Maoist leader Asim Mandal, ₹2.20 crore bounty, surrenders in West Bengal
Synopsis
A Central Committee member of CPI (Maoist) — carrying a combined ₹2.20 crore bounty and linked to 55 serious criminal cases including fatal attacks on security forces — has surrendered in West Bengal. Security agencies are now interrogating him for intelligence on Maoist hideouts and weapons caches in the Saranda forests, in what could be one of the most significant anti-Naxal breakthroughs in recent years.
Key Takeaways
Asim Mandal alias Akash, a CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member, surrendered in West Bengal on 17 September 2026 .
He carried a combined bounty of ₹2.20 crore — ₹1 crore from Jharkhand and ₹1.20 crore from Odisha.
Nearly 55 serious criminal cases are registered against him across Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal .
He was involved in multiple attacks on security forces, including an IED blast on 11 January 2023 that injured 9 CoBRA personnel .
Security agencies are interrogating Mandal for intelligence on Maoist hideouts, weapons caches and arms dumps in the Saranda forests .
Senior CPI (Maoist) leader Asim Mandal, alias Akash, a Central Committee member carrying a combined bounty of ₹2.20 crore across Jharkhand and Odisha, has surrendered in West Bengal, officials confirmed on Thursday, 17 September 2026. The surrender marks a significant breakthrough for security agencies tracking one of the most wanted Maoist operatives in eastern India.
The Bounty and the Man
The Jharkhand government had placed a reward of ₹1 crore on Mandal's arrest, while the Odisha government had separately offered ₹1.20 crore. A resident of Uttar Phulchuk village under Chandrakona police station limits in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district, Mandal operated within the Maoist organisation under multiple aliases — Akash, Timir, Manoj, Deepak and Rakesh — making him difficult to trace across state borders.
Decades of Violence on Record
Security agencies have recorded nearly 55 serious criminal cases against Mandal across Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, several of which relate to attacks on security forces and armed encounters. Mandal had been actively involved in Maoist operations in Jharkhand's Kolhan and Saranda regions for several years, according to officials.
Among the notable incidents linked to him: on 1 March 2026, an encounter at Marangponga in Chaibasa's Chotanagra police station area left two security personnel injured, including an Assistant Commandant of the 209 CoBRA battalion. On 12 April 2025, a Jharkhand Jaguar jawan was killed during an encounter at Radhapora under Jaraikela police station limits in Chaibasa. On 11 January 2023, nine personnel of the 209 CoBRA battalion were injured in an IED blast and subsequent exchange of fire in the Tumbahaka forest under Tonto police station limits.
Earlier incidents include the killing of a security personnel in an attack in Jonwa under Karaikela police station area on 31 May 2020, and another killed in an encounter at Jhati Pahari in East Singhbhum district's MGM police station area on 11 July 2018.
Interrogation Under Way
Following Mandal's surrender, security agencies have commenced interrogation to extract intelligence on the Maoist network, including the locations of hideouts, weapons stockpiles, and arms caches. Officials expect that information from Mandal could help trace hidden dumps of arms, ammunition and explosives in the Saranda forests and surrounding areas — a region that has long been a stronghold for Maoist cadres.
Significance for the Anti-Naxal Campaign
This comes amid a broader intensification of anti-Naxal operations across the red corridor states. The surrender of a Central Committee member — the highest decision-making body of CPI (Maoist) — is rare and represents a potential intelligence windfall. Notably, such high-level surrenders often precede disruptions in Maoist supply chains and recruitment pipelines. Security analysts say the outcome of Mandal's interrogation will be closely watched by forces across Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Point of View
Arms caches and safe corridors that have kept the Saranda network operational. However, past surrenders at mid-level have not always translated into decisive network dismantlement; the test will be whether agencies can act on his intelligence quickly enough to prevent the network from sealing off compromised routes. The ₹2.20 crore bounty also underscores how the multi-state reward architecture has become a meaningful lever — one that policymakers may now accelerate across the broader red corridor.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Asim Mandal and why did his surrender matter?
Asim Mandal, also known as Akash, is a Central Committee member of CPI (Maoist) — the organisation's highest decision-making body — who surrendered in West Bengal on 17 September 2026. His surrender is significant because senior Maoist leaders rarely give themselves up, and he is expected to provide intelligence on hideouts, weapons dumps and the wider Maoist network in eastern India.
How large was the bounty on Asim Mandal?
Mandal carried a combined bounty of ₹2.20 crore — ₹1 crore announced by the Jharkhand government and ₹1.20 crore by the Odisha government. The rewards reflected his status as a top-tier Maoist operative.
What criminal cases are registered against Asim Mandal?
Nearly 55 serious criminal cases are registered against Mandal across Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. These include attacks on security forces, armed encounters and an IED blast on 11 January 2023 that injured nine CoBRA battalion personnel, among several other incidents spanning 2018 to 2026.
Where did Asim Mandal surrender and where is he from?
Mandal surrendered in West Bengal, where he is a resident of Uttar Phulchuk village under Chandrakona police station limits in Paschim Medinipur district. Despite his origins in West Bengal, his Maoist operations were primarily centred in Jharkhand's Kolhan and Saranda regions.
What happens next after Asim Mandal's surrender?
Security agencies are actively interrogating Mandal to gather intelligence on Maoist hideouts, weapons stockpiles and arms caches in the Saranda forests and nearby areas. Officials expect the information could lead to the recovery of hidden arms, ammunition and explosives and help disrupt broader Maoist operations in the region.
