Kolkata: In a major breakthrough against Left-Wing Extremism, the Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested senior CPI (Maoist) leader Asim Mandal alias Akash from Lalat in the Patashpur area of Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal.
Mandal, a Central Committee member and secretary of the CPI (Maoist) West Bengal State Committee-I, had remained on the security agencies’ radar for more than 15 years. A combined ₹2.20 crore reward had been announced for his capture—₹1 crore by Jharkhand and ₹1.20 crore by Odisha.
Technical Intelligence Led STF to Hideout
According to police-linked reports, the STF acted on specific technical intelligence indicating that Mandal was hiding in the Lalat area under Patashpur police station. A coordinated operation was subsequently launched, leading to his apprehension.
Mandal had reportedly operated for years across the West Bengal-Jharkhand-Odisha forest belt, frequently changing locations and aliases. Security records cited by media reports link him to around 55 serious criminal cases across the three states.
Reports also indicate that he had been active in the Kolhan and Saranda regions of Jharkhand, while continuing to evade security forces across inter-state forest areas.
Arrest or Surrender? Conflicting Accounts
The development initially triggered reports that Mandal had surrendered. Jharkhand Police officials were also reported to have described the development as a surrender.
However, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly described it as an STF apprehension, crediting precise technical intelligence and the Kolkata Police team for tracking him down.
Adhikari congratulated the STF personnel and said the operation demonstrated the force’s ability to track a high-profile Maoist leader who had evaded law enforcement for years.
He also warned that any attempt to revive or expand Maoist networks in West Bengal would face strict legal action.
I commend the Officers and Personnel of the @KolkataPolice STF in successfully tracking and apprehending Asim Mandal @ Akash, Central Committee Member and Secretary of the West Bengal State Committee-I, CPI (Maoist), from Lalat; Patashpur, Purba Medinipur.
Evading law… pic.twitter.com/Z5hHDNgssA
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) September 17, 2026
Four Decades in the Maoist Underground
Mandal, who is reported to be from Paschim Medinipur, became associated with the Maoist movement during his student years in the 1980s. He has reportedly operated under several aliases, including Akash, Timir, Manoj, Deepak and Rakesh.
His arrest comes amid intensified security operations against Maoist networks along the Bengal-Jharkhand-Odisha corridor, making the capture significant for ongoing efforts to track senior members of the banned organisation.
