A top zonal commander of CPI (Maoists) Maharaj Pramanik, who carried a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head, surrendered along with an AK-47, rifle (2), cartridges and two wireless sets before state police sleuths in Ranchi on Friday.

Police said that he was one of the key members of the Chandil-Bundu zone of the extremist outfit and also served as their key spokesperson for several years. Pramanik, who studied at Chandil college till 2007-08 hailed from Ichagarh in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, said police.

State police IG A V Homkar, zonal IG Pankaj Khamboj and senior officials of CRPF were present during his formal ceremony in Ranchi on Friday.

Top brass of state police during the surrender The Telegraph Picture

Police said that about 130 cases of different nature were lodged against Pramnik alias Bablu alias Raj alias Ashok since over last one decade ranging from arms act, murder, extortion, kidnaps, dacoity among others.

Among several crimes and naxal incidents, which he was either part of or masterminded included killing of two policemen on March 22 in 2010 during an attack on Narsingh Ispat company in Khunti; murder of two policemen including a Cobra jawan during an encounter in Seraikela on June 2018, IED blast at an underconstruction dam site in Kharsawan in May 2019 in which two jawans sustained injuries.

According to police, he joined the CPI (Maoists) in 2008-09 and since then remained a key member of the outfit mostly active in Kolhan region.

“He told police that he first came into contact with CPI (Maoist) group in 2008 in order to save his mother from some criminals. His mother worked as an Anganwadi worker and due to some dispute related to civil works in her village, a gang tried to kill her by attacking at her house. Since her mother wasn’t at home, she got saved. Thereafter, he (Pramanik) pleaded for everyone to help in the village but none came forward during which he came in touch with some members of the naxal squad, who promised him to help and made him join the group,” said an official.

He added that he rose to the rank of zonal commander in about a year after he came in touch with another dreaded naxal Kundan Pahan (now surrendered).

Speaking to reporters briefly, Pramanik said that naxals don’t have any ideology anymore as a result of which he chose to return to the mainstream. “I appeal all young people who are currently with such extremist groups to return back to the society,” he said.

IG Homkar on the other hand, maintained that about half a dozen naxals have surrendered in the last six months because of the effectively surrender policy of the state as well as the ongoing offensive by state police to flush out rebels. “Pramanik’s surrender is a great achievement as it will further weaken CPI (Maoist) outfit which is currently in the last leg of its existence,” he said.