Maoist couple wanted in West Bengal and Jharkhand surrenders before Kolkata Police

KOLKATA: A Maoist couple, active in neighbouring Jharkhand and carrying bounties on their heads, surrendered before Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand on Friday and handed over their weapons. One of them was a close associate of slain Maoist leader Mallojula Koteswara Rao, better known as 'Kishenji'. The couple, wanted in both West Bengal and Jharkhand, surrendered before Nand at the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar, officials said.

Identified as Mangal and Malati, the couple originally hailed from West Bengal but had been active in Jharkhand, the Kolkata Police Commissioner said. According to sources, Jharkhand Police had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for Mangal's arrest, while Malati carried a bounty of ?2 lakh.