A most-wanted Maoist couple — identified as Mangal and Malati — wanted by security forces in both West Bengal and Jharkhand, surrendered before Ajay K. Nand, Commissioner of Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar, on Friday, 23 October 2026, officials confirmed. The couple also handed over an AK-47 rifle and an INSAS rifle to the police at the time of surrender.

Who Are Mangal and Malati

Mangal hails from Salboni in West Midnapore, while Malati is a native of Gopiballabhpur in Jhargram district — both residents of West Bengal. Despite their origins, their Maoist operations were largely confined to Jharkhand, with only occasional activity inside West Bengal.

Mangal first became involved in left-wing extremism in the Dalma area and subsequently operated in Saranda, both in Jharkhand. According to the Kolkata Police Commissioner, Mangal joined the Maoist movement around 2010 and relocated to Jharkhand after 2011–12. He was reportedly close to the late Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao, also known as Kishenji, who was killed in a police encounter in November 2011. Malati joined the movement after Mangal, with her role almost entirely confined to Jharkhand from the outset.

Why They Decided to Surrender

Authorities noted that Maoists had begun withdrawing from the Saranda forest area in Jharkhand earlier this year, citing relentless pressure from security forces that made sustained operations increasingly untenable.

Speaking to reporters after the surrender, Mangal said he had come to recognise the limits of armed struggle. 'Both of us have decided to abandon the path of violence and return to the mainstream of society. That is why we came here and surrendered,' he said.

Reward Money and Security Background

Authorities had announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for Mangal and ₹2 lakh for Malati, reflecting the threat level each was assessed to pose. The duo's surrender marks a further thinning of the Maoist network linked to West Bengal.

According to police, there were about 13 Maoists from West Bengal on the security forces' wanted list. Most have since been accounted for — arrested over time or, more recently, surrendering voluntarily. Three Maoists were arrested in Jharkhand recently, and another wanted Maoist leader, Pushpa, had surrendered in Kolkata a few months prior to this latest development.

Significance for Anti-Maoist Operations

The back-to-back surrenders and arrests signal a decisive contraction of the Maoist footprint across the West Bengal–Jharkhand corridor, an area that once formed part of the so-called 'Red Corridor.' Security forces and the Kolkata Police have credited sustained operational pressure for breaking the organisation's ability to shelter and regroup in forest zones. The surrender of a couple carrying two military-grade weapons — including an AK-47 — underscores the arsenal that even a diminished network had maintained.

With Mangal and Malati now in custody, security agencies are expected to mine their intelligence for leads on any remaining active cadres in the region.