JOIN USMaoist area commander Chiranjit Mahto, an associate of slain top Maoist leader Kishenji, and his wife, also a Maoist cadre, today surrendered before the police here today.
Chiranjit, who was the Kantapahari area commander, was a close aide of Maoist politburo member Kishenji, the third in-command of the CPI(Maoist), who was gunned down in an encounter on November 24 in a forest in the district, the police said.
Chiranjit's wife Anima Mahto was a member of the Badal Mahto squad.
The couple, who surrendered before IG (South Bengal) Gangeswar Singh, DIG (Midnapore range) Vineet Goel and district SP Praveen Tripathy, did not lay down any arms, police said.
The two faced altogether eight cases against them in Salbani and Lalgarh police stations, sources said.
Stating that the arrest of Chiranjit was a big success, Tripathy said the couple would get government assistance as per rule.