197 extremists arrested, 17 eliminated this year: Police | Ranchi News – Times of India

Ranchi: State police, along with the paramilitary forces, have nabbed 197 extremists and eliminated 17, including Maoist central committee member Prayag Manjhi, during the continuous operations conducted in the first six months of the year, inspector general (operations) Michel Raj said on Friday.Addressing the media, he said, owing to police pressure, 10 extremists laid down their arms and took advantage of the state govt’s surrender policy.Raj further said the state govt trying to eliminate or arrest 100 Naxals, including 55 extremists who carried a total reward Rs 8.45 crores on their heads. Of the 55, four leaders are identified as CPI (Maoist) politburo member, Misir Besra and central committee members Asim Mandal, Anal Daad and Shadeo Soren, who carry a bounty of Rs 1 crore each on their heads.“Chaibasa (West Singhbhum) district, is the strongest area of the Maoist group led by Misir, Asim and Anal and is the only major challenge before police in the state. The strength of extremists has reduced to around 100, of which 75 are in West Singhbhum. We are carrying out continuous operations, but the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by extremists have slowed our movement. Another central committee member of the Maoists, Shadeo, is with a small squad in Hazaribag.”Raj added that there are half a dozen Maoist groups in other parts of the state, but their strength is very small. He hoped that the reward announced by the state govt in the surrender policy would lead their family members to apply pressure to the Maoists to surrender.The officer further said during the operations since Jan till June this year, police have recovered 113 weapons, including 31 looted from police, 20 regular and 62 country-made, 859 cartridges, 176.5 kg of explosives and 179 IED.He also informed that as many as 767 criminals were arrested and Rs 54.35 lakhs were seized from them. Citizens reported 11,910 complaints through the special number Dial 1930, in which Rs 15.90 crores were swindled by the cybercriminals and Rs 83.84 lakhs were returned to the victims by the court’s intervention.