Maoists – Three Wanted Insurgents Arrested With AK-47 Rifles in Jharkhand Operation
Maoists – Security forces have arrested three wanted members of the banned CPI (Maoist) during a coordinated anti-insurgency operation in Jharkhand’s Saraikela-Kharsawan district. Officials said the three accused were carrying a combined reward of Rs 22 lakh and were taken into custody along with a significant cache of weapons, including three AK-47 rifles.
Joint operation leads to successful arrests
According to Jharkhand Police headquarters, the operation was launched after intelligence agencies received specific information about the presence of active Maoist members in the district. Acting on the input, a joint team of the Jharkhand Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) carried out a planned search operation in the area.
Security personnel surrounded the suspects during the operation and arrested them without any reported casualties. Police identified the arrested individuals as Madan Mahto, his wife Meena, and Ravi Sardar. Authorities said rewards of Rs 15 lakh, Rs 2 lakh, and Rs 5 lakh, respectively, had been announced for information leading to their capture.
Weapons and multiple criminal cases linked to accused
Investigators said the three suspects are facing several criminal cases connected to Maoist violence. The allegations include attacks on security forces, extortion through illegal levy collection, and involvement in other serious offences linked to extremist activities.
Police also confirmed the recovery of three AK-47 assault rifles from the arrested Maoists. Officials described the seizure as an important development in ongoing efforts to weaken the operational capabilities of the banned organisation in the region.
Links to senior Maoist leadership
Authorities said all three arrested individuals were associated with a squad led by Maoist commander Asim Mandal, who carries a reward of Rs 1 crore. Security agencies believe the group has been active in maintaining Maoist operations across parts of Jharkhand and neighbouring West Bengal.
Madan Mahto, also known by the aliases Shankar and Charan, is a resident of Karmasol village under Salboni police station in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district. According to police, he remained active in areas including Jangalmahal, Belpahari, Dalma and Kolhan, where he allegedly supervised armed squads, coordinated attacks, recruited new members and helped strengthen the Maoist network.
Role of Meena and Ravi Sardar
Police said Meena was an active member of the banned outfit and operated mainly in the forest areas along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border. She is accused of handling courier responsibilities, arranging logistical support, assisting squad movements and participating in conspiracies targeting security personnel. Investigators also linked her activities to the network led by Asim Mandal.
Ravi Sardar, identified as a Regional Committee member and commander within the organisation, allegedly worked across the Dalma, Kolhan, Saranda and border forest regions. Security agencies said he was involved in planning attacks, planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), recruiting fresh cadres and expanding the Maoist network while working alongside senior leaders, including Misir Besra and Asim Mandal.
Security agencies highlight changing ground situation
The arrests come shortly after 16 Maoists surrendered before police in Ranchi on July 29. Officials said the number of active Maoist cadres in Jharkhand has declined significantly and estimated that only around 20 active members remain in the state.
Security agencies also noted that the Saranda forest region, once regarded as one of the strongest Maoist strongholds, is now believed to have only six active cadres. Authorities said sustained security operations and surrender policies have contributed to reducing extremist activity across several affected districts