The state received a major boost in its effort to curb Maoist influence as a top zonal commander of CPI (Moaists), Suresh Singh Munda along with area commander Lodro Lohra alias Subhas surrendered before senior police officials in Ranchi on Tuesday.
Munda, who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head was wanted in 67 cases across different police stations in Ranchi and other parts of the Kolhan region, said police. He is a native of Bundu in Ranchi and was promoted as zonal commander in 2015. Lohra, on the other hand, carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head and hailed from Arki in Khunti district. He was named in 54 cases.
“Of the two, Munda is a top catch as he was a key member of CPI (Maoist) central committee member Misri Besra. He played a significant role in strengthening rebel movement in Kolhan,” said police spokesperson and IG A V Homkar.
Homkar hailed the role of Chaibasa police and CRPF for playing important roles in pacifying the two rebels to lay their arms under state government’s surrender policy named Nai Disha. “State police has been running an active campaign across all the districts and block levels to create awareness among people against rebels. Police are also reaching out to the family of rebels to convince them to surrender and take benefit of government schemes. Simultaneously, we are also running anti-naxal operations regularly. All these are reaping benefits,” said Homkar
Munda, talking briefly after his surrender, said that he was taken away from his village by Maoists when he was six years old in 1998 by Kundan Pahan. Pahan, once a dreaded rebel, had surrendered before state police a year ago. Lodra on the other hand joined the squad in 2010.
“Maoists don’t have any ideology anymore and are anti-people and anti-development. This is why I decided to come out of their den to lead a normal life. I have realized that one won’t achieve anything living in the jungles around the year like animals and at always the risk of getting killed by security forces. I too want to contribute to society and hence, I have decided to surrender now,” said Munda and appealed to his colleagues to follow suit.
