Kolkata, May 12 -- In a major development, Kolkata Police arrested a woman Maoist leader from Bhangar Division, while another Maoist activist surrendered on Tuesday.
The arrested leader, Shraddha Biswas alias Bela, is a Jharkhand regional committee member with around 20 cases pending against her. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand said Biswas, originally from Chakdah in Nadia, had been active in Jharkhand, especially in Ghatsila and Singhbhum areas since 2004-05.
In Jharkhand, the police had announced a reward of Rs 15 lakh for information on Biswas's whereabouts. Around that time, she had visited West Midnapore, where her name surfaced in a case in the Belpahari area. She was later arrested by Bengal Police but secured bail and subsequently absconded.
Recently, Biswas returned to Bengal and took shelter in Bhangar's Uttar Kashipur area. Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid and arrested her. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand said she is being interrogated to gather more information, including about her movements, the route she used and when she arrived in the city.
Meanwhile, CP on Tuesday presented a Maoist activist identified as Madhai Patra, who has surrendered and wishes to return to mainstream society. At the Press conference, Nand said: "After getting involved in Maoist activities for a long time, he (Madhai) now wishes to surrender and lead a normal life. He wants to return to the mainstream. He will be helped according to the surrender and rehabilitation scheme that we have."
While interacting with the media, Madhai appealed to other Maoist activists to surrender and return to the mainstream. He said: "When I joined the party, the norms were all good. But later, the party's norms changed. Society has also changed. Considering all that, I have thought of returning to the mainstream of society. I also appeal to those still involved in Maoist activities to surrender and return to mainstream society."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.