Senior Maoist leader Pahad Singh alias Kumarsai, who carried a reward of ₹47 lakh on his head, surrendered to the police in Durg district of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, the Chhattisgarh police said.
According to a statement issued by Chhattisgarh police, Pahad Singh was the SZC (Special Zonal Committee) member of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) and was active in the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh since 2000.
“In a big success for the anti-Maoist campaign, which is being carried on (in Durg range) under the leadership of Durg range Inspector General of Police G.P. Singh, the Maoists’ SZC member and secretary of the Maoists' GRB Divisional Committee Pahad Singh has surrendered to the police. Pahad Singh was the face of red terror in this area. The Sate government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy inspired him to surrender,” the statement said.
“Pahad Singh has told us that senior Maoist leaders would often harass local leaders in the party. The constant suspicion and harassment of local Chhattisgarhi cadres by Maoist leaders from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh made him lose faith in the Maoists’ hollow ideology. Pahad Singh’s surrender is a big jolt to the Maoists’ expansion plans in the area bordering Maharashtra,” the statement added.
Pahad Singh, who hails from Rajnandgoan district of Chhattisgarh, was more active in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and is likely to be questioned by Maharashtra police.
