Top Maoist leader Shakuntala Mahato alias Pushpa surrenders before Kolkata Police
Kolkata, June 17
In a major success for the West Bengal police, top Maoist leader Shakuntala Mahato alias Pushpa surrendered before Kolkata Police on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
She had fled from the Saranda forest in Jharkhand during the operation by the joint forces.
Amid speculation about her hiding in West Bengal, the Maoist leader and CPI (Maoist) zonal committee member on Wednesday surrendered at Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar along with arms and 46 rounds of bullets. She had a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on her head.
According to the police, Pushpa was the mastermind of several Maoist operations. While surrendering, she said, "Those of our party who are still isolated should try to return to the mainstream. The current government is doing a lot of good work. It is good for everyone to give up arms and join the development."
Shakuntala hails from Mechua village of Belpahari police station area in West Bengal's Jhargram. After joining the Maoist group, she was known by several names, like Pari, Barsha, and Pushpa. Although she had four names in the Maoist squad, she was known as 'Lutun' near her home. There was talk that she might surrender.
She had joined the Maoist camp at the age of just 10. Although she was admitted in the fifth grade, she did not set foot in high school. While singing and playing in the Naxalite organisation, she picked up a gun. During the Left Front regime, the police were desperately looking for Shakuntala. So she was sent to the Pareshnath hills in present-day Jharkhand. Later, she was brought back to Bengal for organisational work.
In 2003, while in the squad in Jhargram, she met Area Commander Atul Mahato. In 2004, the CPI (Maoist) was formed. In 2005, Shakuntala got married to Atul in the Tamar jungle of Jharkhand. Then, for organisational work, the Eastern Regional Bureau of the CPI (Maoist) sent her to Belpahari in Jhargram, Dalma, Ghatshila, Gotashila, Parshnath Pahar, Bundu-Tamar, Saranda, and other places.
During the Left era, she worked with Kishanji in the Lalgarh movement in Jhragram. After 2012, the Bengal Brigade of the CPI (Maoist) entered Jharkhand, but they were cornered there too.
The Centre had launched a massive operation to eradicate Maoist and Naxal activities from India. Several Maoists were either arrested, killed, or surrendered during the operation. Shakuntala, one of them, who had been roaming the jungle, finally gave up the path of violence and returned to the mainstream of society.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Shakuntala's story is heartbreaking - joined at just 10 years old, never completed school, spent decades in jungles. The Naxal movement exploited these vulnerable tribal children. Hope this surrender inspires others to leave violence behind. Education and jobs are the real solutions.
Yet another surrender - but let's not forget these people caused immense suffering to villagers, extorted money, and blocked development for decades. The police forces deserve credit for sustained pressure. But rehabilitation must be strict - no leniency for past crimes.
Interesting to see the transformation - from a child soldier to a zonal committee member to surrendering. The fact that she fled during the Saranda operation shows security forces have improved. But I worry about her husband Atul - is he still active? Couples like this often coordinate.
I live near Jhargram and I've seen what these Maoists did. They terrorised our villages, forced young people into their ranks. It's a big relief that she surrendered. But the real victory will be when development reaches every corner of Bengal's tribal areas. Let's see if the government delivers. 💪
Respectfully, I disagree with the celebration. This woman was responsible for multiple attacks, including on police personnel. She surrendered only when cornered, not out of genuine remorse. I hope the legal system doesn't give her a soft deal just because she made a statement praising the government.
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