Das.
The DIG said that Balbir had joined Maoists in 2002 and after completing training had joined platoon of the guerillas. He had also worked with Area Committee Member of Santhal Pargana and Giridih. Later on he was transferred to region in Bihar and Jharkhand border. During this tenure he was meted with shoddy treatment by the higher Naxal cadres, which forced him to leave the Naxal organisation, the DIG maintained. Kamboj further informed that Balbir had confessed of his involvement in several naxal attacks and was also involved in ambush attack in Pakur area wherein SP, Pakur, Amarjit Balihar and others policemen were killed.
He was also involved in different serious crimes, the DIG added.
A cheque of Rs 25 lakh alongwith Rs 2 lakh in cash was also given to him, the SP said adding that Mahto had been active in ultra outfits including the CPI(Maoists) as he came in contact with them at the tender age of 16 years.
Speaking on the occasion, Balbir said that people look at tribal community in despicable manner, which led him to join the ultra outfit.
He said that he came in contact with ultra group unknowingly and was being used by the Naxals for delivering letter or goods or as an informer.
Balbir said he decided to surrender because of his family responsibility as well as prevailing social evils in his community and admitted that naxals have lost their loyalty towards Maoism and surrendered with an intention to bring his community back into the mainstream of the society.