Maoist who killed ex-Minister, policeman surrenders

Ranchi: A senior Maoist commander involved in the killing of a former minister and beheading a police official surrendered to police here in Jharkhand on Sunday.

Kundan Pahan, who was a synonym for terror in three districts of the state, gave himself up in the presence of Additional Director General of Police R.K. Mallik and CRPF Inspector General Anand Latkar among others.

Kundan carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head, Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Dwivedi told reporters.

He was involved in the killing of former Minister and then legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008, the beheading of police Inspector Francis Induwar and in the loot of Rs 5 crore from an ICICI cash van.

A total of 128 cases were lodged against him in the state, said Dwivedi.

Kundan was notorious in Ranchi, Khuti and Seraikela-Kharswa districts. Ranchi and Jamshedpur districts were under his operational control.

On his orders, Special Branch Inspector Induwar was abducted from Khuti. He was then beheaded, triggering terror.

Kundan joined the Maoists in 1999 at age 16. He became a member of the Regional Committee in the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist in 2006. In 2012, he became Secretary of the Committee.

Speaking on the occasion, police officer Mallik said Maoists have an opportunity to surrender in 2017. "Otherwise they will face consequences in 2018."

Jharkhand Police has launched a new programme under which Maoists are encouraged to surrender. Till now, 107 Maoists have surrendered.

Early this month, another top Maoist commander, Nakul Yadav, also carrying Rs 15 lakh reward on his head, surrendered.

Speaking to reporters, Kundan said: "I take responsibility for all the incidents in which I was directly or indirectly involved. I admit I committed mistakes and will try to reform myself."

His two elder brothers were also Maoists. One surrendered and the second was arrested.