Jamshedpur : Following the surrender of naxal leader Ranjit Pal alias Rahul in Kolkata, the East Singhbhum district police are trying for bringing the rebel leader in police remand.
Rahul (35) who is the main accused in the murder of former Member of Parliament, Sunil Mahto recently surrendered before the director general of police, West Bengal in Kolkata.
East Singhbhum district superintendent of police (rural) Shailendra Kumar Burnwal said that Rahul was wanted in as many as 17 naxal-related cases in the East Singhbhum and was carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head by the Jharkhand police for his role in the murder of former MP, Sunil Mahto. Burnwal informed that they would try to bring in police remand from Bengal as early as possible.
Mahto (38) who was a senior leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was gunned down by a group of naxals at Baguria in Galudih under Ghatshila thana area, about 40 kms away form here in the afternoon of March 4 in 2007. He was murdered he had gone their to attend a football match tournament. Four of his body-guards had also been killed by the naxals who were being led by Rahul.
Sources in the police said ever since a hardcore naxal Supaye Tuddu was killed in a police encounter at Ghurabandha on January 3, the rebels active in Ghatshila sub-division bordering Bengal had scurried for cover.
“The Bengal police which is also carrying out anti-insurgency operation in its jurisdiction had left no space for the rebels like Rahul to perpetuate their insurgency activities. As a result of pressure from the Jharkhand police Rahul was left with no option than to surrender in Bengal,” said a senior police officer.
Sunil Mahato, the popular leader of the JMM was elected to 14th Lok Sabha, first time defeating his nearest rival Abha Mahato of BJP by over 1 lakh votes.
The former MP, Sunil Mahato, who was elected to Parliament from Jamshedpur constituency in 2004 general elections on JMM ticket was the prime target of the naxalites for his public opposition to the rebels subversive activities in the district.
Since, CBI took over the case several arrests of the naxalites including, Rahul, the brain behind the assassination of the popular MP, have been made so far.