Jamshedpur, Aug. 31: Jharkhand Police have announced cash rewards totalling ₹1.34 crore for information leading to the whereabouts of six wanted Maoists, including senior leader Asim Mondal, as security agencies intensify operations in Jharkhand and neighbouring West Bengal.
Police said Asim Mondal carries a reward of ₹1 crore. The other wanted Maoists named in the public alert are Ramprasad Mardi, his wife Mita, Mangal Sardar, Malti Murmu and Bulu Mahato.
Authorities believe the group has moved out of West Singhbhum and may be hiding in parts of East Singhbhum or adjoining districts of West Bengal, including Purulia, Jhargram and West Midnapore.
East Singhbhum police have displayed posters featuring the six wanted Maoists at 25 locations and appealed to the public to provide information about them.
Police have assured potential informants that their identities will be kept confidential.Deputy Superintendent of Police Dayanand Kumar said the wanted individuals appeared to have gone underground, with security forces detecting no significant public activity or movement during extensive searches and patrols carried out over the past several weeks.
Police and central security forces have stepped up their search across suspected locations, including villages and forested areas. Intelligence inputs had suggested that the group was seen near Basadera on August 19, following which a joint operation was launched, though the suspects were not traced.
Security personnel have also questioned people in Gurjhor, Mirgitand and Kasidih villages and continued searches in the Dalma Hills and other possible hideouts.
Jharkhand Police spokesperson Narendra Kumar Singh said 18 Maoists were currently believed to be at large in the state, including Asim Mondal. Between January and August, security forces arrested 113 Maoists, while 50 others surrendered and 22 were killed during operations, he said.
During the same period, security agencies recovered 111 weapons, nearly 10,000 rounds of live ammunition and about ₹6 lakh in cash, according to police.The latest reward announcement comes amid an intensified campaign against Maoist activity in Jharkhand.
Recent operations have resulted in the arrest or surrender of several Maoist members and the deaths of others during security operations.
Police said coordinated operations involving Jharkhand Police, West Bengal Police and central security forces would continue as authorities attempt to trace the remaining wanted Maoists and dismantle the group’s presence in the region.
