Maoists surrender at 'Vikas Mela'

Two ultras belonging to the banned CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Senior Superintendent of Police Anoop T Mathew at an administration-sponsored ‘Vikas Mela’  in Ghurabandha block in Ghatshila sub-division here on Wednesday.

Those surrendered were identified as Mohan Murmu alias Jara (25) and Sundar Soren (21), both hailed from the Kanhu Munda squad of the rebel outfit.

The two rebels surrendered before the police at the Vikash Mela organised at Jualkanta in the rebel hotbed Ghurabandha. On the occasion, East Singhbhum deputy commissioner, Amit Kumar, Bahragora legislator Kunal Sarangi and sub-divisional officer, Ghatshila, Sukanto Gaurav were also present.

Hailing it a great achievement, superintendent of police (rural) Shailendra Kumar Burnwal said that Jara and Sundar were active members of the Kanhu Munda squad.

"We welcome them as they join the mainstream. The two had failed to surrender along with Kanhu Munda who had surrendered before the police along with his six associates on February 15. But they were impressed with what the government had offered the surrendered rebels a very good rehabilitation package, the duo also prompted to surrender," said Burnwal.

He said five naxal-related cases were pending against each of the two surrendered rebels.

Ghurabandha, where the Vikas Mela was organised was one of the three blocks in Ghatshila sub-division which comes under the development focus areas which is infested by naxal activities.

During the mela 20 administration-sponsored stalls belonging to various Government departments had been set up during the one-day development fair.  Over 5,000 people from Ghurabandha, Dumaria, Musabani, Ghatshila and Dhalbhumgarh participated in the fair.

According to sources, departments like irrigation, agriculture, education, health and family welfare, agencies dealing with Aadhaar Card and road construction as well as the branches of various banks had set up their stalls where those attended the fair interacted with the government officials.

Deputy commissioner, Amit Kumar who had been at the Vikas Mela declared that a high school (Milandikhi Uccha Vidyalay) at Jualkanta in Ghurabandha block will be upgraded for providing education upto plus two level.