Sixteen Maoists Surrender to Jharkhand Police, Major Blow to Insurgency

In a significant development, 16 Maoists surrendered to the Jharkhand police, including several high-profile members with substantial bounties. This event highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat insurgency in the region. Among those who surrendered was Santosh Mahato, wanted in numerous cases, marking a notable achievement for the police. The surrender also included the handover of various firearms and ammunition, showcasing the impact of the state's anti-Maoist initiatives. As the campaign continues, the police report a growing number of arrests and surrenders, indicating progress in restoring peace and security in Jharkhand.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 28, 2026, 14:06 IST

Significant Surrender of Maoists in Jharkhand

Ranchi, July 28 - On Tuesday, a total of 16 Maoists surrendered to the Jharkhand police. A senior police official reported that among these individuals, six had bounties totaling ₹39 lakh on their heads. Notably, one of the surrendering Maoists, Santosh Mahato, also known as Basudev Da or Dilip, was wanted in 128 cases and had a reward of ₹15 lakh.

The official stated, “Out of the 16 Maoists who surrendered, six had a combined bounty of ₹39 lakh. This group included five female members, along with one regional committee member and one zonal committee member.” Additionally, two members from the sub-zonal committee and two officials from the area committee were part of those who surrendered.

According to the officer, the surrender of Santosh Mahato, a member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) regional committee, marks a significant achievement for the Jharkhand police. He was wanted in various police stations across multiple districts for 128 cases, including involvement in an IED explosion on March 1 in the forests bordering the Manoharpur, Chotanagpur, and Jariakela police station areas, which resulted in injuries to a Cobra Battalion soldier.

The Director General of Police for Jharkhand, Tadasha Mishra, hailed the surrender of the Maoists as another major success for the state police.

She remarked, “We are committed to eradicating extremism and crime from the state. The Jharkhand police are working towards making the state safe and secure.”

The police also noted that Chandan Lohra, a zonal committee member of the banned CPI (Maoist), surrendered as well. He was wanted in 78 cases and had a bounty of ₹10 lakh.

According to police reports, the surrendering Maoists handed over six INSAS rifles, two AK-47 rifles, 38 magazines, and 1,562 cartridges. Among those who laid down their arms were Anil Turi, also known as Ujjwal, and Sukhlal Birjia, also known as Akela, both of whom had bounties of ₹5 lakh each.

Additionally, Sudesh Hohanga, also known as Sonaram Hohanga, and Risiv, both area committee members of the banned organization, also surrendered, each having a bounty of ₹2 lakh. Zonal committee member Santosh Manjhi, also known as Jagbandhu, also surrendered to the police.

The police claimed that as part of the ongoing anti-Maoist campaign across Jharkhand, 93 Maoists have been arrested this year, 45 have surrendered, and 22 have been killed in encounters with security forces.