In a major success for the security forces engaged in flushing out Maoist rebels, a hardcore CPI-Maoist rebel Kanhu Munda, who was wanted in connection with several naxal-related cases and carried a reward of `25 lakh on his head, surrendered before the police at Golmuri police line in the city along with six other Naxals on Wednesday .
Apart from the zonal commander Kanhu, those who have surrendered are Fogra Munda, Bhoglu Singh Munda, Jiten Munda, Shanker and Kajal. The Maoists had surrendered at Naxal hot bed Jiyan under Gurabandha police station limit.
Seven major Maoist leaders altogether carried a reward of `43 lakh on their heads. Among the seven, police said, Kanhu Munda and Fogra Munda were carrying reward of `25 lakh and `10 lakh on their heads respectively. Four other cadres carried reward of `2 lakh each on their heads. The Maoists, including a woman, laid their arms before the Senior Superintendent of East Singhbhum district police Anoop T Mathew.
DIG (Kolhan) Prabhat Kumar described this as a big achievement.
Kanhu, a zonal secretary of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha zone of CPI(Maoists), joined the Naxal movement about two decades ago, was operating in Ghatsila sub-division including bordering areas of West Bengal and Odisha, police said.
Kanhu and Fogra were wanted in a number of Naxal-related incidents, including the murder of police inspector Sushil Nag and three others in Singhpura in 2006.
According to information, the East Singhbhum district police intensified anti-Naxal operation in the Naxal-hit Ghatsila sub-division and mounted pressure on Kanhu Munda-led squad to surrender.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Anoop T Mathew, said the district police have launched
a massive anti-naxal operation, particularly after a hard-core Maoist Supai Tudu
was gunned down in an encounter recently in the sub-division.