Jharkhand: Maoist commander involved in murder of former minister, beheading of police officer surrenders

Surrendered Maoist commander Kundan Pahan was carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head.

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Jharkhand: Maoist commander involved in murder of former minister, beheading of police officer surrenders

Maoist commander Kundan Pahan surrendered before Jharkhand Police. Photo: ANI

New Delhi,UPDATED: May 14, 2017 18:44 IST

A Maoist commander who was involved in the killing of former Jharkhand minister Ramesh Singh Munda surrendered in Ranchi today.

Kundan Pahan, who was wanted in 128 cases in Ranchi, Khunti and West Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand, carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head.

Surrendered Maoist Kundan Pahan was behind the beheading of police inspector Francis Induwar in 2009.

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE THE SURRENDERED MAOIST COMMANDER:

Forty four-year-old Kundan Pahan today surrendered before Additional Director General of Police (Operation) R K Mallick, Inspector General CRPF Sanjay Lathkar, and other senior officers of state police and CRPF.
Continued pressure against the Maoists by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Police led to surrender of Kundan Pahan. Nearly 10 days ago, another top Maoist zonal commander, Nakul Yadav, also carrying a Rs 15 lakh reward on his head, surrendered.
Maoist Kundan Pahan was involved in the killing of former minister and Janata Dal (United) MLA Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008, and the beheading of police inspector Francis Induwar.
Kundan Pahan was involved in the 2008 sensational loot of more than Rs 5 crore and 1.3 kg gold from an ICICI Bank's armoured cash van.
The surrendered Maoist was involved in the infamous killing of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Sunil Mahato in 2007. Mahato was assassinated while he was watching a local football match in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.
Kundan Pahan carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head and a total of 128 cases were lodged against him in the state, said Kuldeep Dwivedi, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi.
The surrendered Maoist was notorious in Ranchi, Khunti and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. Ranchi and Jamshedpur districts were under his operational control.
On Kundan Pahan's orders, Special Branch Inspector Francis Induwar was abducted from Khunti. He was later beheaded.
Kundan Pahan joined the Maoists in 1999 when he was 16. He became a member of the Regional Committee in the Communist Party of India-Maoist in 2006. In 2012, he became secretary of the committee.
Speaking after the surrender of the Maoist commander, ADG Mallick said Maoists have an opportunity to surrender in 2017. "Otherwise they will face consequences in 2018," the officer said.
Jharkhand Police has launched a new programme under which Maoists are encouraged to surrender. Till now, 107 Maoists have surrendered.
Speaking to reporters, Kundan Pahan 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."
Kundan Pahan's two elder brothers were also Maoists--one surrendered and the other was arrested.