Kolkata, October 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A most-wanted Maoist couple, identified as Mangal and Malati, surrendered before Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay K. Nand at the police headquarters in Lalbazar on Friday, officials said. The couple was wanted in both West Bengal and neighbouring Jharkhand.
During the surrender, the two handed over an AK-47 rifle and an INSAS rifle to the police.
According to police officials, both Mangal and Malati are residents of West Bengal. Mangal hails from Salboni in West Midnapore district, while Malati is from Gopiballabhpur in Jhargram district.
Their Maoist activities, however, were primarily concentrated in Jharkhand, with only occasional operations in West Bengal. Mangal initially became involved in Maoist activities in the Dalma region before moving to the Saranda forest area, both in Jharkhand. Malati joined the Maoist movement later, and her activities were also largely confined to Jharkhand.
Police said Maoist cadres began leaving the Saranda forest area earlier this year amid sustained pressure from security forces, which had made it increasingly difficult for them to operate.
Officials said around 13 Maoists from West Bengal had been on the security forces’ wanted list, with several arrested over time. Recently, three Maoists were arrested in Jharkhand, while another wanted Maoist leader, Pushpa, surrendered in Kolkata a few months ago. Mangal and Malati have now followed suit.
Authorities had announced rewards of ₹5 lakh for Mangal and ₹2 lakh for Malati.
Speaking to reporters after the surrender, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay K. Nand said Mangal had joined the Maoist movement around 2010 and moved to Jharkhand after 2011-12. He was reportedly close to Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao, popularly known as Kishenji, who was killed in a police encounter in November 2011.
Explaining their decision to surrender, Mangal said he had come to believe that armed struggle could not bring about social change.
“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.
The surrender marks another development in efforts by security agencies to counter Maoist activity in the region, particularly in Jharkhand’s forest areas.
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