Maoist and wife with ₹1.25 cr reward on head surrenders

Ranchi: In a major setback to Naxal activities in Jharkhand, a top Maoist and member of Maoists' Central Committee, Sudhakaran, carrying prize money of one crore on his head, surrendered with his wife Neelima in Telangana on Monday, said Jharkhand police. However, both Telangana and Jharkhnad police are yet to confirm the development after that.

Sudhakaran alias Ogu Satwaji, Buryar, Sudhakar and Kiran, is a native of Adilabad in Telangana. On the directions of home department, police had announced a bounty ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹1 crore on 29 Naxalites of Budha Pahar. Sudhakaran carried a reward of ₹1 crore.

His wife Neelima, carrying a bounty of ₹25 lakh on her head, hails from Warangal in Telangana. The couple has been active in several illegal activities in the Koyal-Shankh zone of Jharkhand. The couple has amassed a huge wealth from Tendu leave leases and extortions from government contractors. It is said that Sudhakaran had started investing in business via his friend Satyanarayan Reddy in Telangana.

After the death of Maoist Arvindji, Sudhakaran led the naxals in Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had declared Sudhakaran and Neelima as fugitives. They were wanted in several cases, including Latehar blast incident.