7 Maoists surrender

23 May 2012

biswabrata goswami
JHARGRAM, 23 MAY: Seven Maoists surrendered before state director general of police Naparajit Mukherjee at a programme here today. Among them was a former bodyguard for slain Maoist politburo leader Kishenji. 
Though nine Maoists were expected to surrender today, two refused because they did not want to spend two years in a correctional home, as required by the government's surrender policy. "We are trying our best to continue negotiation with them so that they can realise the government's rehabilitation policy and package," said a senior police officer.
Mr Mukherjee presented each of the seven Maoists who surrendered with a scarf and a bouquet. "This was the first time in West Bengal that a large number of ultras surrendered with arms before the police," he said. "On previous occasions, police played roles in negotiations with Maoists, who finally agreed to surrender before the police," Mr Mukherjee said. "But, this time, the Central Reserve Police Force had taken on such a role, which brought such success." All seven ultras were close to Kishenji before his death in an operation by joint forces last year. The seven weapons surrendered included a 5.56 Insas rifle, 0.315 and 0.303 rifles and country-made firearms. The first to surrender was Kishenji's bodyguard, Jagannath Soren (alias "Hiro"), who had the 5.56 Insas rifle. Soren was from Beliagora village in the district. The other six were Lalit Mahato, Sasadhar Mahato, Khagapati Mahato, Susen Baske, Niranjan Nath and Buddheswar Tudu. They are all residents of Jamboni and Binpur, a police officer said. Basistha Mahato (alias "Bullet") and Lakshmikanta Baske (alias "Jamai") did not turn up. According to Central Reserve Police Force officials, they were to surrender along with the others.
Welcoming the Maoists, Mr Mukherjee appealed to other Maoists to return to the mainstream. A police officer said: "At present, a total of 10 Maoists are active in Junglemahal, but we are trying to negotiate with them so that they can surrender with their arms before us." Police sources said the surrendered cadres were demoralised after the deaths of their leaders in encounters with the security forces in Junglemahal.
Siddhu Soren, chief of the Sidhu-Kanhu Gana Militia, operating in the Goaltore belt, was killed on 26 July 2010. Sasadhar Mahato, an accused in the Jnaneswari Express mishap was killed on 11 March 2011. Kishenji's killing in Burisolo jungle on 24 November was the biggest blow, police said.
A senior police officer said the government is quite unresponsive in moving forward with its own rehabilitation and financial package for Maoists who wish to surrender without arms. Many youths who claim to be Maoists in Junglemahal are willing to surrender, but police are virtually not responding to them.