RANCHI: Security forces in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharsawan district have achieved a significant breakthrough in an ongoing anti-Naxal operation, arresting three wanted Maoists from the Asim Mandal squad. The arrested individuals, all carrying substantial cash rewards, are accused in several serious cases, including the 2007 killing of a sitting Member of Parliament.
The arrested Maoists have been identified as Sagar Singh Sardar, also known as Biren or Ravi, who had a reward of Rs 5 lakh; his wife Meena Paharia, with a reward of Rs 2 lakh; and Madan Mahto, who had a bounty of Rs 15 lakh. The arrests were made during a special operation conducted in the forested areas bordering the Dalma foothills and the Nimdih police station limits.A large cache of weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, was recovered from the trio.
According to police officials, all three are hardcore Maoist operatives with extensive criminal records. They were involved in the deadly Naxal attack on March 4, 2007, in Baghuria, which resulted in the deaths of then Member of Parliament Sunil Mahato, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) block secretary Prabhakar Mahato, and two security personnel. The trio is also implicated in several other major Naxal incidents across the Ghatshila, Galudih, and MGM police station areas.
“Acting on a pinpointed tip-off that Sagar, alias Biren, was at a residence in Udaypur under the Kandra police station (PS) in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, a joint team swiftly cordoned off the area and arrested Ravi Sardar. Based on information he provided during interrogation, Madan Mahato, alias Charan, and Ravi’s wife, Meena, were subsequently arrested from the home of Bungrun, alias Gopi Pahariya, in Kanderbera under the Chandil PS of Seraikela-Kharsawan district,” a senior CRPF officer stated.
Anup Birathare, Inspector General (IG) of the Special Task Force (STF), Jharkhand, confirmed the arrests, describing the development as a major achievement for the police. “Three Maoists , two men and one woman have been arrested from Seraikela-Kharsawan district. All of them carried rewards and had previously been associated with the Lalgarh movement. This is a significant success for security forces. Most Maoists in the region have already been apprehended, and operations will continue until the remaining cadres are neutralized,” he said.
Asim Mandal Squad Weakened After Arrests
Police sources revealed that the Asim Mandal squad has been significantly weakened following the arrests. Earlier, the group had 10 to 11 members. With the capture of three key operatives, the squad’s strength has now been reduced to seven or eight members. The remaining members, including individuals identified as Sachin, Sameer, Meeta, and Bulu, are believed to be hiding in forested areas along with their leader, Asim Mandal.
The police had received intelligence indicating the movement of Maoists through forest routes in the Chowka police station area. Acting on this information, a special team was formed under the leadership of Superintendent of Police (SP) Manoj Swargiary, and an intensive search operation was launched, leading to the arrests.
Details of Arrested Maoists
Among those arrested, Madan Mahto, alias Shankar, alias Charan, alias Bankim, is a resident of Karamsol village under Salboni police station in the West Midnapore district of West Bengal. He carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh and was reportedly equipped with an AK-47 rifle.He had been active in the Jangalmahal, Belpahari, Dalma, and Kolhan regions along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border.
Sagar Singh Sardar , alias Biren, alias Fauji, alias Ravi, also known as “Chhota Vijay,” hails from Tengadih (Benadih) village under Nimdih police station in Seraikela-Kharsawan district. He carried a reward of ₹5 lakh and was known to use an INSAS rifle.
According to security agencies, he was involved in planning attacks on security forces, planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), recruiting new cadres, and expanding the organization while working alongside senior Maoist leaders Misir Besra and Asim Mandal.
Meena Paharia, the wife of Sagar Singh, is a resident of Amkocha village under Balarampur police station in the Purulia district of West Bengal. She carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh and was reportedly armed with a rifle. She operated in the forest areas along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border.
She was wanted for acting as a courier, arranging logistics, supporting squad operations, and participating in conspiracies against security forces. She was also linked to the Maoist network led by Asim Mandal.
