Three CPI (Maoist) commanders surrender in Bankura with AK-47
Synopsis
Three top CPI (Maoist) commanders with over 75 criminal cases between them — including murder charges — walked into Bankura police custody on Wednesday and handed over an AK-47. Coming days after the arrest of one of eastern India's most-wanted Maoist leaders, the surrender signals that the Bengal-Jharkhand-Odisha Maoist corridor is under its most sustained pressure in years.
Key Takeaways
Jaba Mahato , Nayantara Sahu , and Ramprasad Mandi surrendered before the West Zone ADG in Bankura on 23 September 2026 .
The trio handed over three firearms including an AK-47 under West Bengal's surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy.
Police records list more than 75 serious criminal cases against them, including murder and Arms Act offences.
The surrender follows the STF arrest of senior Maoist leader Asim Mandal in Patashpur, East Midnapore last week; a reward of ₹2.20 crore had been announced for his capture.
The three were formerly active across Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore , and Jharkhand's East Singhbhum .
Three senior commanders of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation surrendered before police in Bankura, West Bengal on Wednesday, 23 September, returning to mainstream life under the state government's surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. The trio handed over three modern firearms, including an AK-47, in a significant blow to the Maoist network across eastern India.
Who Surrendered and What They Carried
The three leaders — Jaba Mahato, Nayantara Sahu, and Ramprasad Mandi — formally surrendered before the West Zone Additional Director General of Police (ADG). Police records show more than 75 serious criminal cases against the trio, covering charges including murder and offences under the Arms and Explosives Act. The three had long operated under pseudonyms, with Ramprasad Mandi known by the alias Sachin.
The Operational Pressure That Led Here
The surrender follows sustained anti-Maoist operations in the region. Bankura Superintendent of Police PVG Satish recently led a special operation that recovered a large cache of weapons from Maoist strongholds. Officials said the consecutive success of such operations created the conditions for Wednesday's capitulation. Notably, on 4 August, a Maoist leader was arrested by Jharkhand Police, dealing a major blow to the network. Last week, the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police arrested senior CPI (Maoist) leader Asim Mandal, alias Akash, Timir and Manoj — one of the most-wanted figures in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha — during an early morning operation in Patashpur, East Midnapore. A combined reward of ₹2.20 crore had been announced for information leading to Mandal's capture.
What Officials and the Surrendered Commander Said
West Zone ADG Anand Kumar confirmed the development, stating: 'Three top Maoist leaders have surrendered under the Surrender Cum Rehabilitation Act of the West Bengal government. There are more than eighty cases against them. Three types of firearms, including AK-47s, were recovered. Action will follow as per government rules.'
Surrendered commander Ramprasad Mandi alias Sachin offered a candid account of his decision, saying: 'We have not found any other issue to take up arms. The current government is doing a lot of development work, although much remains to be done.'
Scale of Their Former Influence
Once active across Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore, and Jharkhand's East Singhbhum region, the three commanders represented a significant node in the Maoist command structure. Their surrender, combined with the recent arrest of Asim Mandal, suggests the network's operational footprint in the Bengal-Jharkhand-Odisha corridor is shrinking considerably.
What Happens Next
Under West Bengal's surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy, the three will face legal proceedings as determined by government rules, according to ADG Kumar. The accelerating pace of arrests and surrenders points to a decisive shift in the state's counter-insurgency posture — and raises questions about whether remaining cadres will follow.
Point of View
The Asim Mandal arrest, now three top commanders walking in) suggests a coordinated strategy rather than episodic policing. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is that surrenders under rehabilitation schemes do not resolve the legal jeopardy: with over 75 criminal cases on record, the three commanders face years of judicial proceedings. The real policy question is whether rehabilitation frameworks are robust enough to reintegrate former cadres without creating future flashpoints in the same economically marginalised districts where Maoism found its original recruits.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the three Maoist commanders who surrendered in Bankura?
The three commanders are Jaba Mahato , Nayantara Sahu , and Ramprasad Mandi (alias Sachin), all senior figures in the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation. They surrendered before the West Zone ADG in Bankura on 23 September 2026 under West Bengal's surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy.
What weapons were recovered during the Bankura Maoist surrender?
Three modern firearms, including an AK-47, were handed over by the surrendering commanders. Additionally, Bankura SP PVG Satish had earlier led a separate operation that recovered a large cache of weapons from Maoist strongholds in the region.
What criminal cases do the surrendered Maoist leaders face?
Police records show more than 75 serious criminal cases against the three collectively, including charges of murder and offences under the Arms and Explosives Act. West Zone ADG Anand Kumar said legal action would follow as per government rules.
Who is Asim Mandal and why was his arrest significant?
Asim Mandal, also known by the aliases Akash, Timir, and Manoj, is described as one of the most-wanted CPI (Maoist) leaders in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. He was arrested by the Kolkata Police STF in Patashpur, East Midnapore, last week; a combined reward of ₹2.20 crore had been announced for his capture.
What is West Bengal's surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy for Maoists?
The policy provides a formal channel for Maoist cadres to surrender to state authorities and return to mainstream life. Surrendering individuals receive consideration under rehabilitation provisions, though they remain subject to legal proceedings for criminal cases already registered against them, as confirmed by officials in the Bankura case.
