In a significant development for security forces in Jharkhand, a wanted member of a banned Maoist faction surrendered before the police in Latehar district on Friday. The militant, identified as Alok Yadav, was associated with the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and carried a reward of one lakh rupees on his head.
The Surrender and Recovered Items
Alok Yadav presented himself before Latehar Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumar Gaurav. At the time of his surrender, Yadav was in possession of several items that highlighted his involvement in extremist activities. He handed over a country-made pistol, four rounds of live ammunition, and two sets of camouflage uniforms to the authorities.
SP Kumar Gaurav provided specific details about the surrendered weapon. He described the pistol as having a 46-centimeter-long barrel, a 20-centimeter body, and a 9-centimeter butt. The four live rounds recovered were notable for bearing two different embossed markings on the cartridges: KF and KFG.
A Long History of Militancy and Legal Troubles
The police revealed that Yadav's involvement with extremist groups was not limited to the PLFI. He was also previously associated with another banned organization, the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP). His criminal record is extensive, with 35 registered cases against him across three districts of Jharkhand.
As per the details shared by SP Gaurav, the breakdown of these cases is as follows:
- 19 cases in Ranchi district
- 10 cases in Latehar district
- 6 cases in Chatra district
Police sources indicated that Yadav had been released from jail on bail in 2024. After his release, he allegedly attempted to re-engage in Naxal activities. However, a turning point came when he observed the fate of other PLFI members, including Pappu Lohra, who were neutralized by police operations in the Latehar region. This reportedly prompted his decision to surrender.
Official Presence and Implications
The surrender ceremony was a coordinated event attended by senior security officials. Alongside SP Kumar Gaurav, the commandants of the 32 Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the 11 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were present. Their attendance underscores the importance placed on such surrenders in the ongoing efforts to curb left-wing extremism in the region.
This event marks a continued trend of militants choosing to lay down arms, often influenced by successful police counter-operations and the perceived futility of the armed struggle. The surrender of a rewarded militant like Yadav is seen as a tactical and psychological setback for the PLFI, a group that originated as a breakaway faction of the CPI (Maoist).
