Top Maoist leader surrenders

Ranchi: One of the top Maoist leaders operating in Jharkhand and adjoining Chhattisgarh, Balkeshwar Oraon alias Vinay Oraon alias Bada Vikash, Thursday surrendered before the Director General of Police, Jharkhand, D K Pandey at the police headquarters here.

Vikash, who is second-in-command after top Maoist leaders Arvind Ji, in the state's naxal hierarchy, carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head.

He was wanted by the police in dozens of naxal-related cases, including 37 cases in Latehar district of Jharkhand, Latehar Superintendent of Police Anoop Birtheray said.

Besides, there are 17 cases pending against him in Garwah district and 22 in Chattisgarh.

Hailing from Maneka area of Latehar, Vikash was a member of CPI (Maoists)'s Bihar-Jharkhand-North Chhattisgarh Special Area Committee. He joined the organisation in 1995.

Influenced by 'Operation Nayee Disha' of the Jharkhand government to bring back naxals in the mainstream and rehabilitate them under government's surrender policy, Vikash agreed to surrender following six months effort by the police, Birtheray said.

Vikash's surrender would influence other naxals who worked under him to follow suit, Birtheray said, adding it would be a major setback for the Maoists in the state.

The reward money of Rs 25 lakh, which was announced by the state government on the head of Vikash, would be given to his family as per the surrender policy.