Wife of Maoist leader with Rs 25 lakh bounty surrenders in Jharkhand, cites abuse

Anita Kisku, alias Babita, an area committee member of the CPI (Maoist), laid down arms at the Giridih Police Centre in the presence of several senior police officers.

In Short

• Police say she is named in 15 cases under murder, UAPA, Arms Act and Explosives Act
• They believe that the surrender will weaken Maoist operations across the state
• The woman leader was arrested three days after her husband was taken into custody

A woman Maoist leader and the wife of a top Maoist commander with a Rs 25 lakh bounty surrendered before the Giridih police in Jharkhand on Tuesday, saying she was disillusioned by exploitation within the outfit and the violence inflicted on villagers.

Anita Kisku, alias Babita, an area committee member of the CPI (Maoist), laid down arms at the Giridih Police Centre in the presence of several senior police officers. Following her arrest, the Jharkhand Police said that she was influenced by the Jharkhand government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, Nayi Disha – Ek Nayi Pahal.

The arrest came three days after her husband, Ajay Mahato, also known as Tiger, a top Maoist leader, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 25 lakh, was arrested by the same police force. Ajay had earlier served as an area commander in the Parasnath region and had more than 240 cases related to murder, IED blasts, ambush attacks on security forces and destruction of government property registered against him across different districts.

Around 30 years old and a native of Bokaro district, Babita studied up to Class 4 and was active in Maoist operations across the Parasnath Zone, Lugu Hills, Jhumra Hills and the Kolhan region.

After surrendering, Babita said she came in contact with the Maoist organisation during a cultural programme in 2009 and married Ajay Mahto in the forest in 2017. During her time with the outfit, she was assigned tasks including creating fear among villagers and collecting levy.

She alleged that continued exploitation by senior Maoist leaders and the unnecessary assault of villagers left her mentally distressed. Following her husband's arrest, she decided to leave the organisation and return to the mainstream.

Police said Babita is named in 15 criminal cases, including those related to murder, robbery, the Explosives Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act.

Senior cop Bimal Kumar said her surrender would deal a blow to Maoist activities in Giridih, Bokaro, Kolhan and Singhbhum, and appealed to other insurgents to give up violence and join the mainstream.

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