Three Hardcore Maoists Carrying Rs. 22 Lakh Reward Arrested in Jharkhand, Major Blow to Insurgency

Ranchi: Jharkhand's long-running battle against Left-wing extremism has received another major boost, with security forces arresting three hardcore Maoists carrying a combined reward of ?22 lakh. The operation, jointly carried out by the CRPF and Jharkhand Police, led to the capture of ?15 lakh reward-carrying Maoist Madan Mahato, ?5 lakh reward-carrying Ravi Sardar, and ?2 lakh reward-carrying Meena, Madan Mahato's wife. The Jharkhand Police Headquarters has officially confirmed the arrests.

Security personnel also recovered a large cache of weapons from the arrested insurgents, including three AK-47 rifles, marking one of the most significant anti-Maoist successes in recent months.

The operation was conducted in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district after intelligence inputs indicated the presence of active members of the banned CPI (Maoist) in the region. Acting on the information, a joint team of the CRPF and Jharkhand Police launched a special search operation and successfully surrounded and apprehended the three Maoists.

According to investigators, all three were members of the squad led by top Maoist leader Asim Mandal alias Akash, who carries a reward of ?1 crore. They are accused of involvement in several cases of Maoist violence, attacks on security forces, extortion, and other serious crimes. The trio is currently being interrogated.

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Madan Mahato, also known by the aliases Shankar and Charan, is a notorious Maoist from Karmasol (Charan) village in Salboni police station limits of West Midnapore district in West Bengal. Carrying a reward of ₹15 lakh, he had remained active for years in the forested regions of Jangalmahal, Belpahari, Dalma, and Kolhan along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border. Investigators say he played a key role in leading armed squads, planning attacks on security forces, recruiting new cadres, and strengthening the Maoist network. He is believed to have worked closely with Asim Mandal's organisation.

His wife, Meena, who carried a reward of ₹2 lakh, was also an active member of the banned outfit. She allegedly handled courier operations, logistics, and coordination for Maoist squads operating in the border forests of Jharkhand and West Bengal. She is also suspected of assisting in conspiracies targeting security forces and maintaining communication within the extremist network.

The third arrested Maoist, Ravi Sardar, is a Regional Committee Member and commander of the CPI (Maoist). With a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head, he was active in the Dalma, Kolhan, Saranda, and Jharkhand-West Bengal border forests. Security agencies allege that he worked alongside senior Maoist leaders Misir Besra and Asim Mandal in planning attacks on security personnel, planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), recruiting cadres, and expanding the organisation's influence.

The arrests come as Jharkhand's security forces continue to intensify operations against the dwindling Maoist network, signalling that the insurgency in the state is steadily being pushed towards its final phase.