Maoist top gun Ranjit Pal, wife surrender in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Top Maoist leader Ranjit Pal, who was in-charge of Orissa-Jharkhand-Bengal states and a senior member of the military wing of the Maoists, has surrendered to the special task force of Kolkata Police, apologising for ‘what’ he has done to people in last 17 years.

Jharkhand government had announced a prize money of Rs 25 lakh for any information leading to his arrest. Pal was brought to the state police headquarters Bhawanibhavan along with his wife Anita, another senior leader in Maoist ranks.

“I have been a Maoist for 17 years now. I was hiding in the forested areas in Jharkhand-Orissa border and I used to hold the charge of Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa. I apologise for what I did in these areas,” Pal told the reporters.


Wearing an olive green combat-uniform, Pal surrendered to the director general of police Surajit Kar Purakayastha with an automatic rifle and his wife Anita.

Praising the Trinamool Congress government for their development works in the tribal areas of Junglemahal, he said Maoists who are still at large should surrender.

“For so many years, I was incapable of taking care of my elderly parents. I am happy that now I would be able to join the mainstream society and lead a normal life,” he added.

Pal has more than 50 cases of abduction, murder and extortion in Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts. After Maoists Military wing’s chief Kishenji’s death, Pal has been the only senior Maoist cadre from Bengal, who was running the show in the bordering areas.

When many senior Maoists were either arrested or surrendered, Pal managed to survive in the area for a long time. Pal has been executor of several incidents of Naxal violence in the region.