Kolkata, Sept 18: Top Maoist leader Asim Mandal, alias Akash and Timi, has been arrested by the West Bengal Police from the Potashpur area of East Midnapore district.
Mandal had been on the wanted list of police forces in five states for several years. A total reward of ₹2.20 crore had been announced for information leading to his arrest, including ₹1 crore by the Jharkhand government and ₹1.20 crore by the Odisha government.
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Who is Asim Mandal?
A native of Phulchak under Chandrakona police station in West Midnapore, Asim Mandal reportedly joined Left-wing activities during his student days in 1980.
He later played an important role in the Lalgarh movement and was appointed secretary of the West Bengal State Committee in 2010, according to the information available on the case.
Mandal was allegedly involved in planning major violent incidents and had remained a key target of security agencies in Jharkhand and Odisha.
Maoist Leader was moving under disguise
According to intelligence inputs, Mandal had been changing locations and moving around in disguise to evade the police.
Security agencies had been tracking his movements for a long time. Despite repeated efforts by police forces, he allegedly managed to move from one forest area to another and evade arrest.
His eventual arrest from Potashpur in East Midnapore has brought a long-running manhunt to an end.
Also Read: Why were 5 Orangutan cubs abandoned in Balasore forest?
Wife also linked to maoist activities
Mandal's wife, a resident of Patashpur, was also reportedly an active member of the Naxal organisation.
She was arrested by the Kolkata Police Task Force in 2010 and is currently in jail.
With Asim Mandal's arrest, security agencies in Odisha and Jharkhand are expected to focus on gathering further information about his network, movements and alleged involvement in past violent incidents.
