Jamshedpur: Four wanted Maoists, including zonal committee (ZC) member Saluka Kayam who carried a Rs 10 lakh bounty, surrendered before senior officers of Jharkhand Police and CPRF in Chaibasa on Tuesday.“The Maoists surrendered under Operation Navjeevan-III and handed over their weapons, ammunition and communication devices to the security forces,” Kolhan DIG Anuranjan Kispotta said.Kayam, when went with aliases Bhuvneshwar and Vikram, was wanted in 96 criminal cases. Of these, 90 cases were registered in West Singhbhum district and six in neighbouring Seraikela-Kharsawan district.Notably, sources claimed Kayam had surrendered with two Maoists on Aug 7, but police officers did not comment on the matter.The other three surrendered cadres were Kodamuni Koda, who carries a reward of Rs 1 lakh, Kayam’s wife Pinky Purti, and Anita Tamsoy. The police have not disclosed the ages of the surrendered Maoists.Koda is wanted in seven cases in West Singhbhum, while Purti is wanted in 13 cases. Tamstoy has 13 cases against her in West Singhbhum district and one in Seraikela-Kharsawan district.Police said Kayam surrendered with an AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 843 rounds of ammunition. Koda handed over a wireless communication set and 697 rounds, while Purti surrendered another wireless set along with 639 rounds. Tamstoy surrendered with an INSAS rifle, five magazines and 97 rounds of ammunition.Police data showed that 49 Maoists surrendered in West Singhbhum between 2025 and July 2026, while 22 were killed in encounters and 60 were arrested during the same period.Kispotta attributed the rising number of surrenders to growing dissatisfaction among Maoist cadres. “The establishment of new security camps in remote areas of Saranda and Porahat has increased pressure on the rebels and restricted their movement.”Kispotta further said the govt’s surrender and rehabilitation policy had further encouraged cadres to return to mainstream. “Only around six Maoists, led by senior operative Asim Mandal who carries a bounty of Rs 1 crore, remain active in the area,” he said.
