Kolkata, 17 September (H.S.): CPI (Maoist) central committee member and former West Bengal state committee secretary Asim Mondal, alias Akash, was arrested by the Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF) from Patashpur in Purba Medinipur early Thursday, police sources said.

Mondal, 64, was apprehended from his in-laws’ house in the Patashpur area at around 3 am, according to the sources. He had allegedly been evading security agencies for several years and was among the senior Maoist leaders who had remained underground instead of surrendering following the weakening of the organisation.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also announced the arrest in a post on X and commended the Kolkata Police STF for tracking down Mondal. He said the state would not allow Maoist activities to re-emerge in West Bengal.

A resident of Phulchak village under Chandrakona in West Midnapore district, Mondal became associated with the ultra-Left movement in the 1980s and later joined the People's War Group. Following the formation of the CPI (Maoist), he is reported to have held organisational responsibilities in West Bengal as well as neighbouring Jharkhand. He also played a role during the Lalgarh movement, according to reports.

Mondal became the West Bengal state secretary in 2010 following the arrest of Sudip Chongdar, according to reports. After the death of Maoist leader Kishenji, he was primarily active in areas of East Singhbhum in Jharkhand bordering West Bengal.

In recent years, several area commanders in the region surrendered, following which Mondal reportedly moved to the Saranda forests and stayed with another senior Maoist leader, Misir Besra. After Besra was arrested, Mondal allegedly began moving towards West Bengal with a small squad. Three of his associates were subsequently arrested, according to sources.

Investigators suspect that Mondal had travelled to Patashpur to arrange money after being left without adequate funds. Police sources said he had been under surveillance for some time and that the STF was monitoring the house of his relatives in the area.

Police are also examining whether Mondal will consider surrendering. However, according to sources, he has so far not agreed to the proposal. A senior Kolkata Police officer said some procedural formalities relating to the arrest were still pending and that further details would be shared thereafter.

Several organisational documents and books were reportedly recovered from Mondal, according to police sources.

Meanwhile, human rights organisation Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has demanded that Mondal be produced before a court without delay and be treated as a political prisoner. The demand was made by APDR representative Ranjit Shur.

According to recent reports, security agencies in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha had been searching for Mondal for a prolonged period. Reports differ on the exact amount of the bounty announced for information leading to his capture; some reports put the combined bounty at around Rs 2.20 crore.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey