Bokaro: A woman Maoist surrendered before Giridih police on Tuesday, carrying her two-and-a-half-year-old son and requesting that he be allowed to stay with her as she returns to the mainstream under the govt’s rehabilitation policy.Anita Kisku alias Babita Mahto, 30, a CPI (Maoist) area committee member from Dhodhi Jalga Toli in Bokaro, surrendered in the presence of Giridih SP Bimal Kumar and ASP (operations) Sujit Kumar. Police said her husband, Ajay Mahto, a senior Maoist cadre, was arrested three days earlier and sent to judicial custody.Officials said the surrender followed directives from the DGP and IG to intensify anti-Naxal operations and was linked to sustained action in the Parasnath zone. Kisku will seek benefits under the state policy, ‘Nayi Disha – Ek Nayi Pehal’.Police records stated that Kisku, who studied up to Class IV, worked in Parasnath, Lugu Pahadi, Jhumra Pahadi and parts of Kolhan. Her Maoist link began in 2009, after she left home for Nari Mukti Sangh cultural programmes and met Maoist leader Santosh Mahto. She later associated with Santosh, Bhawan Mahto and Patiram Mahto, before joining Ajay; police said the two married in 2017 near Denga Pahadi in Madhuban.Babita faces cases in Madhuban, Gua, Muffasil (Chaibasa), Tonto and Toklo police stations involving attacks on security forces, arms, explosives, extortion and UAPA offences. The SP said “her role in the organisation involved creating fear among villagers, collecting levy and assisting in hiding weapons, ammunition and explosives used for violent activities”.Babita said the movement had deviated from its ideology and that senior commanders exploited lower-level cadres. Police said Ajay’s arrest and sustained operations weakened her confidence.
Anita Kisku at the surrender ceremony
