Kolkata, Sep 17 (IANS): In a major breakthrough against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police has arrested senior CPI (Maoist) leader Asim Mandal, alias Akash, Timir and Manoj, who was among the most wanted Maoist leaders operating across West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha.
He was apprehended in Patashpur in the East Midnapore district of West Bengal during an early morning operation on Thursday, according to West Bengal police.
Sources in the city police said a reward of Rs 2.20 crore had been announced for information leading to his capture. The Jharkhand government had announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for his arrest, while the Odisha government had placed a bounty of Rs 1.20 crore on him.
His arrest is being viewed as a significant success for security agencies and a major setback to Maoist activities in the tribal and forested regions spread across the three eastern states.
Investigators reportedly recovered two bags from his possession containing Maoist literature, booklets and electronic communication equipment.
Police sources said Mandal’s wife, a resident of the Patashpur area and an alleged CPI (Maoist) activist, was arrested by the STF in 2010 and is currently in judicial custody.
A native of Fulchak village under Chandrakona Police Station in West Midnapore district, Mandal is said to have become involved in Left-Wing extremist activities during his student years in the 1980s. He later joined the People’s War Group and worked extensively in the Sarenga and Goaltor regions of West Bengal as well as the Gurabanda area of Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district.
Security agencies’ records show that nearly 55 serious criminal cases are registered against him across Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. Several of these cases relate to attacks on security forces and armed encounters in Jharkhand.
Following the formation of CPI (Maoist) in September 2004, he returned to the Jangalmahal region spanning parts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts and became actively involved in the outfit’s activities. He also played a key role during the Lalgarh movement, after which he was entrusted with the responsibility of Secretary of the West Bengal State Committee in 2010. He later held important positions in the Bengal-Jharkhand-Odisha Regional Committee.
According to police sources, the Maoist network in West Bengal suffered a major setback after the November 2011 encounter killing of senior Maoist leader Kishanji. Thereafter, Mandal is said to have gone completely underground and remained elusive for years until his arrest on Thursday.
