Hardcore Maoist surrenders before police in Munger

PATNA: A hardcore member of the CPI(Maoist) and a key operative in East Bihar and Eastern Jharkhand, Bhola Koda alias Vikas Da alias Rohit Koda, who carried a reward of ₹2 lakh on his head, surrendered before senior police officials at the Munger SP office, police said on Tuesday.

- Avinash Kumar

With his surrender, police said that Kharagpur, a longtime stronghold of the CPI(Maoist), is no longer operational as a Maoist base after decades of insurgent activities.

A resident of Paisra village under Ladaiyatand police station in Munger, Bhola Koda had been evading arrest following two major encounters in Jharkhand's Bokaro district. In these operations, four Maoists—Arbind Yadav alias Avinash Netaji, Tunni Lal Koda, Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek, and Saheb Ram Manjhi—were killed on April 21, while another Maoist, Kunawar, and a security personnel were killed in a subsequent encounter on July 17.