Involvement in Major Incidents
The arrested Maoists are accused of involvement in several major acts of violence. These include the Burudih landmine blast on August 30, 2008, which killed 11 security personnel. They are also linked to the September 2008 incident in Digha-Chapri, under Ghatshila, where two individuals, Badal Pramanik and Nimai Murmu, were killed and their homes set on fire.
Additionally, they are implicated in the murder of JMM leader Krishna Mahato in Galudih on August 22, 2008, and the killing of Santosh Mahato, a local committee president, in Kesharpur on December 2, 2006.
Crucial Intelligence Gathered
Police sources indicate that the interrogation of the arrested Maoists has yielded vital intelligence regarding their network, local support systems, and ongoing activities in the region. Authorities are now utilizing this information to identify and apprehend other collaborators and active members of the organization.
Movement Across Regions
Investigations have revealed that the arrested Maoists were active between 2005-06 and 2018 in areas spanning from Dalma to Ghatshila and along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border. In 2018, they fled to the Saranda forest region. However, following the arrest of senior Maoist leader Misir Besra and the killing of another leader known as Anal Da, the organization weakened, prompting their return to the border areas of East Singhbhum.
High-Level Monitoring of Operation
Given the gravity of the operation, SP Manoj Swargiary personally visited Chowka police station late Tuesday night to oversee developments. Several senior officers, along with security personnel from the Chandil subdivision and other parts of the district, remained deployed at the station premises. Security arrangements were heightened to prevent any untoward incidents.
Squad Split Under Police Pressure
Continuous pressure from security forces compelled the Asim Mandal group to split into two factions after relocating from Saranda to the rugged terrain of Jhatijharna near the Bengal border. One faction became active in the Dalma region, while the other remained hidden in the Ghatshila forest areas. Police suspect that some members are still concealed in the Dalma forests and have intensified search operations to track them down.
Decline of Asim Mandal’s Influence
In a significant development in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations along the Jharkhand–West Bengal border, top Maoist leader Asim Mandal, who carries a bounty of ₹1 crore, has reportedly shifted his base yet again to evade intensified police action. Under continuous pressure from security forces, Mandal has fled the rugged Lakhiseni hills of Jhatijharna and is now believed to be hiding in the Sukhna hill range.
Sources indicate that Mandal and the remaining members of his squad have taken shelter in the dense forests of the Sukhna hills, located near the Daljuri panchayat under the Ghatshila–Galudih police station areas. This region, encompassing villages such as Bhutiyakocha, Lovagoda, and Kankadih, lies adjacent to the main left canal. The hill range, stretching from Peedabanda to Bhutiyakocha, is well known for its thick sal forests, which have historically served as a safe haven for Maoist operatives.
Police sources revealed that this is not the first time Asim Mandal has used the Sukhna hills as a hideout. He had previously operated from this same forest belt for several years, leveraging the difficult terrain and dense vegetation to avoid detection. However, with enhanced surveillance and sustained operations by security forces, his movements are now being closely tracked.
Asim Mandal, also known by the aliases Akash and Rakesh Ji, is a Central Committee Member of the CPI (Maoist), making him one of the most senior and wanted leaders in the region. Once commanding a squad of approximately 15 armed cadres, his group has been significantly weakened, with only about eight members currently believed to be active.
Once a dominant figure in Maoist activities along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border, Asim Mandal’s influence has significantly waned. Known for establishing camps in the Sukhna hills, he is now reportedly on the run, struggling to evade capture. Many of his associates have either been arrested or have surrendered, severely weakening his organization.
From a once formidable group of approximately 15 members, only about half remain active. After being forced out of Saranda, the group sought refuge in the forests stretching from Dalma to Ghatshila. However, sustained police action has placed them under constant surveillance, bringing the region closer to being declared free of Maoist influence.
Police Urge Remaining Maoists to Surrender
Security forces remain confident that ongoing operations will soon lead to the complete dismantling of the remaining Maoist network in the area, marking a decisive step toward restoring peace and stability.
“This is another major step forward towards ending the Maoist menace in Jharkhand. We once again appeal to the remaining Naxals to surrender or face elimination,” a senior police official stated.
